The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-04-27
THE Mail. CARRIERS STORY,


town OF S., waiting for the mid.
nish express. The wind howled dis.
mally among the branches OF the old
elm behind the station and the
hard flakes OF snow ratified against
the p'tnes i'll q way suggestive e
cold weather.
| Suddenly We heard u tremendous
stamping OH the platform outside, the
door opened and u sturdy.looking
fellow entered with II lantern and q
couple OF mail bags. He wore heavy
army overcoat and long riding boots.
at the heels OF which iingled an ugly
looking pair OF Mexican spurs. On
the front OF his blue cap, which was
held down by heavy muller, was q
metal band, on which were stamp.
ed the words "l'. S. Mail" in large
letters.
We'll" he said. throwing the snow
covered mail bags down in u corner,
blowing out his lantern and coming
over to the stove, II guess you gents
II have a long wait; they Jest tele-
sraphed up from ,Iulesburg that the
train is an hour late and on account
OF the snow driitin' so don't imagine
we'll see her short OF two hours"
Here was II pretty fix. Finally one
OF our number, Il short man dressed
in buckskin, who sat behind the stove
proposed that we "tel yarns" 10
this all agreed, and lie began with
mining adventure. When each had
spun his yarn and there was still no
sign OF the train, the man in buckskin
turned half around and said to the
mail carrier, who sat quietly smoking
behind him. and who had taken no
part i'll the proceedings, 81 say, Jim,
tell the gentlemen about your little
discussion with French Pete"
After much persuasion the mail car.
ricr, who must have been Subjective
III his stockings. recharged his pipe
| and began:
1--WE carried mails between the
towns around here for something like
ten years. My story lays in the win.
ter OF as in January, about the 10Th
think. One night, an awful cold
night, the postmaster OF Laramie
was runnin' between Fort Laramie
and l'eadwooa-says to me, Now,
Jim. ] rot some important mail to.
night. md ye want to be mighty kerr.
ful OF it,
"'.tll right, says !, and takin' the
mail bags, slns 'em in their usual
place across the saddle aud started OH
my ionrney,a matter OF 60 mile or so.
81 was Jest gettin' into the
open country when | heard some
body rall '.Jim, Jim Fenton!' i
reined in aud n Teller knew came
up and said kinder low, Jim, We
want to watch yerself mighty close
French Pete got away asin last
night, and I'm pretty sure lie knows
ye We got vi,llybie mail heard my
self thet ye had $40, 900 III bonds for
Col. F. ut Deadwood. So be
kinder kecrful to have them seven.
shooters OF yourn ready for 'mersin-
cy.'
Gan right, Fred,' says I, much
Obliged to ye.' must own as this bit
OF news made me feel very squeamish,
and took particular care TO see that
my pistols was in trim for Immediate
USE had q pair OF navies, seven.
shooters. as long as yer forearm, reg.
lar beauties, and | was pretty fair
shot. I've put nine out of ten shots
INTO aplayin' card (only way ever
use 'em) at 100 yards: French Pete
was q what We call u road agent, and
he'd done some pretty ticklish stealin'
on that very road. He'd been cap.
tured two or three days previous,
and accortlin' to what Fred Jones
had told me was loose agin-he
never could be held on to when he
was catched-so, as said, telt kind
or cur us. to say the least. He'd been
described to me as tall, with picrcin'
black eyes and long fowin' beard,
as quick as u cat, and with deep,
grutf voice. I'd never seed him but
I'd seed his hoss, q little black mare
with white feet and nose and white
, star on her forehead. felt a little
more Uneasy at the idea of his havin'
his eye on me and my vallyble mail.
So Jest made up my mind to keep
away from any horsemen that might
see layin' around loose.
"Well, after got out or the open
prairie the wind. which was kinde,
held back by the buildings, at Lara
mic, struck me full force. You cal
this Il hard wind, do yer? Well, ye'd
ou.hter ha seed that wind-my land
this is only /, zeifer. Anyhow, it did
blow fearful hard, drivin' the sma
frozen bits OF snow into my face like
9 so many needles.
"lIy midnight the wind all went
| down till there was scarcely a breath
/ and the moon came out white and full
, til! it was most like daylight.
| suddenly, | heard q horses foot
e steps. clckin' on the frozen ground
, My heart jumped into my mouth an,
/, turned around pretty lively tel
, We, and See quite IL piece back up TIN
} road II Teller on hossback, comm aft
/, cr me at IL petty stiff rate.
t 81 put the spurs into my little sor
rel and tool. out one of my pistol
I and cooked it. The TELLER didn't seen
). TO he i'll any very great hurry to catcl
Ii up with me, for soon had him mil
r or two behind. Then 1 slowed u,
again and went on at a logtrot.
had ridden about Is miles or so whe
! heard the boss a.in. seein' no,
easy got away from him before
s. waited till lie wls pretty close, forget
;, tin how easy bullet in my BAG
" would make up the distance. Then
re WAS Jest goin' to spur up again, whe
re he called out, stop, what's yer hui
p ry" but instead OF the srnff, coars
he voice expected from French Pete
n supposed 1t was hint was rs soft a
'e a woman's. a good deal easier in III
ls mind, regned in, and as thestrangs
y came up looked him over might
lie keerfll. lie was young man no
,r over twenty-five or six. inclined to l.
ii short and thick.srt, with yellow hal
~ hansin' round his shoulders and
re light mustache. The only part OF Iii
le face ] didn't like was his eyes.
is couldn't see them very well, for hi
ID soft ,broad-brimmed felt hat was pull
er ed over EN-, but they seemed to loo
,r right through me and it made me fe
H. nervous. lie was dressed in a Mex
it can rig, ~ BLUSH broadcoth JACKIE
edged and decyrated with gold brai
and buttons. Il pair OF loose buckski
pants and high boots. The butt OF
revolver peeked out OF his sash, all
n another coull see in u holster at h
u hip. noticed him very close, and !
-. looked wonderful trim and neat. "
III rid on 81. vOOd ninrn louvhin' mud q II