When Strout and Abner reached the Square it was deserted. There was no
light shining in the boarding house. The kerosene lamps and matches were
on a table in the front entry. Strout lighted his lamp and went
upstairs. Strout's room was one flight up, while Abner's was up two. As
they reached Strout's room he said, "Come in, Abner, and warm up. Comin'
out of that hot room into this cold air has given me a chill." He went
to a closet and brought out a bottle, a small pitcher, and a couple of
spoons. "Have some rum and molasses, nothin' better for a cold."
They mixed their drinks in a couple of tumblers, which Strout found in
the closet. Then he took a couple of cigars from his pocket and gave one
to Abner. They drank and smoked for some time in silence.
At last Abner said, "How are you satisfied with this evenin's
perceedin's?"
"Wall, all things considered," said Strout, "I think it was the most
successful party ever given in this 'ere town, if I did do it."
"That's so," responded Abner sententiously. "Warn't you a bit struck up
when that city feller come in?"
"Not a bit," said Strout.
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