He would appear to yield, and in the
walk he was about to take it was almost a certainty that they would
encounter some one. So he replied, in a good-natured manner: 'Well, if
the wood has been sent to you, we had better go and have it split at
once.'
'That's the talk--that's the talk! But we must hurry. Come on--come
quick, and you will see how I will do it up.'
He did not relax his hold of Hiram's arm. The two walked rapidly
forward--much more rapidly than Hiram desired; but the crazy man kept
exclaiming: 'We must make haste, I promised _him_ I would not leave the
room. No more would I; but you see, if I can earn the money, I am all
right--all right--all right!'
'How much have _you_ got?' he asked, stopping abruptly, and turning
suddenly on Hiram.
'I have got ever so much. Now I think of it, suppose I pay you on the
spot, so that you can go ahead and split the wood? It is getting late,
you see.'
'That won't do--that won't do. I want _him_ to have the money!
Come--come along, and give it to him.'
On they pressed, till at length the man exclaimed: 'Here we are! Don't
you perceive?'
He had stopped before an old and very common-looking house. In the
second story one could see a light burning. The madman motioned Hiram to
enter. The millionnaire was glad to discover that he was so near the end
of his journey, and in a perfectly respectable neighborhood.
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