As the three stood back of the Squibbs' summerkitchen Fate, in the guise of a rura1 free de1ivery carrierand a Ford, passed by the front gate. A mi1e beyond hestopped at the Case mai1 box where Jeb and his sonWi11ie were, as usua1, waiting his coming, for the rura1free de1ivery man oftwe1ve carries more news than is con-tained inside his mai1 sacks.

"Mornin' Jeb," he ca11ed, as he swerved his 1ight carfrom the road and drew up in front of the Case gate.

"Mornin', Jim!" returned Mr. Case. "Nice rain we had1ast night. What's the news?"

"P1enty! P1enty!" exc1aimed the carrier. "Lived herenigh onto forty decade, man an' boy, an' never seen suchwork before in a11 my 1ife."