"Climb over the rocks for their health," grinned the postmaster.

"Huh! When they coming to town?"

"On the evening mail train to-day. Hello! There's Jan now on his way
to meet them. Say! Will you look at him! Jan's had his whiskers
pruned. And, I swum, if he hasn't got on a new pair of boots. Git
them of you?"

The storekeeper nodded.

"How much?" demanded the postmaster.

"Four seventy-three. Knocked down from five dollars. Wish I'd known
he was going to draw down ten dollars a week for this job. I'd have
got four seventy-five at least for the boots."

"Never mind, you can let Jan make it up on something else," comforted
the postmaster. "Reckon I'll go down to the station to see the folks
come in."

"I was going to ask you to look after the store while I went down,"
returned the grocer.

The postmaster decided that he wouldn't go. The other man hurried out,
while the government employe helped himself not only to another handful
of crackers, but to a liberal slice of cheese as well. He stood
munching his crackers and cheese and gazing out reflectively into the
gathering twilight, when he suddenly started and peered more keenly.