“I've got some money,” she exclaimed to the astonished girl who, half undressed, sat writing at her table. (It was after nine o'clock—an unheard-of hour for visiting.) “How much stock can I buy for two hundred dollars?” and she shook out the check, keeping her finger over the signature.
“Twenty shares,” answered Maria.
“How do I get it?”
“Send the money to Keep & Co. Oh, you got a check! Well, put 'Keep & Co.' on—here, I'll do it, and you sign your name underneath. And I'll write 'em a letter and tell 'em I helped sell it to you. Oh, ain't I glad, Ab. You must be getting awful big pay to have saved all that. Wish I—”
“How long before I know?” She had not much time to talk—her mother might wake and call her.
“They'll telephone you. You got a long-distance, ain't you, in the office? Yes, I seen it.”
Abbie took the name of the senior partner, replaced the check, and was by her own fire again. The mother hadn't stirred.
All the next day she waited for the rattle of the bell. At three o'clock she sprang to the 'phone.
“This Miss Todd—postmistress?”
“Yes.”