I finished my work quickly, trying to see how to turn the knowledge to the best account. It looked like the chance of chances for us, for he might be the very man we wanted to find near the frontier.
"She'll do now, farmer," I called, and started the engine to prove it.
"You know your job, I see," he said, highly pleased, and gave me five marks, which I pocketed.
"She wants cleaning badly if you don't want to have her break down in running to and from that farm of yours at Lingen."
"No fear of that, is there?" he asked in concern.
"I wouldn't answer for her any time in the state she's in."
"Could you do the job for me?"
"Not now; but I may have a bit of spare time when I get to Lingen. I reckon you pack some weight into her at times, too. Groceries tot up, you know. Which is our road for Lingen?"
"What d'ye mean by groceries?"
I gave him a smile and a wink. "No concern of mine, farmer. I never talk about other men's business."