"I don't want to trouble Miss Oliver," he said. "Still, as it happens, I've a message for you."
Mr. Oliver said that he would give him some dry clothes, and the two withdrew to get them. They came back a few minutes later and sat down at the table. The stranger made an excellent meal, and Mr. Oliver waited until he had finished before he asked a question:
"Have you walked in?"
"From the settlement," the other answered. "As I expected to get back by the steamboat, I left my hired horse with Porteous at the store."
"Porteous doesn't keep the store."
"The other fellow got hurt chopping a week or so ago. A log or a big branch fell on him, and they sent him off to Seattle. Porteous is running the business until he gets better."
Frank fancied that Mr. Oliver was displeased at this, but there was no change in his manner toward his visitor.
"Is he running the post office, too?" he asked.
"Oh, yes. I had to tell him something about a letter."
"You mentioned that you had some business with me. I suppose you're looking up orders for fruit trees?"