The Princeton union., 1891-03-19
THE SQUIRE'S PERQUlSITE.

oo'Au oiio POoOiiAe'ooCA VI Dt1IOy, as ne
shuffled in from taking a squirting
view through his fist down the s'turn-
pike"
"Well I can't wait. If anything
comes, send it up" Jake Perkins
picked up his molasses-jug and went
out.
The Darby mail was late; and when,
few minutes later some one announc-
ed the approach of the mail, the post
master felt called upon to vindicate
his own position by censure of the
mailcarrier, who clambered slowly out
of the dilapidated old buggy called the
"stage."
"You must have powerful heavy
mail, you're so long getting here" he
began.
"Always a heavy mail when Billy's
aboard" said Uncle Billy Tate, wink
ing as he entered with his usual delib-
GRAFTON and threw the mail pouch
with a circular motion over the coun-
ter and around behind the small
cluster of boxes known as the Darby
post-office.
"That may all be so," said the
Squire, 'but the people of this town
don't feel obliged to wait all day on
government official, on no soldier
ground than his being fat and his
horse lean. This office is run for the
people, not for a people, and they
want their news on time"
''The news'll keep said one.
can the SQUIRREL never let his per-
kisites spoil a-layin'," remarked an
other with a wink.
These frequenters of the combina-
tion village store andpost-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 liv-
ing on the outlying hills, gave him an
opportunity for supplying his wants
AN opportunity not enjoyed by the
less favored residents.
In reality the squire had rejoiced
over this fact when he took the Of
flee, looking upon it us one of the
prequisites he always had an eye
upon.
He had always reasoned that any
one had a right to make a good thing
when he could. Ii he had q better
chance than most for news, if there
was anything to be made out of it,
who had a better right to use it?
He distributed the matter among
the boxes, with great deliberation,
and entered thesitting-room adjoining
the store as soon as the crowd had
departed. He slipped a post al-card
INTO his wife's hand.
"Perkinses coming, S'liny."
In a very short time his wife thrust
her head into the store.
"Why, it don't concern us; there's
no news on it," she said, with evident
disappointment. "What Of it," she
questioned, as she slid back to the
office and reached up to place the
postal-card among the P's.
'I'll put that card up, S'liny. Just
you leave it down there. Soyou think
that isn't news, and don't concern
us! Well, [ reckon it does. You wait
till lget this mackerel kit down cellar"
Presently he came up from the Gel
lar. "Isn't it eleven miles to Per-
kin's?" he asked. "And isn't Raj free
as water with his money? The man
that takes 'em up there's goin to get
paid for it and Pm going to be that
man."
"You! Why, Dan'l, where's your
t'other horse and your wagon?"
1--WE thought that out. Fry'smare
for a half dollar, and Jobs big wagon
another, and I'll clear a full five on It. :"
but Jakeil 90 after 'em, sure, if he
"Just so! But he's got to get wind
Of it. Today's Monday, and Pm
thinking he won't get that card before
Thursday. See?'
LA. yes, see, but don't you 90 to
doing anything against the law, Dan'l.
"Well, 'tisn't against the law to for
get." The card was Whisked among
some papers as a customer entered.
Thursday morning found the Squire
at the early train, but there was no
one there answering to the Perkinses'
relatives.
"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"
cat six o'clock it'll be dark" he
unused, "and they'll pay almost any
price to get there. I'll wait; but what
alls that horses foot?"
Inspection proved that the borrow
ed animal had cast SHOE which had
to be set. Then he had to have crack
ers and cheese for the day OF waiting;
but night and the express came at
last, and no Perkinses upon it!
"Well, its queer, mighty oueer!u'
unused the Squire, as he drove slowly
homeward. '"They said Thursday,
and an, here tits Thursday night
Whoa-p!" III.
He had run full into @ wagon which
was being driven along the dark road.
BY the light OF a match he discovered
a badly wrenched wheel.
"You come, DAMP"
1t was late when his wife peered out