Noontime was an hour of leisure at the post office, due to the fact that without exception the east and west mail trains arrived in the very early morning or late afternoon. This suited Johnny. Strolling up to the window he found Miss Nannie Price, the assistant postmistress, in the act of artistically dissecting an orange.
“Mr. Allerdyce!” Nannie gurgled. “You are a stranger, even though handsomer than usual.”
are“Now, you stop, Miss Nannie, ma’am,” Johnny grinned. “A new neckpiece ain’t deceivin’ you thata-way.”
Nannie laughed. In common with many others, she was fond of Johnny.
“You’re not expecting any mail?” she asked.
“No, ma’am, not exactly. Fact is, Miss Nannie, I want you to do me a favor. And it ain’t downright reg’lar, either.”
Nannie perked up at once. “Oh, Mr. Allerdyce,
