Jeb stood waiting at the
little station of Oak Creek, his mouth and eyes wide open as he watched
the train pull in--always an exciting time for the farmhand.
The cumbersome ranch-wagon, with its high spring-seat, was drawn up
beside a telegraph pole to which the skittish young horses had been
securely tied. Anne went over to meet Jeb, and said, with a smile:
"Were you waiting for some ladies for the Brewsters? I am Anne Stewart,
the teacher who used to be at Bear Forks school."
"Ya-as'm! How-dee! Hain't you-all got unny more comin'?"
"Not to-day. They missed their train and expect to be here on to-
morrow's noon-train. What is your name, may I ask?"
"Jeb," laconically replied the man, looking about as if he still missed
a necessary item for the return trip.
"Oh! I guess you want my baggage. It's that small trunk over by the
box-car," explained Anne, and Jeb grinned with relief.
As he carried the trunk lightly as if it were a stick, Anne remarked:
"It's too bad to make you take this trip again to-morrow."
"Not so-es you-all kin notice it! To-morrer is pay-day fer the miners,
en Oak Crick is a lively town, them times," explained Jeb, winking an
eye to show what fun he expected to have next day.
"Then it's a lucky thing for you, Jeb, that my friends missed the train
to-day."
"Jes' so!" chuckled Jeb, as he gathered up the reins and snacked the
whip over his horses' heads.
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