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Ten minutes passed。 The sun was declining； the white fog was
beginning to creep over the Coast Range。 From the edge of the wood
Cinderella appeared； disenchanted； and in her homespun garments。
The clock had struckthe spell was past。 As she disappeared down
the trail even the magic mirror； moved by the wind； slipped from
the tree top to the ground； and became a piece of common glass。
CHAPTER IV。
The events of the day had produced a remarkable impression on the
facial aspect of the charcoal…burning Fairley。 Extraordinary
processes of thought； indicated by repeated rubbing of his forehead；
had produced a high light in the middle and a corresponding
deepening of shadow at the sides； until it bore the appearance of a
perfect sphere。 It was this forehead that confronted Flip
reproachfully as became a deceived comrade； menacingly as became an
outraged parent in the presence of a third party anda Postmaster！
〃Fine doin's this； yer receivin' clandecent bundles and letters；
eh？〃 he began。 Flip sent one swift； withering look of contempt at
the Postmaster； who at once becoming invertebrate and groveling；
mumbled that he must 〃get on〃 to the Crossing； and rose to go。 But
the old man； who had counted on his presence for moral support； and
was clearly beginning to hate him for precipitating this scene with
his daughter； whom he feared； violently protested。
〃Sit down； can't ye？ Don't you see you're a witness？〃 he screamed
hysterically。
It was a fatal suggestion。 〃Witness；〃 repeated Flip； scornfully。
〃Yes； a witness！ He gave ye letters and bundles。〃
〃Weren't they directed to me？〃 asked Flip。
〃Yes；〃 said the Postmaster； hesitatingly； 〃in course； yes。〃
〃Do YOU lay claim to them？〃 she said； turning to her father。
〃No；〃 responded the old man。
〃Do you？〃 sharply； to the Postmaster。
〃No；〃 he replied。
〃Then；〃 said Flip； coolly； 〃if you're not claimin' 'em for
yourself； and you hear father say they ain't his； I reckon the less
you have to say about 'em the better。〃
〃Thar's suthin' in that；〃 said the old man； shamelessly abandoning
the Postmaster。
〃Then why don't she say who sent 'em； and what they are like；〃 said
the Postmaster； 〃if there's nothin' in it？〃
〃Yes；〃 echoed Dad。 〃Flip； why don't you？〃
Without answering the direct question； Flip turned upon her father。
〃Maybe you forget how you used to row and tear round here because
tramps and such like came to the ranch for suthin'； and I gave it
to 'em？ Maybe you'll quit tearin' round and letting yourself be
made a fool of now by that man； just because one of those tramps
gets up and sends us some presents back in turn？〃
〃'Twasn't me； Flip；〃 said the old man； deprecatingly； but glaring
at the astonished Postmaster。 〃Twasn't my doin'。 I allus said if
you cast your bread on the waters it would come back to you by
return mail。 The fact is； the Gov'ment is gettin' too high…handed！
Some o' these bloated officials had better climb down before next
leckshen。〃
〃Maybe；〃 continued Flip to her father； without looking at her
discomfited visitor； 〃ye'd better find out whether one of those
officials comes up to this yer ranch to steal away a gal about my
own size； or to get points about diamond…making。 I reckon he don't
travel round to find out who writes all the letters that go through
the Post Office。〃
The Postmaster had seemingly miscalculated the old man's infirm
temper and the daughter's skillful use of it。 He was unprepared
for Flip's boldness and audacity； and when he saw that both barrels
of the accusation had taken effect on the charcoal burner； who was
rising with epileptic rage； he fairly turned and fled。 The old man
would have followed him with objurgation beyond the door； but for
the restraining hand of Flip。
Baffled and beaten； nevertheless Fate was not wholly unkind to the
retreating suitor。 Near the Gin and Ginger Woods he picked up a
letter which had fallen from Flip's pocket。 He recognized the
writing； and did not scruple to read it。 It was not a love
epistle；at least； not such a one as he would have written；it
did not give the address nor the name of the correspondent； but he
read the following with greedy eyes：
〃Perhaps it's just as well that you don't rig yourself out for the
benefit of those dead beats at the Crossing； or any tramp that
might hang round the ranch。 Keep all your style for me when I
come。 I can't tell you when； it's mighty uncertain before the
rainy season。 But I'm coming soon。 Don't go back on your promise
about lettin up on the tramps； and being a little more high…toned。
And don't you give 'em so much。 It's true I sent you hats TWICE。
I clean forgot all about the first； but I wouldn't have given a
ten…dollar hat to a nigger woman who had a sick baby because I had
an extra hat。 I'd have let that baby slide。 I forgot to ask
whether the skirt is worn separately； I must see the dressmaking
sharp about it； but I think you'll want something on besides a
jacket and skirt； at least； it looks like it up here。 I don't
think you could manage a piano down there without the old man
knowing it； and raisin' the devil generally。 I promised you I'd
let up on him。 Mind you keep all your promises to me。 I'm glad
you're gettin' on with the six…shooter； tin cans are good at
fifteen yards； but try it on suthin' that MOVES！ I forgot to say
that I am on the track of your big brother。 It's a three years'
old track； and he was in Arizona。 The friend who told me didn't
expatiate much on what he did there； but I reckon they had a high
old time。 If he's above the earth I'll find him； you bet。 The
yerba buena and the southern wood came all right；they smelt like
you。 Say； Flip； do you remember the lastthe VERY lastthing
that happened when you said 'Good…by' on the trail？ Don't let me
ever find out that you've let anybody else kiss〃
But here the virtuous indignation of the Postmaster found vent in
an oath。 He threw the letter away。 He retained of it only two
facts；Flip HAD a brother who was missing； she had a lover present
in the flesh。
How much of the substance of this and previous letters Flip had
confided to her father I cannot say。 If she suppressed anything it
was probably that which affected Lance's secret alone； and it was
doubtful how much of that she herself knew。 In her own affairs she
was frank without being communicative； and never lost her shy
obstinacy even with her father。 Governing the old man as
completely as she did； she appeared most embarrassed when she was
most dominant； she had her own way without lifting her voice or her
eyes； she seemed oppressed by mauvaise honte when she was most
triumphant； she would end a discussion with a shy murmur addressed
to herself； or a single gesture of self…consciousness。
The disclosure of her strange relations with an unknown man and the
exchange of presents