CHAPTER XI
AT THE POST OFFICE IN BEARTOWN
Although Mike Murphy rarely got the worst of it in a bout at repartee, hehad the true sporting instinct and liked the winner because of hisvictory. It took a bright person to beat him, but it did happen now andthen, and he enjoyed a clash of wits with one who proved his master,though in the long run the youth generally came out ahead.
When, therefore, the girl in the post office at Beartown snapped out theremark just printed, he was roused to admiration. He threw back his headand the store rang with his infectious laughter.
"Begorra! ye were too much for me that time. If ye'll not think meimpudent, I beg the privilege of shaking hands wid ye."
The merry sprite, laughing almost as heartily as he, though with lessnoise, reached a dainty hand across the counter and he grasped it. Frombehind the rack at the front of the store, the gentle mother beamed witha smile. She had heard and understood it all.
"I am afraid, Nora, you were rude to the gentleman," she said in hersilvery voice.
"Not a bit!" was the hearty response of Mike. "I got it that time wherethe chicken got the axe--which the same is in the neck. It was a fair hitand I desarved more, though no one could give it to me."
It may be said that this little incident fixed Mike in the favor ofmother and daughter. It was hard to resist the rollicking good nature ofthe Irish youth, who was equally impressed by the gentle goodness of themother and the sprightly wit of the daughter. He now called a halt withhis nonsense and gave a true account of the situation. His two companionswere the sons of wealthy parents and one of them owned a beautiful motorlaunch which broke down while descending the river from Wiscasset. He hadleft the two trying to tinker it in shape, but had doubts of theirsuccess. In case they failed, it would be very pleasing to them if theycould get supper and lodging in Beartown. Would the good woman advisethem where to apply?
She replied that she would be glad to meet their wants, though they wouldbe disappointed with the poor meals and lodging, for she knew they mustbe accustomed to much better. This was the invitation for which Mike wasangling and he promptly accepted, assuring the woman that it was a finepiece of good fortune which more than repaid them for the disabling oftheir engine.
"They may repair it and go home," suggested Nora.
"That will make no difference, for I sha'n't return to them till nightcomes and then they'll have no ch'ice."
"They may not wait for you," said Nora.
"Little fear of their laving widout me, so nothing will be done till Iarrive, as Brian O'Lynn said when he was walking forth to be hanged."
With no other purpose in mind than to force his friends to stay overnight in the village, Mike Murphy loitered. When the mother and daughterwere not engaged with customers he entertained them by his quaintremarks, which kept the smile on their faces. He had seated himself, onthe invitation of Nora, in a chair at the rear of the store, where he wasin no one's way and where he could make use of his eyes. Thus it cameabout that he observed several interesting facts.
Mrs. Friestone and Nora made up the whole force of the store, which did aconsiderable trade in groceries and articles such as a village communityneeds. Furthermore, the abundant and excellent stock showed that theowner was not only enterprising but understood her business. The otherstore in Beartown hardly rose to the dignity of a rival.
It may as well be said at this point that her husband, who had been deadsix years, went through the whole war for the Union and was badly woundedseveral times. President Grant personally complimented Captain Friestonefor his bravery in battle, and when he became President appointed him aspostmaster at Beartown. He suffered so grievously from his old woundsthat the small post office and his pension were all that saved him andhis young wife from actual want. He took up storekeeping in a small way,gradually branching out until he had established a flourishing business,whereupon he did an almost unheard of thing. As soon as he knew hisfuture was secure, he notified the government that he would no longeraccept a pension and he stuck to the resolution.
The veteran was retained in office by the successors of President Grantuntil his death, when the appointment was given to his widow, not amember of the community asking for a change. The income was meagre, butthe widow had become accustomed to the duties, having performed themduring the last years of her husband's life, and she liked the work. Thestore paid so well that it more than met the wants of the two.
When the cheering thousands welcomed the soldiers returning from the war,a proud father held his little girl on his shoulder and she waved herhand joyously to the bronzed heroes some of whom were still little morethan boys. One laughing soldier snatched away the child and kissed her.He was Captain Friestone and the girl was Bessie Elton. The acquaintancethus begun ripened until the time arrived for her to put on long dresses,and by and by she became the happy bride of the officer, and never ashadow darkened their hearthstone until Death called and took away thebrave husband and father.
Mike noticed that a massive safe stood behind the counter in a corner atthe rear of the store. The ponderous door was open, for mother anddaughter had frequent cause to use the repository. Within the steelstructure all the stamps, government funds and daily cash receipts weredeposited at the close of the day's business. The value of these wasslight, but the safe contained a great deal more. While Nora was lightingthe five kerosene lamps, suspended on brackets at favorable points in thestore, a middle aged and somewhat corpulent man bustled in, nodded to thewidow and handed her a large sealed envelope. Mike heard him say,"Twenty-five hundred," and she replied "Very well." It was evident thathe had brought in that amount of money and left if for security with her.On the back of the envelope--though of course the youth did not seethis--was written in a large, round hand, "C. Jasper, $2500."
The widow walked to the rear of the store, drew out one of the smallcentral drawers of the safe and placed the big envelope in it, stillleaving the heavy door open, though the little drawer was locked with atiny key.
Five minutes later, a second man, thin, nervous and alert, steppedthrough the door, glanced sharply around and passed a similar envelope tothe woman. On the back of it was written, "G. H. Kupfer--$1250."
"You will please give me a receipt," he said in his brisk fashion. Thereply was gentle:
"I cannot do that."
"Why not? It's simple business."
"Mr. Kupfer, because you have more faith in my safe than in your smallone, you bring your money to me. I have not asked it; I should rather nothave it, and I do it only to accommodate you, besides which I charge younothing. If burglars should break in and steal your money, I cannot beresponsible. Do I make that clear to you?"
"Why, Mrs. Friestone, I have no fear of that sort; I only ask that yougive me a receipt merely as a matter of record and to save you possibleannoyance. Suppose anything should happen to me--such as my death--myfolks would be put to great trouble to get this money."
"That cannot possibly occur, for your name and the amount are written onthe sealed envelope; I know every member of your family, and in the eventyou speak of I should hand it personally to some one of them. On no othercondition will I take your money for safe keeping. Follow your ownpleasure."
"Oh, well," replied the caller, with a nervous laugh, "have it as youplease. I have left money with you before and haven't suffered. Butsay----"
As the keen eyes flitted around the store, he saw Mike Murphy sittingunder one of the lamps and looking as if he was not listening to theirconversation. Mr. Kupfer leaned over the counter and lowered his voice:
"Who is he?"
"A young gentleman."
"I don't like his looks."
"Then I advise you not to look at him," was the reply.
"How long is he going to hang round the store?"
"Just so long as it suits his pleasure to do so. He and two of hisfriends are going to take supper and stay overnight with us."
"Do you know anything about the two?"
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sp; "I have never seen them, and I never saw this young gentleman till thisafternoon."
The caller turned his face and scanned Mike more closely. The youth, whowas boiling with anger, tried to look as if unaware of the insultingaction.
"Please hand that package back," said Mr. Kupfer, with a compression ofhis thin lips.
Without a word, the widow passed the envelope to the man, who whiskedthrough the open door, fairly leaping off the porch to the dusty path.
Who shall describe the emotions of Mike Murphy during these exasperatingmoments? He recalled the experience of Alvin and Chester, as they relatedit to him, when they were arrested as post office robbers some daysbefore, and now something similar in essence had come to him. But whatcould he do? He would have liked to pummel the one who had insulted him,but that was impracticable, inasmuch as he had not addressed any words tothe youth.
While he was fuming and glaring at the door through which the man haddisappeared, Mike heard a soft chuckle behind him. He whisked his headaround and saw Nora standing beside the safe just back of him, stuffingher handkerchief in her mouth and with her face almost as crimson as hisown.
"If I may be so bowld I should like to know what ye are laughing at,"said Mike, who could feel no resentment toward the merry young miss.
"We both heard what he said," she replied as soon as she could commandher voice.
"Being I faal like a firecracker that has jest been teched off, I suspictI caught his loving remarks consarning mesilf."
"Will you tell me something truly--upon your word of honor--take yourdying oath?"
"That I will, ye may depind upon the same."
"Are you a real post office robber?"