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are here temporarily； and we put up that sign just to please
ourselves。〃
〃That is pretty poor fun for me；〃 said the man。 〃I am very tired；
and more hungry than tired。 Couldn't you let me have a little
supper at any rate？〃
Euphemia glanced at me。 I nodded。
〃You are welcome to some supper；〃 she said； 〃Come in！ We eat in
the kitchen because it is more convenient； and because it is so
much more cheerful than the dining…room。 There is a pump out
there； and here is a towel； if you would like to wash your hands。〃
As the man went out the back door I complimented my wife。 She was
really an admirable hostess。
The individual in faded snuff…color was certainly hungry； and he
seemed to enjoy his supper。 During the meal he gave us some
account of himself。 He was an artist and had traveled； mostly on
foot it would appear； over a great part of the country。 He had in
his valise some very pretty little colored sketches of scenes in
Mexico and California； which he showed us after supper。 Why he
carried these pictureswhich were done on stiff paperabout with
him I do not know。 He said he did not care to sell them； as he
might use them for studies for larger pictures some day。 His
valise； which he opened wide on the table； seemed to be filled with
papers； drawings； and matters of that kind。 I suppose he preferred
to wear his clothes； instead of carrying them about in his valise。
After sitting for about half an hour after supper； he rose； with an
uncertain sort of smile； and said he supposed he must be moving
on；asking； at the same time； how far it was to the tavern over
the ridge。
〃Just wait one moment； if you please；〃 said Euphemia。 And she
beckoned me out of the room。
〃Don't you think；〃 said she； 〃that we could keep him all night？
There's no moon； and it would be a fearful dark walk； I know； to
the other side of the mountain。 There is a room upstairs that I
can fix for him in ten minutes； and I know he's honest。〃
〃How do you know it？〃 I asked。
〃Well； because he wears such curious…colored clothes。 No criminal
would ever wear such clothes。 He could never pass unnoticed
anywhere； and being probably the only person in the world who
dressed that way； he could always be detected。〃
〃You are doubtless correct；〃 I replied。 〃Let us keep him。〃
When we told the good man that he could stay all night； he was
extremely obliged to us； and went to bed quite early。 After we had
fastened the house and had gone to our room； my wife said to me；
〃Where is your pistol？〃
I produced it。
〃Well；〃 said she； 〃I think you ought to have it where you can get
at it。〃
〃Why so？〃 I asked。 〃You generally want me to keep it out of sight
and reach。〃
〃Yes； but when there is a strange man in the house we ought to take
extra precautions。〃
〃But this man you say is honest；〃 I replied。 〃If he committed a
crime he could not escape；his appearance is so peculiar。〃
〃But that wouldn't do us any good； if we were both murdered；〃 said
Euphemia； pulling a chair up to my side of the bed； and laying the
pistol carefully thereon； with the muzzle toward the bed。
We were not murdered； and we had a very pleasant breakfast with the
artist； who told us more anecdotes of his life in Mexico and other
places。 When； after breakfast； he shut up his valise； preparatory
to starting away； we felt really sorry。 When he was ready to go；
he asked for his bill。
〃Oh！ There is no bill；〃 I exclaimed。 〃We have no idea of charging
you anything。 We don't really keep a hotel； as I told you。〃
〃If I had known that；〃 said he； looking very grave； 〃I would not
have stayed。 There is no reason why you should give me food and
lodgings； and I would not； and did not； ask it。 I am able to pay
for such things； and I wish to do so。〃
We argued with him for some time； speaking of the habits of country
people and so on； but he would not be convinced。 He had asked for
accommodation expecting to pay for it； and would not be content
until he had done so。
〃Well；〃 said Euphemia； 〃we are not keeping this house for profit；
and you can't force us to make anything out of you。 If you will be
satisfied to pay us just what it cost us to entertain you； I
suppose we shall have to let you do that。 Take a seat for a
minute； and I will make out your bill。〃
So the artist and I sat down and talked of various matters； while
my wife got out her traveling stationery…box； and sat down to the
dining…table to make out the bill。 After a long； long time； as it
appeared to me； I said：
〃My dear； if the amount of that bill is at all proportioned to the
length of time it takes to make it out； I think our friend here
will wish he had never said anything about it。〃
〃It's nearly done；〃 said she； without raising her head； and； in
about ten or fifteen minutes more； she rose and presented the bill
to our guest。 As I noticed that he seemed somewhat surprised at
it； I asked him to let me look over it with him。 The bill； of
which I have a copy； read as follows：
July 12th； 187…
ARTIST；
To the S。 and S。 Hotel and F。 and M。 House。
To 1/3 one supper； July 11th； which supper consisted of：
1/14 lb。 coffee； at 35 cts。 2 cts。
〃 〃 sugar； 〃 14 〃 1 〃
1/6 qt。 milk； 〃 6 〃 1 〃
1/2 loaf bread 〃 6 〃 3 〃
1/8 lb。 butter 〃 25 〃 3 1/8 〃
1/2 〃 bacon 〃 25 〃 12 1/2 〃
1/16 pk。 potatoes at 60 cts。 per bush 15/16 〃
1/2 pt。 hominy at 6 cts 3 〃
27 1/16
1/3 of total 09 1/48 cts。
To 1/3 one breakfast； July 12th （same as
above； with exception of eggs instead of
bacon； and with hominy omitted）；
24 1/6
1/3 total 08 1/48 〃
To rent of one room and furniture； for one
night； in furnished house of fifteen rooms
at 6。00 per week for whole house 05 3/8 〃
Amount due 22 17/24 cts。
The worthy artist burst out laughing when he read this bill； and so
did I。
〃You needn't laugh；〃 said Euphemia； reddening a little。 〃That is
exactly what your entertainment cost； and we do not intend to take
a cent more。 We get things here in such small quantities that I
can tell quite easily what a meal costs us； and I have calculated
that bill very carefully。〃
〃So I should think； madam；〃 said the artist； 〃but it is not quite
right。 You have charged nothing for your trouble and services。〃
〃No；〃 said my wife； 〃for I took no additional trouble to get your
meals。 What I did； I should have done if you had not come。 To be
sure I did spend a few minutes preparing your room。 I will charge
you seven twenty…fourths of a cent for that； thus making your bill
twenty…three centseven money。〃
〃I cannot gainsay reasoning like yours； madam；〃 he said； and he
took a quarter from a very fat old pocket…bo