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EPISODE

before he was well known on whatever round he was assigned to. After a time his job was changed. His duty then was to go to the red pillar-boxes into which the letters were put, empty them, and take the contents to the main post office of the district. His bag would be pretty heavy sometimes by the time he was through, but he was proud of his strength and the weight only made him laugh.
One day he was emptying a box in one of the better streets, a street of semi-detached houses, and had just closed his bag when a girl came running along.
" Postman," she cried "take, this letter, will you. I want it to go by this post most particularly."
He gave her his good-natured smile.
" I never mind obliging a lady," he said, putting down his bag and opening it.
" I wouldn't trouble you, only it's urgent," she said as she
handed him the letter she had in her hand. "Who is it to-a feller?" he grinned. "None of your business."
" All right, be haughty. But I tell you this, he's no good. Don't you trust him."
" You've got a nerve," she said.
" So they tell me."
He took off his cap and ran his hand through his mop of curling red hair. The sight of it made her gasp.
" Where d'you get your perm?" she asked with a giggle.
" I'll show you one of these days if you like."
He was looking down at her with his amused eyes, and there was something about him that gave her a funny little feeling in the pit of her stomach.
" Well, I must be on my way," he said. "If I don't get on with the job pretty damn quick I don't know what'll happen to the country."
" I'm not detaining you," she said coolly.
" That's where you make a mistake," he answered.
He gave her a look that made her heart beat nineteen to the