Judy, when she telled me ob dis job. I'll tote yer letters, Mah'sr
Harry, fur ten cents fur de bag-full."

"I haven't a bag-full," said Harry; "but I reckon you'll have to take
them. There's nobody else about, it seems, and I can't leave the
station."

So Uncle Braddock was engaged as telegraph-boy, and Harry having
promised him twenty cents to go to Hetertown and to return with any
telegrams that were there awaiting transmission to the other side of the
creek, the old man set off with his little package, in high good humor
with the idea of earning money by no harder work than walking a few
miles.

Shortly after noon, he returned with a few messages from Hetertown, and
by that time there were some for him to carry back. So he made two trips
and forty cents that day--quite an income for Uncle Braddock.

In the evening, Jim Haskins made his appearance with his mule. He said
his brother hadn't told him anything about Harry's wanting him until
that afternoon. Notwithstanding Uncle Braddock's discouraging account of
the mule, Jim was engaged as messenger during the time that the creek
should be up, and Uncle Braddock was promised a job whenever an
important message should come during Jim's absence.

The next day it rained, and the creek was up, altogether, for five days.
During this time the telegraph company did a good deal of paying
business. Harry remained at his station, and boarded and lodged with
Aunt Judy. He frequently sent messages to his father and mother and
Kate, and never failed, from an early hour in the morning until dark, to