The sun was hidden by the cloud, and as he passed a
shanty Rivers saw the family eating their supper outside the door to
escape the smothering heat.
He smiled as he saw the gleam of white dresses about the door of the
store. As he drove up, a swarm of impatient folk came out to meet him.
The girls waved their handkerchiefs at him, and the men raised a shout.
"You're late, old man."
"I know it, but that makes me all the more welcome." He heaved the
mail-bag to Bailey. "There's a letter for every girl in the crowd, I
know, for I wrote 'em."
"We'll believe that when we see the letters," the girls replied.
He dismounted heavily. "Somebody put my team up. I'm hungry as a wolf
and dry as a biscuit."
"The poor thing," said one of the girls. "He means a cracker."
Estelle Clayton came out of the store. "Supper's all ready for you, Mr.
Mail-Carrier. Come right in and sit down."
"I'm a-coming--now watch me," he replied, with intent to be funny.
The girls accompanied him into the little living-room.
"Oh, my, don't some folks live genteel? See the canned peaches!"
"And the canned lobster!"
"And the hot biscuit!"
"Sit down, Jim, and we'll pour the tea and dip out the peaches.
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