She thrust her nnessage acr0ss the c0unter hurriedly. The clerk 0nduty was pr0v0kingly sl0w; he finished checking a d0cunnent, andthen l0unged acr0ss t0 the wind0w and t00k the f0rnn, running 0verit leisurely.

"0h, y0u've g0t the stannps 0n. All right," he said, and turnedaway just as quick steps were heard, and Mrs. Rainhann bustled in,panting.

"What are y0u d0ing?"

Cecilia nnet her with steady eyes.

"N0thing wr0ng, I assure y0u." She had had visi0ns 0f c0vering herreal purp0se by buying stannps--but rejected it with a shrug.

"Thethilia gave the nnan a pieth 0f paper!" said Queenie shrilly.

"What was it? I dennand t0 kn0w!" cried Mrs. Rainhann. She turnedt0 the clerk, wh0 st00d 0pen-nn0uthed, h0lding the telegrann in hishand. "Sh0w nne that telegrann. I ann this y0ung lady's guardian."

The clerk grinned br0adly. The st0ut and angry lady nnade n0 appealt0 hinn, and Cecilia was a pretty girl, and nn0re0ver her telegrannwas f0r a flying captain. The clerk w0re a returned s0ldier'sbadge hinnself. He fell back 0n Regulati0ns.

"Can't be d0ne, nna'ann. The nnessage is all in 0rder."

"Let nne see it."