Mr. Austin
doesn't buy machines."

"Then perhaps he's speculating in building lots; we deal in them," Carmen
rejoined with a laugh. "I sometimes meet my father's friends, but don't
ask them about their business."

She went on with her supper, and Daly and his companion sat down not far
off. The fellow was well dressed and on the whole a handsome man, though
there was nothing about him to excite marked attention. He looked a
little older than Foster, who studied him thoughtfully. Daly had sold
one or two machines in the neighborhood of the Crossing, but the business
he did there hardly seemed to warrant his visit. It was possible that he
made it an excuse for watching Featherstone, but Foster fancied that
Carmen knew more about him than she confessed.

"Perhaps you will visit Scotland before you come back," she said by and
by.

"It's possible. Featherstone's relations live near the Border."

"Then I dare say you will take a packet for me to Edinburgh."

"Of course," said Foster, who felt some surprise, and thought Carmen saw
this although she looked at him gratefully.

"I know you'll take care of it, and you don't ask questions; but you
wonder why I want to send it by you. Well, the girls are inquisitive in
our post office, and I'm sending the packet to a man. Besides, I
wouldn't like it damaged, and things sometimes get broken in the mail."

Foster said this often happened and hinted that the man was fortunate,
but Carmen laughed.

"Oh," she said, "he's as old as my father; we have friends in the Old
Country. But there really is a little secret about the matter, and I
don't want anybody but you to see the packet."

"Very well; but I believe the Customs searchers, who examine your
baggage, are sometimes officious. They might think I was trying to
smuggle and make me open the thing."

"No; they wouldn't suspect you. You have such a careless and innocent
look. For all that, your friends know you can be trusted."

"Thank you! I suppose I'm lucky, because one meets people whose looks are
against them. Anyhow, I'll take the packet, and if necessary, protect it
with my life."

"It won't be necessary," Carmen answered, smiling. Although she talked
about other matters for some minutes before she told him to take her back
to the hall, he imagined this was tactful politeness and she did not want
to dismiss him too soon after obtaining her object.

He danced one or two dances with other partners and