er strong and capable looking, and she was
bareheaded, and carried a door key suspended from a smooth-worn bit of
wood.

"Don't get into a perspiration making up the mail, Pete," she advised
calmly, quite ignoring both Grant and the Indian. "Fifteen is an hour
late--as usual. Jockey Bates always seems to be under the impression
he's an undertaker's assistant, and is headed for the graveyard when he
takes fifteen out. He'll get the can, first he knows--and he'll put in
a month or two wondering why. I could make better time than he does
myself." By then she was leaning with both elbows upon the counter
beside the post-office, bored beyond words with life as it must be
lived--to judge from her tone and her attitude.

"For Heaven's sake, Pete," she went on languidly, "can't you scare up a
novel, or chocolates, or gum, or--ANYTHING to kill time? I'd even enjoy
chewing gum right now--it would give my jaws something to think of,
anyway."

Pete, grinning indulgently, came out of retirement behind the
pigeonholes, and looked inquiringly around the store.

"I've got cards," he suggested. "What's the matter with a game of
solitary? I've known men to put in hull winters alone, up in the
mountains, jest eating and sleeping and playin' solitary."

The young woman made a grimace of disgust. "I've come from three solid
hours of it. What I really do want is something to read. Haven't you
even got an almanac?"

"Saunders is readin' 'The Brokenhearted Bride'--you can have it soon's
he's through. He says it's a peach."

"Fifteen is bringing up a bunch of magazines. I'll have reading in
plenty two hours from now; but my heavens above, those two hours!" She
struck both fists despairingly upon the counter.

"I've got gumdrops, and fancy mixed--"

"Forget it, then. A five-pound box of chocolates is due--on fifteen."
She sighed heavily. "I wish you weren't so old, and hadn't quite so many
chins, Pete," she complained. "I'd inveigle you into a flirtation. You
see how desperate I am for something to do!"

Pete smiled unhappily. He was sensitive about all those chins, and the
general bulk which accompanied them.

"Let me make you acquainted with my friend, Good In--er--Mr. Imsen."
Pete considered that he was behaving with great discernment and tact.
"This is Miss Georgie Howard, the new operator." He twinkled his little
eyes at her maliciously. "Say, he ain't got but one chin, and he's only
twenty-three years old." He felt that the i