Page:Carroll Rankin--Dandelion Cottage.djvu/258

 234  collection of nickels and dimes she had placed on the counter. Mabel wondered why the young man chewed the ends of his sandy moustache so vigorously. Perhaps he was amused at something; she looked about the little office to see what it could be that pleased him so greatly, but there seemed to be nothing to excite mirth. She decided that he was either a very cheerful young man, naturally, or else he was feeling joyful because the clock said that it was nearly time for luncheon.

"It'll be all right, Miss Mabel," said he at last. "It's a pretty good fifty-five cents' worth; but I guess Mr. Black won't object to that. I hope you'll always come to me when you have messages to send."

"I won't if you go and read them all," said Mabel, at which her friend looked even more cheerful than he had before.

Ten minutes later, Mabel mumbling something about having had an errand to attend to, presented herself at the cottage. Beyond