The Choir Invisible

He pushed the papers away from him.

"Yesterday morning who should slip around here but Amy Falconer. And then,

in such a voice, she began. How she had come to town the day before, and had

brought her party dress. How the bundle was lost. How she had come to

inquire whether any one had left the clothes to be advertised; or whether I

wouldn't put an advertisement in the paper; or, if they were left at my

office before Thursday evening, whether I wouldn't send them to her at

once."

"Ahem!" said Peter drily, but with moisture in his eyes.

"She hadn't more than gone before who should come in here but a boy bringing

this same bundle of clothes with a note from John Gray, saying that he had

found them in the public road yesterday, and asking me to send them at once

to the owner, if I should hear who she was; if not, to advertise them."

"That's no secret," said Peter contemptuously.

"I might have sent that bundle straight to the owner of it. But, when I have

anything against a man, I always forgive him, only I get even with him

first."

"What are you hammering at?" cried Peter, bringing his fist down on the

table. "Hit the nail on the head."

"Now I've got no grudge against her," continued O'Bannon. "I'd hate her if I

could. I've tried hard enough, but I can't. She may treat me as she pleases:

it's all the same to me as soon as she smiles. But as for this redheaded

Scotch-Irishman--"

"Stop!" said Peter. "Not a word against him!" O'Bannon stared.

"He's no friend of yours," said he, reflectively.

"He is!"

"Oh, is he? Well, only the other day I heard him say that he thought a good

deal more of your shoes than he did of you," cried O'Bannon, laughing

sarcastically.

Peter made no reply, but his neck seemed to swell and his face to be getting

purple.

"And he's a friend of yours? I can't even play a little joke on him."

"Play your joke on him!" exclaimed Peter, "and when my time comes, I'll play

mine."

"When he sent the bundle here yesterday morning I could have returned it

straight to her. I locked it in that closet! 'You'll never go to the ball

with her,' I said, 'if I have to keep her away.' I set my trap. To-day I

hunted up Joseph Holden. 'Come by the office, as you are on your way to the

party to-night,' I said. 'I want to talk to you about a piece of land. Come

early; then we can go together.' When he came--just before you did--I said,

'Look here, did you know that Amy wouldn't be at the ball? She lost her

clothes as she was coming to town the other day, and somebody has just sent

them here to be advertised. I think I'd better take them around to her yet:

it's not too late.' 'I'll take them! I'll go with her myself!' he

cried,jumping up.