There was a recent accession to the transient population of the village which gave rise to some speculation.The new-comer was a young fellow,rather careless in his exterior,but apparently as much at home as if he owned Arrowhead Village and everything in it.He commonly had a cigar in his mouth,carried a pocket pistol,of the non-explosive sort,and a stick with a bulldog's bead for its knob;wore a soft bat,a coarse check suit,a little baggy,and gaiterboots which had been half-soled,--a Bohemian-looking personage,altogether.
This individual began making explorations in every direction.He was very curious about the place and all the people in it.He was especially interested in the Pansophian Society,concerning which he made all sorts of inquiries.This led him to form a summer acquaintance with the Secretary,who was pleased to give him whatever information he asked for;being proud of the Society,as she had a right to be,and knowing more about it than anybody else.
The visitor could not have been long in the village without hearing something of Maurice Kirkwood,and the stories,true and false,connected with his name.He questioned everybody who could tell him anything about Maurice,and set down the answers in a little note-book he always had with him.
All this naturally excited the curiosity of the village about this new visitor.Among the rest,Miss Vincent,not wanting in an attribute thought to belong more especially to her sex,became somewhat interested to know more exactly who this inquiring,note-taking personage,who seemed to be everywhere and to know everybody,might himself be.Meeting him at the Public Library at a fortunate moment,when there was nobody but the old Librarian,who was hard of hearing,to interfere with their conversation,the little Secretary had a chance to try to find out something about him.
"This is a very remarkable library for a small village to possess,"he remarked to Miss Lurida.
"It is,indeed,"she said."Have you found it well furnished with the books you most want?""Oh,yes,--books enough.I don't care so much for the books as I do for the Newspapers.I like a Review well enough,--it tells you all there is in a book;but a good abstract of the Review in a Newspaper saves a fellow the trouble of reading it.""You find the papers you want,here,I hope,"said the young lady.
"Oh,I get along pretty well.It's my off-time,and I don't do much reading or writing.Who is the city correspondent of this place?""I don't think we have any one who writes regularly.Now and then,there is a letter,with the gossip of the place in it,or an account of some of the doings at our Society.The city papers are always glad to get the reports of our meetings,and to know what is going on in the village.""I suppose you write about the Society to the papers,as you are the Secretary."This was a point-blank shot.She meant to question the young man about his business,and here she was on the witness-stand.She ducked her head,and let the question go over her.
"Oh,there are plenty of members who are willing enough to write,--especially to give an account of their own papers.I think they like to have me put in the applause,when they get any.I do that sometimes."(How much more,she did not say.)"I have seen some very well written articles,which,from what they tell me of the Secretary,I should have thought she might have written herself."He looked her straight in the eyes.
"I have transmitted some good papers,"she said,without winking,or swallowing,or changing color,precious little color she had to change;her brain wanted all the blood it could borrow or steal,and more too."You spoke of Newspapers,"she said,without any change of tone or manner:"do you not frequently write for them yourself?""I should think I did,"answered the young man."I am a regular correspondent of 'The People's Perennial and Household Inquisitor.'""The regular correspondent from where?""Where!Oh,anywhere,--the place does not make much difference.Ihave been writing chiefly from Naples and St.Petersburg,and now and then from Constantinople.""How long since your return to this country,may I ask?""My return?I have never been out of this country.I travel with a gazetteer and some guide-books.It is the cheapest way,and you can get the facts much better from them than by trusting your own observation.I have made the tour of Europe by the help of them and the newspapers.But of late I have taken to interviewing.I find that a very pleasant specialty.It is about as good sport as trout-tickling,and much the same kind of business.I should like to send the Society an account of one of my interviews.Don't you think they would like to hear it?""I have no doubt they would.Send it to me,and I will look it over;and if the Committee approve it,we will have it at the next meeting.
You know everything has to be examined and voted on by the Committee,"said the cautious Secretary.
"Very well,--I will risk it.After it is read,if it is read,please send it back to me,as I want to sell it to 'The Sifter,'or 'The Second Best,'or some of the paying magazines."This is the paper,which was read at the next meeting of the Pansophian Society.
