"I cal'late he's dead, Tobias."
"Then it's sartain he didn't send this letter with the black border."
"Well, it must be something about him, don't you think?" suggested the mail carrier leaning forward, his eager eyes twinkling.
"Why, we ain't in correspondence with nobody down there to Batten," said Tobias slowly, and holding the letter far off as though he feared it might explode.
Miss Heppy had got to her feet now and came forward.
"What's the matter with you, Tobias?" she cried. "Why don't you open it? Amos won't get home to-night if you don't."
Her gentle sarcasm was quite lost on the two men. Her brother shook his head.
"Can't open it," he said.
"Why not, for love's sake?" demanded the exasperated Heppy.
"'Cause it's for you," chuckled Tobias, thrusting the letter into her hand.