It rolled through the main street, where the Captain and Mr.Hamilton were kept busy answering hails and returning bows from citizens, male and female.

Through the more thickly settled portion of the village it moved, until at a point where there were fewer shops and the houses were older and less up-to-date, it reached the corner of a narrow cross road.

There it stopped before a frame building bearing the sign, "Hamilton and Company, Dry Goods, Groceries, Boots and Shoes and Notions." There was a narrow platform at the front of the building and upon this platform were several men, mostly of middle age or older.
Mary-'Gusta noticed that most of these men were smoking.

If she had been older she might have noticed that each man either sat upon the platform steps or leaned against the posts supporting its roof.

Not one was depending solely upon his own muscles for support; he sat upon or leaned against something wooden and substantial.
As the buggy drew alongside the platform the men evinced considerable interest.