Without replying, Little Snap tossed him the pouch, amusing himself while the other sorted the mail by stroking the neck of Jack and talking to the horse as was his wont.
In the midst of his simple talk Shag rushed out of his office, looking uncommonly red in the face, as he shouted:
"No mail for the Tree again! What does that mean?"
Looking toward the speaker with surprise, Little Snap did not know what reply to make.
"Oh, ye needn't look so innercent, ye thievin' rat! Mebbe ye think ye can make th' racket work ag'in, but I'll show ye ye can't! Where's th' mail ye should hev fer this offis?"
"In that sack, if anywhere. That is where it should be, if you haven't taken it out."
"I haven't, an' I can prove it by th' boys hyur," pointing to the three men who had followed him from the building.
Little Snap's surprise was great, though he did not have any doubt in his mind that Dan Shag had taken out the package and was intending to bluff him down.
"Mr. Shag, if you haven't that mail in your office, then I do not know where it is. I do know there was a lot for you here, or I know, at least, Budd Grass, at Greenbrier, said so."
"Projuce, then!" cried the postmaster. "I can prove by these men that I haven't taken a thing out o' thet bag thet b'longed hyur."