The Fifth Wheel

rday afternoons on marauding expeditions. It was covered in those days with a network of mysteriously winding cow-paths leading from shadow into sunshine, from dark groves through underbrush

ines; sometimes a woodchuck's hole; a snake sunning himself; a branch of black thimble-be

ner of an old stone wall; and her famous wistaria-and-grape arbor followed for nearly a quarter of a mile the wandering path laid out years ago by cows on their way to water. What I discovered around one of the cur

arch that forms the entrance of the arbor near the orchard. I happened to be alone for a moment. I finished my tea without haste, and then placing the cup and saucer on a cedar table near-by, I

ridge Sewall. His attitude toward Hilton had had somewhat the same effect upon me as the No Trespassing and Keep Off signs when I was younger. However, I hadn't gone very far when I lost my superb courage. A little path branching off at the right offe

ming around a curve, I saw him seated on a rustic bench immediately in front of me. It would have been awkward if I had exclaimed, "Oh!" and turned around and run away. Besides, when I saw Breckenridge Sewall

then coolly strolled on toward it as if there wa

ng the panorama of stream and meadow. Mr. Sewall could have withdrawn if he had desired. I made it easy for hi

ted after a moment. "I've simply co

med, "and say, if it's the view

k you," I

enough. Take it.

d. "It's very kind,

view. Upon my word, I was ju

u?" That alt

e th

I said, and went

tly say whether it was Mr. Sewall or I who gave the first signal, but at any rate the eyes of both of us had said what convention would never allow to pass our lips. So I wasn't surprised, as perhaps an outsider will be, when Mr. Sewa

ce, however, belying the tone of my voice. "I don't recall y

d, no. Perhaps I'm mistaken though. I suppose," he bro

essed, as if even the

n. So I laid my parasol lengthwise beside me, leaving the extreme corner vacant, by whic

through half-closed lids. I showed no uneasiness. I kept right on looking steadily meadow-ward, as if green fields and winding streams were much more engrossing to me than the presence of a

g I sat undisturbed beneath the fire of his eyes. At any rate it was he who broke the t

object?"

And then abruptly, just as he was to return t

And he offered me the cigaret

eatricals the winter before, in which I took the part of a young man, I had bravely smoked through half of one, and made my speeches too. What this man had said of Hilton and its provincialism was in my mind now. I meant no wickedness, no harm. I took one of the proffered cigarettes with the grand indifference of having done it many times before. Mr. Sewall watched

med Breckenridge Sewall. "

im, and when I saw that he was on the verg

ase. I'd much r

don't k

ackson?" I ess

ackson, but he's a

exclaimed again.

a little dazed. "Say,

mart, "I mean, don't spoil my adventure. Life has so few. To walk down a little path for the purpose of looking at a

wasn't a bit good at repar

e from a peasant

lated, and as lacking in subtlety as this speech wa

empty cup on the cedar table. It seemed quite natural for me to suggest to this stranger that before rejoining the party I would appreciate my wrap. It had grown a little chilly. He willingly went to get it. When he returned he discovered that the owner of the bit of lavender silk that he carried in his hand had mysteriously disappeared. Thick, close-growing