Pays her fine twice a year without going to court, the same as
you. And no extras!" He smiled at the chairman significantly.
"No extras, eh!" mused Mr. Presson, enviously. "You must have a
different crowd of county officers than we've got down our way."
"Perhaps so," admitted the old man, and then he allowed himself a bit of
a boast; "but the secret is, you see, this little institution is
something I've taken under my own wing."
It was an ill-starred moment for that honest boast. There came a
thumping of feet in the hall. The man who burst in was flushed and
sweating and excited.
"I'm glad you're here, Squire," he panted. "You're just in the nick o'
time. They're going to jump on the old lady."
"Who's going to jump?"
"High Sheriff Niles and his posse. They ain't more'n ten rods behind,
jigger wagon and all."
The Duke of Fort Canibas stared a moment at the herald. Aunt Charette
raised her eyes to her protector with the air of one secure under the
wings of a patron saint, and went on knitting.
"Gad!" hissed the State chairman.
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