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 something of the same sort of feelin' that I hed when he let Hale smite him. And I dew wonder some why he's out here agin and lookin', as you maybe noticed, some sad and miserbul."

"Perhaps his wife's dead," I suggested, and Gedge stopped suddenly. He looked at me with visible admiration, and I was much pleased.

"For an Englishman you hev uncommon bright ideas," he said. "I believe you hev scored a plumb centre, and if you hev I'd not give one single solitary continental cuss for Hale's chances of survivin' the summer."

He shook his head.

"I wouldn't, that's a fact," he repeated. "I wonder if Hale is in town now. He mostly comes over once a week, as he has an interest in Beal's store. I'll find out."

We parted at the corner, and I saw him walk into Beal's. I had my own business to attend to, and I saw no more of him till some hours later, when I was at Hamilton's, where I went for dinner.

Old bald-headed Hamilton introduced the