At long intervals an acrid odor of ink floated up from the branch post-office immediately below.
Maria Macapa finished her work and started to leave.

As she passed near Marcus and his cousin she stopped, and drew a bunch of blue tickets furtively from her pocket.

"Buy a ticket in the lottery ?" she inquired, looking at the girl.

"Just a dollar." "Go along with you, Maria," said Marcus, who had but thirty cents in his pocket.

"Go along; it's against the law." "Buy a ticket," urged Maria, thrusting the bundle toward Trina.