"As far as you knew, I had no business to go near it.

Glad to see you know how to defend Uncle Sam's property so well.

I was only a bit puzzled to know" (pointing to the wire) "if that thing was on the bag when it was delivered to you ?" Mrs.Baker saw no reason to conceal the truth.

After all, this official was a man like the others, and it was just as well that he should understand her power.

"It's only the expressman's foolishness," she said, with a slightly coquettish toss of her head.