Now, I dislike to speak of Bucky as a villain, for of all the people in Hempfield Bucky certainly least looks the part. He has towy hair and mild, light-blue eyes. He wears a visor cap and carries a long, flat book which he flaps open for you to sign. He is the expressman.
I could see, however, from the look in Anthy's face that Bucky was really a hardened villain. And Bucky himself seemed to know it and feel it, for it was in an apologetic voice that he said:
"The plates is a dollar this week, Miss Doane, and the insides is seven and a half, C. O. D."
Anthy's hand went to the little leather bag she carried.
"I—I didn't bring up the insides in this load. Mr. Peters said—the Captain——"
Anthy had taken a step forward, and there was a look of sudden determination in her face.
"Never mind, Bucky, about the Captain——"
"Well, I thought——"
He was thinking just what the whole of Hempfield was thinking, and dared not say. The colour came up in Anthy's cheeks, but she only lifted her chin the higher.
"Tell Mr. Peters to send up the insides at once, Bucky, at once. The money will be ready for him."