The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-06-05
HIS PERQUlSITE.
Why tho Squire Doesn't Keep as
Well Posted as Formerly.

1T ought TO be here by this time,
said the postmaster Of Darby. as he
sLuffied in from taking a squirting
view through his Est down the turn
pike"
well. / can't wait. II anything
comes, send It up Jake Perkins
picked up his molasses-jug and went
out.
The Darby mail was late: and when,
q few minutes later, some one an
nounced tbs. approach Of the mail, the
postmaster felt called upon u vindicate
his own position by censurc Of the mail
carrier. who climbed slowly out Of the
dilaQidated old buggy called the
stage.
You must have powerful heavy
mail, you're 80 long getting here" lac
began
Always have Z heavy mail when
Billy's aboard" said Uncle Billy Tate,
winISic- - he entered with his usual
dolibcration and threw the mail pouch
with a circular motion over the counter
and around behind the small cluster Of
boxes known as the Darby post Office
That may all he So" said the squire,
but the people of this town don't feel
obliged TO wait all day on a govern
ment official, on no soldier ground than
his being fat and his horse lean. This
Office Is run for fhe people, aot for a
people, and they want their news on
time"
The neyvs'n keep" said one.
An the squireu never let has per
lzisites spoil a-layin'," remarked an
other, with wink.
These frequenters Of the combina-
ton village store and post Office knew
that the squire at least wanted the
news: and it was no secret that the
newspapers and postal cards that came
in the mail for the families living On
the outlying hills gave him an oppor-
tunity for supplying his wants-an op-
portunity not enjoyed by the less
favored residents.
In reality the squire had reioiced
over this fact when he took the Office,
looking upon it as one Of the perquiaites
of the position, and '-perquisites' he
always had an eye upon.
He had always reasoned that anyone
had n right to make L good thing when
ne could II ne mad better chance
than most people for news, why, if
there was anything 70 b. made out OF
II. VINO Ls.tt = i-LIt-E ElIlA " A1e IL
lie distributed the matter among the
boxes with great deliberatinn and en-
lsrc! the sitting--oom adjoining the
store a. soon a. the crowd hGd dcpurted-
lie Slipped a postal card into his wife's
hand
''Perkinses coming, Sliny."
In a very short time his wife thrust
her head into the store.
Il.
news On it, she said. with evident dis
appointment. What Of it," She ques-
toned. a. she slid back TO the Office
among the P's.
III put that card up, S'liny. just
You leave IL down there SO you think
that isn't news, and don't concern US!
Wen, ! reckon it does You wait till /
get this maclercl kit down cellar
Presently he came up from the cellar.
Isn't it eleven miles 70 Perkins, he
asked And isn't Raj free as water
with his money? The man that takes
EN- up there's going to get paid for it,
and I'm going TO be that man"
You, Why, Danl, where's your
t'other horse and your wagon
I've thought that out. FIy's mare
lOI Il t4d4l-AipAlG4- anu SOD = DiE " a. Oh
anot her, and III clear a full five on il"
But Jalle1l go after EN-, sure. if he
gets wind of it."
Just so. But he's got to get wind of
it To-day's Monday, and I'm thinking
he won't get that card before Thursday.
See?"
LA, yes. l see, but don't Son go TO
doing anything against the law, Danl."
q. =. r
get" The card was whiszed among
some papers as customer entered
Thursday morning found the squire
at the early train, but there was no one
there answering TO the Perkins rela-
tives.
Perhaps the folks you are looking
for will come on the night express,
said the conductor, of whom he in
quired That's due at six"
AT six o'clock it'll be dark he
unused, and they'll pay almost am
price to get there. III wait: but what
ails that horses foot?'
Inspection proved that the borrowed
animal had east a shoe, which had 10 be
set Then he had TO have crackers and
cheese for the day of waiting; bnt night
and the express came at Hast, and no
Perkinses upon it.
We'll, it's queer, mighty queer
unused the squire, as he drove slowly
homeward. They said Thursday, and
here tbs Thursday night-Whoa-p,"
He had run full into wagon which
was being driven along the dark road
BY the light of match he discovered
a badly wrenched wheel.
You come, Dan'l?"
II was late when his wife peered out
into the gloom as he stumbled in out of
the dark.
Yes, ] have, and that's more than
other folks have" he answered, gruffiy.
Didn't RATS folks Gomez
mo, they didn't, and don't sec what
folks want to be writing 10 make folks
traipse round after them for like this
all for nothing. Anybody been for the
mail?''
''No, but mans been here 10 buy
the old gray, and he said he guessed,
seeing that neither You nor the horse
was here, he'd back down.