THEIR FORTUNATE ESCAPE 107 



The postman whistled, as he has an alluring way of 

 doing when he brings the evening mail, always hoping 

 that some one will come out for a bit of evening gossip, 

 in which he is rarely disappointed. 



We all started to our feet, but Maria, whose special 

 duty it had become to look over the mail, distanced us all 

 by taking a short cut, regardless of wet grass. 



Talk branched into divers pleasant ways, and we had 

 almost forgotten her errand when she returned and, 

 breaking abruptly into the conversation, said to Bart, 

 "Sorry to interrupt, but the postman reports that there 

 are three large crates of live stock down at the station, 

 and the agent says will you please send for them to- 

 night, as he doesn't dare leave them out, there are so 

 many strangers about, and they will surely stifle if he 

 crowds them into the office !" 



"Live stock !" exclaimed Bart, "I'm sure I've bought 

 nothing!" Then, as light broke in his brain, 

 "Maybe it's that setter pup that Truesdale promised 

 me as soon as it was weaned, which would be about 

 now!" 



"Would a setter pup come in three crates?" inquired 

 The Man, solemnly. 



"It must be live plants and not live stock!" I said, 

 coming to Bart's rescue, "for Aunt Lavinia Cortright 



