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losses； eh？ He oughter have closed up with that scientific chap；
Grant； and married him to Clementina while the big boom was on〃
〃Hush！〃 said Peters； indicating Grant； who had just entered
quietly。
〃Don't mind me； gentlemen；〃 said Grant； stepping towards the group
with a grave but perfectly collected face； 〃on the contrary； I am
very anxious to hear all the news of Harcourt's family。 I left for
New York before the rainy season； and have only just got back。〃
His speech and manner appeared to be so much in keeping with the
prevailing grim philosophy that Billings； after a glance at the
others； went on。 〃Ef you left afore the first rains；〃 said he；
〃you must have left only the steamer ahead of Fletcher； when he run
off with Clementina Harcourt； and you might have come across them
on their wedding trip in New York。〃
Not a muscle of Grant's face changed under their eager and cruel
scrutiny。 〃No； I didn't；〃 he returned quietly。 〃But why did she
run away？ Did the father object to Fletcher？ If I remember
rightly he was rich and a good match。〃
〃Yes； but I reckon the old man hadn't quite got over the 'Clarion'
abuse； for all its eating humble…pie and taking back its yarns of
him。 And may be he might have thought the engagement rather
sudden。 They say that she'd only met Fletcher the day afore the
engagement。〃
〃That be dd；〃 said Peters； knocking the ashes out of his pipe；
and startling the lazy resignation of his neighbors by taking his
feet from the stove and sitting upright。 〃I tell ye； gentlemen；
I'm sick o' this sort o' hog…wash that's been ladled round to us。
That gal Clementina Harcourt and that feller Fletcher had met not
only once； but MANY times aforeyes！ they were old friends if it
comes to that； a matter of six years ago。〃
Grant's eyes were fixed eagerly on the speaker； although the others
scarcely turned their heads。
〃You know； gentlemen；〃 said Peters； 〃I never took stock in this yer
story of the drownin' of 'Lige Curtis。 Why？ Well； if you wanter
knowin my opinionthere never was any 'Lige Curtis！〃
Billings lifted his head with difficulty； Wingate turned his face
to the speaker。
〃There never was a scrap o' paper ever found in his cabin with the
name o' 'Lige Curtis on it； there never was any inquiry made for
'Lige Curtis； there never was any sorrowin' friends comin' after
'Lige Curtis。 For why？There never was any 'Lige Curtis。 The man
who passed himself off in Sidon under that namewas that man
Fletcher。 That's how he knew all about Harcourt's title； that's
how he got his best holt on Harcourt。 And he did it all to get
Clementina Harcourt； whom the old man had refused to him in Sidon。〃
A grunt of incredulity passed around the circle。 Such is the fate
of historical innovation！ Only Grant listened attentively。
〃Ye ought to tell that yarn to John Milton；〃 said Wingate
ironically； 〃it's about in the style o' them stories he slings in
the 'Clarion。'〃
〃He's made a good thing outer that job。 Wonder what he gets for
them？〃 said Peters。
It was Billings's time to rise； and； under the influence of some
strong cynical emotion； to even rise to his feet。 〃Gets for 'em！
GETS for 'em！ I'll tell you WHAT he gets for 'em！ It beats this
story o' Peters's；it beats the flood。 It beats me！ Ye know that
boy； gentlemen； ye know how he uster lie round his father's store；
reading flapdoodle stories and sich！ Ye remember how I uster try
to give him good examples and knock some sense into him？ Ye
remember how； after his father's good luck； he spiled all his own
chances； and ran off with his father's waiter galall on account
o' them flapdoodle books he read？ Ye remember how he sashayed
round newspaper offices in 'Frisco until he could write a
flapdoodle story himself？ Ye wanter know what he gets for 'em。
I'll tell you。 He got an interduction to one of them high…toned；
highfalutin'； 'don't…touch…me' rich widders from Philadelfy；
that's what he gets for 'em！ He got her dead set on him and his
stories； that's what he gets for 'em！ He got her to put him up
with Fletcher in the 'Clarion；'that's what he gets for 'em。 And
darn my skin！ef what they say is true； while we hard…working men
are sittin' here like drowned ratsthat air John Milton； ez never
did a stitch o' live work like me yere； ez never did anythin' but
spin yarns about US ez did WORK； is now 'gittin' for 'em'what？
Guess！ Why； he's gittin' THE RICH WIDDER HERSELF and HALF A
MILLION DOLLARS WITH HER！ Gentlemen！ lib'ty is a good thingbut
thar's some things ye gets too much lib'ty of in this countryand
that's this yer LIB'TY OF THE PRESS！〃
End