Mr. Walters passed his hand across his mouth to conceal something like a smile . `` Your name is Dan Phillips , is n't it ? '' he said irrelevantly , `` and you live with your mother , the Widow Phillips , down there at Carleton Corners , I understand . '' `` Yes , sir , '' said Dan , wondering how Mr. Walters knew so much about him , and if these were the preliminaries of prosecution . Mr. Walters took up his pen and drew a blank sheet towards him . `` Well , Dan , I put that notice in because I found that many people who used to fish on my pond , irrespective of leave or licence , were accustomed to lunch or camp on my property , and did not a little damage . I do n't care for trouting myself ; I 've no time for it . However , I hardly think you 'll do much damage . You can keep on fishing there . I 'll give you a written permission , so that if any of my men see you they wo n't interfere with you . As for these trout here , I 'll buy them from you at Mosquito Lake prices , and will say no more about the matter . How will that do ? '' `` Thank you , sir , '' stammered Dan . He could hardly believe his ears . He took the slip of paper Mr. Walters handed to him and rose to his feet . `` Wait a minute , Dan . How was it you came to tell me this ? You might have stopped your depredations , and I should not have been any the wiser . '' `` That would n't have been honest , sir , '' said Dan , looking squarely at him . There was a brief silence .
Mr. Walters thrummed meditatively XXXXX the table .
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