[Dark Saint Alaick]

"Hello, Sim," said Mr. Pike as he took his seat opposite him. "You here? What's the news
in the country? How's your health? How's crops?"

"Jest mod'rate, Mr. Pike. Got little business with you after dinner, ef you can spare time."

"All right. Got a little matter with Pink here first. 'Twon't take long. See you arfter
amejiant, Sim."

Never had the deputy been more gracious and witty. He talked and talked, outtalking
even Mr. Fluker; he was the only man in town who could do that. He winked at Marann
as he put questions to Sim, some of the words employed in which Sim had never heard
before. Yet Sim held up as well as he could, and after dinner followed Marann with some
little dignity into the parlor. They had not been there more than ten minutes when Mrs.
Fluker was heard to walk rapidly along the passage leading from the dining-room, to
enter her own chamber for only a moment, then to come out and rush to the parlor door
with the gig-whip in her hand. Such uncommon conduct in a woman like Mrs. Pink
Fluker of course needs explanation.

When all the other boarders had left the house, the deputy and Mr. Fluker having
repaired to the bar-room, the former said:

"Now, Pink, for our settlement, as you say your wife think we better have one. I'd 'a' been
willin' to let accounts keep on a-runnin', knowin' what a straightforrards sort o' man you
was. Your count, ef I ain't mistakened, is jes' thirty-three dollars, even money. Is that so,
or is it not?"

"That's it, to a dollar, Matt. Three times eleben make thirty-three, don't it?"