"Well," said the other, "I happened to have some land near by, and I invited those negroes to come and squat on my premises--"
"Intending to turn them off about blossoming time?" said Mr. P.
"Certainly, certainly," said the other, "and I am just waiting about here until they put in a wheat crop on part of the land. I can then sell that portion, right away."
"Well, Mr. BEN BUTLER," said Mr. P., "all that is easily understood, now that I know who you are; but tell me this, why are you so careful to cover your face when in the company of civilians or ladies, and yet go about so freely among these ex-Confederate officers?"
"Oh," said the other, "you see I don't want to be known down here, and some of the women or old men might remember my face. There's no danger of any of the soldiers recognizing me, you know."
"Oh, no," cried Mr. P. "None in the world, sir."
"And besides," said the modest BUTLER, "it's too late now for me to be spooning around among the women."
"That's so," said Mr. P. "Good-bye, BENJAMIN. Any news from Dominica?"
"None at all," said the other, "and I don't care if there never is. I am opposed to that annexation scheme now."
"Sold your claims?" said Mr. P. The incognito winked and departed.
That evening at supper Mr. P. remarked that his biscuits were rather hard, and he blandly requested a waiter to take one of them outside and crack it. The elder PEYTON, who runs the hotel, overheard Mr. P.'s remark, and stepping up to him, said:
"Sir, you should not be so particular about your food. What you pay me, while you stay at my place, is my charge for the water you drink. The food and lodging I throw in, gratis."
"Mr. PEYTON," said he, "when I was quite a little boy, my father, making the tour of America, brought me here, and I distinctly remember your making that remark to him. Since then many of my friends have visited the White Sulphur, and you invariably made the same remark to them. Is there no way to escape the venerable joke?"
The gentle PEYTON made no answer, but walked away, and after supper, one of the boarders took Mr. P. aside and urged him to excuse their host, as he was obliged to make the joke in question to every guest. The obligation was in his lease.