The Washington herald., 1914-04-10
THE LITTLE
MAIL CARRIER

It was a scandalous situation. FIo's
sprained ankle made her squlrm and
grimace with pain. but that was not the
worst of II. There was the mail. which
somehow must be carried to Long Gulch,
but that too could probably be arranged.
What troubled her most was that she
could not keep her toboggan cap on for
ever and she wondered what the hand
some young stranger would say when he
found out that-that-
A twinge in the ankle forced a little
cry from her lips, and just then the
handsome young strangers companion
thrust his head through the door and in
quired how she was feeling. Flo tried to
forget her pain long enough to make a
brave reply. but look of utter be-
wilderment that suddenly had crept into
the mans face checked the words on her
lips. For an instant he stared at her as
If she were a ghost, and then a knowing
smile vrinkled his face and with a
chuckle he slammed the door and ran.
Then Flo knew what had happened.
While she was writhing with pain on the
couch the toboggan cap had slipped from
her head, revealing what a high and COM
petent authority had called the most
wonderful hair in Highcrest County. And
now Flo wished that instead OF being a
hoyden and a romp and a tomboy and an
all-around unresPectable person. she had
been everything that the Ladies' Sewing
Circle, of Long Gulch, had told her she
ought to be. She almost wished she
had married New, the stupid woodsman
who had such a funny way Of making
love to her.
OF course the stranger who had found
her unconscious at the foot of the hill
and carried her TO his hunting lodge
would think she was a perfectly outrage
Gus person. She tried to convince herself
that she did not care what anybody
thought, but after a great deal of think
ing and squirming and humping of the
hunting jacket under her head she dis
coveted her rescuers opinion of her mat
tered a great deal
At that moment the door opened and
her hero and his companion entered.
She had slipped her cap over her head
again, but a few strands of Highcrest
County's most wonderful hair fiuttered
rebelliously about her face Her hero's
face was grsyely sympathetic but a
humorous light twinlxled in his eyes
dull flush covered her face as he
began to change the bandage on the a ch-
ing foot. She wished fervently she had
never worn the silly things. HIS COM
panion looked at Flo's golden tresses and
winked knowingly at the other.
You must think 1 am awful said Flo
eopoAASlS-SHS just ndO 10 say something.
81 am a girl IL am not a boy at all L
just wore EN- for fun
Her hero smiled in q friendly way. 'TI
thought when I saw you lying there at
the foot Of the hill that you were the
girliest thing have seen in a long while"
He looked admiringly at Flo.
Il was carrying the mail for father
pursued Flo, anxious to be done with ex-
plantations as quickly as possible. And
its quicker travelling when you wear these
things, and ! thought it would be a lot
of fun. too. My names Flo-Flo Whalen
and ! live at Long Gulch, and the mail
has to be there in the morning."
And my names John-John Temple"
The stranger bowed gallantly as he ad-
justed the bandage with practised fng-
ers. And I am sure / am delighted to
meet you. and if you will trust me with
that mail bag I will carry it to Long
Gulch before morning