quickly to get the sealing wax, but she motioned him away as she dropped
the package back into the mail-bag. "No; as long as the money is found
in the bag the package may have been broken ACCIDENTALLY. Now burst open
one or two of those other packages a little--so;" she took out a packet
of letters and bruised their official wrappings under her little foot
until the tape fastening was loosened. "Now give me something heavy."
She caught up a brass two-pound weight, and in the same feverish
but collected haste wrapped it in paper, sealed it, stamped it, and,
addressing it in a large printed hand to herself at Laurel Hill, dropped
it in the bag. Then she closed it and locked it; he would have assisted
her, but she again waved him away. "Send for the expressman, and keep
yourself out of the way for a moment," she said curtly.

An attitude of weak admiration and foolish passion had taken the place
of his former tremulous fear. He obeyed excitedly, but without a word.
Mrs. Baker wiped her moist forehead and parched lips, and shook out
her skirt. Well might the young expressman start at the unexpected
revelation of those sparkling eyes and that demurely smiling mouth at
the little window.

"Mrs. Baker!"

She put her finger quickly to her lips, and threw a world of unutterable
and enigmatical meaning into her mischievous face.

"There's a big San Francisco swell takin' my place at Laurel to-night,
Charley."

"Yes, ma'am."