"What are those?" asked Harkless, with a gesture of his hand which seemed
to include the entire room.
"Those!" repeated Ross, staring blankly.
"Those rosettes--these streamers--that stovepipe--all this blue ribbon."
Ross turned pale. "Ribbon?" he said, inquiringly. "Ribbon?" He seemed
unable to perceive the decorations referred to.
"Yes," answered John; "these rosettes on the chairs, that band, and----"
"Oh!" Ross exclaimed. "That?" He fingered the band on the stovepipe as if
he saw it for the first time. "Yes; I see."
"But what are they for?" asked Harkless, touching one of the streamers
curiously.
"Why--it's--it's likely meant for decorations."
John picked up the ink-well, staring in complete amazement at the hard
knot of ribbon with which it was garnished.
"They seem to have been here some time."
"They have; I reckon they're almost due to be called in. They've be'n up
ever sence--sence----"
"Who put them up, Ross?"
"We did."
"What for?"
Ross was visibly embarrassed. "Why--fer--fer the other editor."
"For Mr. Fisbee?"
"Land, no! You don't suppose we'd go to work and bother to brisken things
up fer that old gentleman, do you?"
"I meant young Mr. Fisbee--he is the other editor, isn't he?"
"Oh!" said Ross, coughing. "Young Mr. Fisbee? Yes; we put 'em up fer him."
"You did! Did he appreciate them?"
"Well--he seemed to--kind of like 'em."
"Where is he now? I came here to find him."
"He's gone."
"Gone? Hasn't he been here this afternoon?"
"Yes; some 'the time. Come in and stayed durin' the leevy you was holdin',
and saw the extra off all right."
"When will he be back?"
"Sence it's be'n a daily he gits here by eight, after supper, but don't
stay very late; the new man and old Mr. Fisbee and Parker look after
whatever comes in late, unless it's something special. He'll likely be
here by half-past eight at the farthest off."
"I can't wait till then." John took a quick turn about the room. "I've
been wanting to see him every minute since I got in," he said impatiently,
"and he hasn't been near me. Nobody could even point him out to me. Where
has he gone? I want to see him now."
"Want to discharge him again?" said a voice from the door, and turning,
they saw that Mr. Martin stood there observing them.