"Comein，"saidtheeditor。
Thedooroftheeditorialroomofthe"ExcelsiorMagazine"begantocreakpainfullyunderthehesitatingpressureofanuncertainandunfamiliarhand。Thiscontinueduntilwithastartofirritationtheeditorfaceddirectlyabout，throwinghislegoverthearmofhischairwithacertainyouthfuldexterity。Withonehandgrippingitsback，theotherstillgraspingaproof-slip，andhispencilinhismouth，hestaredattheintruder。
Thestranger，despitehishesitatingentrance，didnotseemintheleastdisconcerted。Hewasatallman，lookingeventallerbyreasonofthelongformlessovercoathewore，knownasa"duster，"
andbyalongstraightbeardthatdependedfromhischin，whichhecombedwithtworeflectivefingersashecontemplatedtheeditor。
Thereddustwhichstilllayinthecreasesofhisgarmentandinthecurvesofhissoftfelthat，andleftadustycirclelikeaprecipitatedhaloaroundhisfeet，proclaimedhim，ifnotacountryman，arecentinlandimportationbycoach。"Busy?"hesaid，inagravebutpleasantvoice。"Ikinwait。Don'tmindME。Goon。"
Theeditorindicatedachairwithhisdisengagedhandandplungedagainintohisproof-slips。Thestrangersurveyedthescantfurnitureandappointmentsoftheofficewithalookofgravecuriosity，andthen，takingachair，fixedanearnest，penetratinggazeontheeditor'sprofile。Theeditorfeltit，and，withoutlookingup，said——
"Well，goon。"
"Butyou'rebusy。Ikinwait。"
"Ishallnotbelessbusythismorning。Icanlisten。"
"Iwantyoutogivemethenameofacertainpersonwhowritesinyourmagazine。"
Theeditor'seyeglancedatthesecondright-handdrawerofhisdesk。Itdidnotcontainthenamesofhiscontributors，butwhatinthetraditionsofhisofficewasacceptedasanequivalent，——arevolver。Hehadneveryetpresentedeithertoaninquirer。Buthelaidasidehisproofs，and，withaslightdarkeningofhisyouthful，discontentedface，said，"Whatdoyouwanttoknowfor?"
Thequestionwassoevidentlyunexpectedthatthestranger'sfacecoloredslightly，andhehesitated。Theeditormeanwhile，withouttakinghiseyesfromtheman，mentallyranoverthecontentsofthelastmagazine。Theyhadbeenofasingularlypeacefulcharacter。
Thereseemedtobenothingtojustifyhomicideonhispartorthestranger's。Yettherewasnoknowing，andhisquestioner'sbucolicappearancebynomeansprecludedanassault。Indeed，ithadbeenalegendoftheofficethatapredecessorhadsufferedvicariouslyfromageologicalhammercovertlyintroducedintoascientificcontroversybyanirateprofessor。
"Aswemakeourselvesresponsiblefortheconductofthemagazine，"
continuedtheyoungeditor，withmatureseverity，"wedonotgiveupthenamesofourcontributors。Ifyoudonotagreewiththeiropinions"——
"ButIDO，"saidthestranger，withhisformercomposure，"andI
reckonthat'swhyIwanttoknowwhowrotethoseversescalled'Underbrush，'signed'WhiteViolet，'inyourlastnumber。They'repow'fulpretty。"
Theeditorflushedslightly，andglancedinstinctivelyaroundforanyunexpectedwitnessofhisludicrousmistake。Thefearofridiculewasuppermostinhismind，andhewasmorerelievedathismistakenotbeingoverheardthanatitsgroundlessness。
"TheversesAREpretty，"hesaid，recoveringhimself，withacriticalair，"andIamgladyoulikethem。Buteventhen，youknow，Icouldnotgiveyouthelady'snamewithoutherpermission。
Iwillwritetoherandaskit，ifyoulike。"
TheactualfactwasthattheverseshadbeensenttohimanonymouslyfromaremotevillageintheCoastRange，——theaddressbeingthepost-officeandthesignatureinitials。
Thestrangerlookeddisturbed。"Thensheain'tabouthereanywhere?"hesaid，withavaguegesture。"Shedon'tbelongtotheoffice?"
Theyoungeditorbeamedwithtolerantsuperiority:"No，Iamsorrytosay。"
"Ishouldliketohavegottoseeherandkinderaskedherafewquestions，"continuedthestranger，withthesamereflectiveseriousness。"Yousee，itwasn'tjusttherhymin'o'themverses，——
andtheykindersingthemselvestoye，don'tthey?——itwasn'tthechyceo'words，——andIreckontheyallushittheideeinthecentreshoteverytime，——itwasn'ttheideesandmoralshesorto'drewouto'whatshewastellin'，——butitwasthestraightthingitself，——thetruth!"
"Thetruth?"repeatedtheeditor。
"Yes，sir。I'vebinthere。I'veseenallthatshe'sseeninthebrush——thelittleflicksandcheckerso'lightandshadderdowninthebrowndustthatyouwonderhowitevergotthroughthedarkofthewoods，andthatallusseemstoslipawaylikeasnakeoralizardifyougrope。I'veheardallthatshe'sheardthere——thecreepin'，thesighin'，andthewhisperin'throughthebrackenandtheground-vinesofallthatlivesthere。"
"Youseemtobeapoetyourself，"saidtheeditor，withapatronizingsmile。
"I'malumberman，upinMendocino，"returnedthestranger，withsublimenaivete。"Gotamillthere。Yousee，sightin'standin'
timberandselectin'fromthegen'ralshowofthetreesinthegroundandthelayofrootshezsortermademetakenotice。"Hepaused。"Then，"headded，somewhatdespondingly，"youdon'tknowwhosheis?"
"No，"saidtheeditor，reflectively；"notevenifitisreallyaWOMANwhowrites。"
"Eh?"
"Well，yousee，'WhiteViolet'mayaswellbethenomdeplumeofamanasofawoman，especiallyifadoptedforthepurposeofmystification。Thehandwriting，Iremember，WASmoreboyishthanfeminine。"
"No，"returnedthestrangerdoggedly，"itwasn'tnoMAN。There'sideasandwordstherethatonlycomefromawoman:baby-talktothebirds，youknow，andakindoffearsomekeerofbugsandcreepin'
thingsthatdon'tcometoamanwhowearsbootsandtrousers。
Well，"headded，withareturntohispreviousairofresigneddisappointment，"Isupposeyoudon'tevenknowwhatshe'slike?"
"No，"respondedtheeditor，cheerfully。Then，followinganideasuggestedbytheoddminglingofsentimentandshrewdperceptioninthemanbeforehim，headded:"Probablynotatalllikeanythingyouimagine。Shemaybeamotherwiththreeorfourchildren；oranoldmaidwhokeepsaboarding-house；orawrinkledschool-
mistress；orachitofaschool-girl。I'vehadsomefairversesfromared-hairedgirloffourteenattheSeminary，"heconcludedwithprofessionalcoolness。
Thestrangerregardedhimwiththenaivewonderofaninexperiencedman。Havingpaidthistributetohissuperiorknowledge，heregainedhispreviousairofgraveperception。"Ireckonsheain'tnoneofthem。ButI'mkeepin'youfromyourwork。Good-by。Myname'sBowers——JimBowers，ofMendocino。Ifyou'reupmyway，givemeacall。Andifyoudowritetothisyer'WhiteViolet，'andshe'swillin'，sendmeheraddress。"
Heshooktheeditor'shandwarmly——eveninitsliteralsignificanceofimpartingagooddealofhisownearnestcalorictotheeditor'sfingers——andlefttheroom。Hisfootfallechoedalongthepassageanddiedout，andwithit，Ifear，allimpressionofhisvisitfromtheeditor'smind，asheplungedagainintothesilenttaskbeforehim。
Presentlyhewasconsciousofamelodioushummingandalightleisurelystepattheentranceofthehall。Theycontinuedoninaneasyharmonyandunaffectedasthepassageofabird。Bothwerepleasantandbothfamiliartotheeditor。TheybelongedtoJackHamlin，byvocationagambler，bytasteamusician，onhiswayfromhisapartmentsontheupperfloor，wherehehadjustrisen，todropintohisfriend'seditorialroomandglanceovertheexchanges，aswashishabitbeforebreakfast。
Thedooropenedlightly。Theeditorwasconsciousofafaintodorofscentedsoap，asensationoffreshnessandcleanliness，theimpressionofasofthandlikeawoman'sonhisshoulderand，likeawoman's，momentarilyandplayfullycaressing，thepassageofagracefulshadowacrosshisdesk，andthenextmomentJackHamlinwasostentatiouslydustingachairwithanopennewspaperpreparatorytosittingdown。
"Yououghttoshipthatoffice-boyofyours，ifhecan'tkeepthingscleaner，"hesaid，suspendinghismelodytoeyegrimlythedustwhichMr。Bowershadshakenfromhisdepartingfeet。
Theeditordidnotlookupuntilhehadfinishedrevisingadifficultparagraph。BythattimeMr。Hamlinhadcomfortablysettledhimselfonacanesofa，and，possiblyoutofdeferencetohissurroundings，hadsubduedhissongtoapeculiarlylow，soft，andheartbreakingwhistleasheunfoldedanewspaper。Cleanandfaultlessinhisappearance，hehadtheraregiftofbeingabletogetupattwointheafternoonwithmuchofthedewyfreshnessandallofthemoralsuperiorityofanearlyriser。
"Yououghttohavebeenherejustnow，Jack，"saidtheeditor。
"Notarow，oldman，eh?"inquiredJack，withafaintaccessionofinterest。
"No，"saidtheeditor，smiling。Thenherelatedtheincidentsofthepreviousinterview，withacertainhumorousexaggerationwhichwaspartofhisnature。ButJackdidnotsmile。
"Yououghttohavebootedhimoutoftheranchonsight，"hesaid。
"Whatrighthadhetocomeherepryingintoalady'saffairs?——atleastaladyasfarasHEknows。Ofcourseshe'ssomeoldblowzywithfrumpledhairtryingtoropeinagreenhornwithastringofwordsandphrases，"concludedJack，carelessly，whohadanequallycynicaldistrustofthesexandofliterature。
"That'saboutwhatItoldhim，"saidtheeditor。
"That'sjustwhatyouSHOULDN'Thavetoldhim，"returnedJack。
"Yououghttohavestuckupforthatwomanasifshe'dbeenyourownmother。Lord!youfellowsdon'tknowhowtorunamagazine。
YououghttoletMEsitonthatchairandtackleyourcustomers。"
"Whatwouldyouhavedone，Jack?"askedtheeditor，muchamusedtofindthathishithertoinvincibleherowasnotabovetheordinaryhumanweaknessofofferingadviceastoeditorialconduct。
"Done?"reflectedJack。"Well，first，sonny，Ishouldn'tkeeparevolverinadrawerthatIhadtoOPENtogetat。"
"Butwhatwouldyouhavesaid?"
"IshouldsimplyhaveaskedhimwhatwasthepriceoflumberatMendocino，"saidJack，sweetly，"andwhenhetoldme，Ishouldhavesaidthatthesampleshewasofferingoutofhisownheadwouldn'tsuit。Yousee，youdon'twantanytriflinginsuchmatters。Youwritewellenough，myboy，"continuedhe，turningoverhispaper，"butwhatyou'relackinginiseditorialdignity。Butgoonwithyourwork。Don'tmindme。"
Thusadmonished，theeditoragainbentoverhisdesk，andhisfriendsoftlytookuphissuspendedsong。TheeditorhadnotproceededfarinhiscorrectionswhenJack'svoiceagainbrokethesilence。
"Wherearethosed——dverses，anyway?"
Withoutlookingup，theeditorwavedhispenciltowardsanuncutcopyofthe"ExcelsiorMagazine"lyingonthetable。
"Youdon'tsupposeI'mgoingtoREADthem，doyou?"saidJack，aggrievedly。"Whydon'tyousaywhatthey'reabout?That'syourbusinessaseditor。"
Butthatfunctionary，nowwhollylostandwanderinginthenon-
sequiturofaninvolvedpassageintheproofbeforehim，onlywavedanimpatientremonstrancewithhispencilandknithisbrows。
Jack，withasigh，tookupthemagazine。
Alongsilencefollowed，brokenonlybythehurriedrustlingofsheetsofcopyandanoccasionalexasperatedstartfromtheeditor。
Thesunwasalreadybeginningtoslantadustybeamacrosshisdesk；Jack'swhistlinghadlongsinceceased。Presently，withanexclamationofrelief，theeditorlaidasidethelastproof-sheetandlookedup。
JackHamlinhadclosedthemagazine，butwithonehandthrownoverthebackofthesofahewasstillholdingit，hisslimforefingerbetweenitsleavestokeeptheplace，andhishandsomeprofileanddarklashesliftedtowardsthewindow。Theeditor，smilingatthisunwontedabstraction，saidquietly，——
"Well，whatdoyouthinkofthem?"
Jackrose，laidthemagazinedown，settledhiswhitewaistcoatwithbothhands，andloungedtowardshisfriendwithaudaciousbutslightlyveiledandshiningeyes。"Theysortofsingthemselvestoyou，"hesaid，quietly，leaningbesidetheeditor'sdesk，andlookingdownuponhim。Afterapausehesaid，"Thenyoudon'tknowwhatshe'slike?"
"That'swhatMr。Bowersaskedme，"remarkedtheeditor。
"D——nBowers!"
"Isupposeyoualsowishmetowriteandaskforpermissiontogiveyouheraddress?"saidtheeditor，withgreatgravity。
"No，"saidJack，coolly。"IproposetogiveittoYOUwithinaweek，andyouwillpaymewithabreakfast。IshouldliketohaveitsaidthatIwasonceapaidcontributortoliterature。IfI
don'tgiveittoyou，I'llstandyouadinner，that'sall。"
"Done!"saidtheeditor。"Andyouknownothingofhernow?"
"No，"saidJack，promptly。"Noryou?"
"NomorethanIhavetoldyou。"
"That'lldo。Solong!"AndJack，carefullyadjustinghisglossyhatoverhiscurlsatanominouslywickedangle，saunteredlightlyfromtheroom。Theeditor，glancingafterhishandsomefigureandhearinghimtakeuphispretermittedwhistleashepassedout，begantothinkthatthecontingentdinnerwasbynomeansaninevitableprospect。
Howbeit，heplungedoncemoreintohismonotonousduties。ButthefreshnessofthedayseemedtohavedepartedwithJack，andthelaterinterruptionsofforemanandpublisherwereofamorepracticalcharacter。Itwasnotuntilthepostarrivedthatthesuperscriptionononeoftheletterscaughthiseye，andrevivedhisformerinterest。Itwasthesamehandasthatofhisunknowncontributor'smanuscript——ill-formedandboyish。Heopenedtheenvelope。Itcontainedanotherpoemwiththesamesignature，butalsoanote——muchlongerthanthebrieflinesthataccompaniedthefirstcontribution——wasscrawleduponaseparatepieceofpaper。
Thistheeditoropenedfirst，andreadthefollowing，withanamazementthatforthemomentdominatedallothersense:——
MR。EDITOR，——Iseeyouhavegotmypoetryin。ButIdon'tseethespondulixthatoughterfollow。Perhapsyoudon'tknowwheretosendit。ThenI'lltellyou。SendthemoneytoLockBox47，GreenSpringsP。O。，perWellsFargo'sExpress，andI'llgetitthere，onaccountofmyparentsnotknowing。We'reveryhigh-toned，andtheywouldthinkit'slowmakingpoetryforpapers。Sendamountusuallypaidforpoetryinyourpapers。OrmaybeyouthinkImakepoetryfornothing?That'swhereyouslipup!
Yourstruly，WHITEVIOLET。
P。S——Ifyoudon'tpayforpoetry，sendthisback。It'sasgoodaswhatyoudidputin，andisjustashardtomake。Youhearme?
that'sme——allthetime。
WHITEVIOLET。
Theeditorturnedquicklytothenewcontributionforsomecorroborationofwhathefeltmustbeanextraordinaryblunder。
Butno!Thefewlinesthathehurriedlyreadbreathedthesameatmosphereofintellectualrepose，gentleness，andimaginationasthefirstcontribution。Andyettheywereinthesamehandwritingasthesingularmissive，andbothwereidenticalwiththepreviousmanuscript。
Hadhebeenthevictimofahoax，andweretheversesnotoriginal?
No；theyweredistinctlyoriginal，localincolor，andevenlocalintheuseofcertainoldEnglishwordsthatwerecommonintheSouthwest。Hehadbeforenoticedtheapparentincongruityofthehandwritingandthetext，anditwaspossiblethatforthepurposesofdisguisethepoetmighthaveemployedanamanuensis。Buthowcouldhereconciletheincongruityofthemercenaryandslangypurportofthemissiveitselfwiththementalhabitofitsauthor?
Wasitpossiblethattheseinconsistentqualitiesexistedintheoneindividual?HesmiledgrimlyashethoughtofhisvisitorBowersandhisfriendJack。HewasstartledasherememberedthepurelyimaginativepicturehehadhimselfgiventotheseriouslyinterestedBowersofthepossibleincongruouspersonalityofthepoetess。
WashequitefairinkeepingthisfromJack?Wasitreallyhonorable，inviewoftheirwager?ItistobefearedthataveryhumanenjoymentofJack'spossiblediscomfiturequiteasmuchasanychivalrousfriendshipimpelledtheeditortoringeventuallyfortheoffice-boy。
"SeeifMr。Hamlinisinhisrooms。"
Theeditorthensatdown，andwroterapidlyasfollows:——
DEARMADAM，——Youareasrightasyouaregenerousinsupposingthatonlyignoranceofyouraddresspreventedthemanagerfrompreviouslyremittingthehonorariumforyourbeautifulverses。Henowbegstosendittoyouinthemanneryouhaveindicated。Astheverseshaveattracteddeservedattention，Ihavebeenappliedtoforyouraddress。Shouldyoucaretosubmitittometobeusedatmydiscretion，Ishallfeelhonoredbyyourconfidence。Butthisisamatterleftentirelytoyourownkindnessandbetterjudgment。Meantime，Itakepleasureinaccepting"WhiteViolet's"
presentcontribution，andremain，dearmadam，yourobedientservant，THEEDITOR。
Theboyreturnedashewasfoldingtheletter。Mr。HamlinwasnotonlyNOTinhisrooms，but，accordingtohisnegroservantPete，hadlefttownanhouragoforafewdaysinthecountry。
"Didhesaywhere?"askedtheeditor，quickly。
"No，sir:hedidn'tknow。"
"Verywell。Takethistothemanager。"Headdressedtheletter，and，scrawlingafewhieroglyphicsonamemorandum-tag，toreitoff，andhandeditwiththelettertotheboy。
Anhourlaterhestoodinthemanager'soffice。"Thenextnumberisprettywellmadeup，"hesaid，carelessly，"andIthinkoftakingadayortwooff。"
"Certainly，"saidthemanager。"Itwilldoyougood。Wheredoyouthinkyou'llgo?"
"Ihaven'tquitemadeupmymind。"
CHAPTERII
"Hullo!"saidJackHamlin。
Hehadhaltedhismareattheedgeofanabruptchasm。Itdidnotappeartobefiftyfeetacross，yetitsdepthmusthavebeennearlytwohundredtowherethehiddenmountain-stream，ofwhichitwasthebanks，alternatelyslipped，tumbled，andfellwithmurmuringandmonotonousregularity。Oneortwopine-treesgrowingontheoppositeedge，loosenedattheroots，hadtiltedtheirstraightshaftslikespearsovertheabyss，andthetopofone，restingontheupperbranchesofasycamoreafewyardsfromhim，servedasanaerialbridgeforthepassageofaboyoffourteentowhomMr。
Hamlin'schallengewasaddressed。
Theboystoppedmidwayinhisperiloustransit，and，lookingdownuponthehorseman，responded，coolly，"Hullo，yourself!"
"Isthattheonlywayacrossthisinfernalhole，ortheoneyoupreferforexercise?"continuedHamlin，gravely。
Theboysatdownonabough，allowinghisbarefeettodangleoverthedizzydepths，andcriticallyexaminedhisquestioner。Jackhadonthisoccasionmodifiedhisusualcorrectconventionalattirebyatastefulcombinationofavaquero'scostume，and，inloosewhitebullion-fringedtrousers，redsash，jacket，andsombrero，lookedinfinitelymoredashingandpicturesquethanhisoriginal。
Nevertheless，theboydidnotreply。Mr。Hamlin'sprideinhisusualascendencyoverwomen，children，horses，andallunreasoninganimalswasdeeplynettled。Hesmiled，however，andsaid，quietly，——
"Comehere，GeorgeWashington。Iwanttotalktoyou。"
Withoutrejectingthisaugustyetimpossibletitle，theboypresentlyliftedhisfeet，andcarelesslyresumedhispassageacrossthechasmuntil，reachingthesycamore，hebegantolethimselfdownsquirrel-wise，leapbyleap，withanoccasionaltrapezeswingingfromboughtobough，droppingatlasteasilytotheground。Hereheappearedtoberathergood-looking，albeitthesunandairhadworkedamiracleofbrowntanandfrecklesonhisexposedsurfaces，untilthemottlingofhisovalcheekslookedlikeapolishedbird'segg。Indeed，itstruckMr。Hamlinthathewasasintenselyapartofthatsylvanseclusionasthehiddenbrookthatmurmured，thebrownvelvetshadowsthatlayliketrappingsonthewhiteflanksofhishorse，thequiveringheat，andthestingingspiceofbay。Mr。Hamlinhadvagueideasofdryadsandfauns，butatthatmomentwouldhavebetsomethingonthechancesoftheirsurvival。
"Ididnothearwhatyousaidjustnow，general，"heremarked，withgreateleganceofmanner，"butIknowfromyourreputationthatitcouldnotbealie。IthereforegatherthatthereISanotherwayacross。"
Theboysmiled；rather，hisveryshortupperlipapparentlyvanishedcompletelyoverhiswhiteteeth，andhisveryblackeyes，whichshowedagreatdealofthewhitearoundthem，dancedintheirorbits。
"ButYOUcouldn'tfindit，"hesaid，slyly。
"Nomorecouldyoufindthehalf-dollarIdroppedjustnow，unlessIhelpedyou。"
Mr。Hamlin，bywayofillustration，leaneddeeplyoverhisleftstirrup，andpointedtotheground。Atthesamemomentabrighthalf-dollarabsolutelyappearedtoglitterintheherbageatthepointofhisfinger。Itwasatrickthathadalwaysbroughtgreatpleasureandprofittohisyoungfriends，andsomelossanddiscomfitureofwagertohisolderones。
Theboypickedupthecoin:"There'sadipandalevelcrossingaboutamileoveryer，"——hepointed，——"butit'sthroughthewoods，andthey'rethathighwiththickbresh。"
"Withwhat?"
"Bresh，"repeatedtheboy；"THAT，"——pointingtoafewfrondsofbrackengrowingintheshadowofthesycamore。
"Oh!underbrush?"
"Yes；Isaid'bresh，'"returnedtheboy，doggedly。"YOUmightgetthrough，efyouwarspry，butnotyourhoss。Wheredoyouwanttogo，anyway?"
"Doyouknow，George，"saidMr。Hamlin，lazilythrowinghisrightlegoverthehornofhissaddleforgreatereaseanddeliberationinreplying，"it'sveryodd，butthat'sjustwhatI'Dliketoknow。
Now，whatwouldYOU，inyourbroadstatesmanlikeviewsofthingsgenerally，advise?"
Quiteconvincedofthestranger'smentalunsoundness，theboyglancedagainathishalf-dollar，asiftomakesureofitsintegrity，pocketeditdoubtfully，andturnedaway。
"Whereareyougoing?"saidHamlin，resuminghisseatwiththeagilityofacircus-rider，andspurringforward。
"ToGreenSprings，whereIlive，twomilesovertheridgeonthefarslope，"——indicatingthedirection。