“It is very expensive to send messages by telegraph, and it will cost you several dollars to send this——”
“Thunderation!” broke in the indignant old man, growing red in the face. “I won’t patronize any sich frauds.”
He started to go out, when Ben checked him pleasantly.
“It will be too bad to disappoint your daughter, and we can arrange to send her a message with very little expense. There are many words here which can be left out without affecting the sense. Please run your pen through these, and let me look at it again.”
CHAPTER XI
THE VALUE OF COURTESY
The following is the message as first written out by the old farmer:
“Sally Jane Jones, Makeville,—I take my pen in hand to inform you that I arrived safely in Damietta this morning. I have seen Jim, your brother. His baby is dead in love with me, and they all join in sending their love to you. I expect to eat my supper with Cousin Maria and sleep in their house by the river. I will be home to-morrow afternoon. Meet me at the station with the roan mare, if she ain’t too tired to draw the buggy.