CHAPTER XX
THE TELEGRAM
GROCER JACK was in the kitchen, and Benedicta called, “Miss Polly!”
The man greeted her with the smile that he usually wore.
“Good-morning,” he said. “You’re goin’ to have comp’ny!”
“Am I?” she asked in surprise. “One visitor has just left. Who else is coming?”
“Wal,” replied the grocer, “all I know is what Richmond told me, jus’ ’s I was startin’ out.”
“Richmond?” repeated Polly questioningly.
“Yere, ’xpress agent, ticket agent, freight agent, telegraph operator—all hands in one. He said he had a telegraph for you, an’ you was goin’ to have comp’ny, he guessed, comin’ on the quarter-of-twelve train this noon.”
“But why didn’t he send me the telegram?” Polly’s eyes were wide with amazement.
Grocer Jack puckered up his mouth and raised his eyebrows.