Book Excerpt: ving, and it gained him admission to the august presence, where he created some surprise by a sudden burst of laughter. "Ex-cuse me!" he exclaimed. "But you're the man that splashed mud on me the other night!"When the circumstance was related, Mr. Wallingford laughed with great gusto and shook hands for the second time with his visitor. The incident helped them to get upon a most cordial footing at once. It did not occur to either of...