“Jennie, of all people!” gasped Ted, as he saw the crippled little figure. “What on earth brought you over here?” Then noting the shadow of pain his abrupt words had sent to the girl’s face, he added hastily: “I surely am mighty glad to see you. I was thinking of riding over this afternoon.”
Her smile restored by these assurances, Jennie said:
“I came with a telegram for you.”
“A telegram? How did you get it when Andy is here?”
“It was sent to Hutchins when Chikau couldn’t be raised. The agent there telephoned it over. I think it is important, so I brought it. Steve is away and I took his horse.”
“Good girl. Where’s the message?”
“Pap was out when it came. I couldn’t write it, so I remembered it. It said: ‘Phil and Ted Porter, Chikau. Your mother and sisters will arrive Friday!’”
“Why, today is Friday!”
“I know it. That’s why I thought you ought to get it.”
“I should say ‘yes.’ But where’s it been all this time? You can’t travel from Weston to Chikau in a few hours. Who sent it?”