St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-02-25

though by the time he had driven the
mustangs into Red Canon, his in
dignation at having been suspected
by the company had died down.
The box at his feet had taken a new
meaning for him. 1t meant smart
gowns for the wife. 1t meant good
schooling for the children. Those
five little ones had had a hard
rustic" of it to get what few scraps
of learning they had thus far man.
they were dressed like juvenile scare
crows Yes, all the hard scratching
would be over if he dared to do
what many another hard-pushed
man had done. Resolving the whole
matter down to a plain, clear-cut
proposition, it was, after all, simply
question of nerve"
Here was the place % doit. Right
here, where the high, scraggly rocks,
with the patches of sage-brush atop,
came so near to the blackboard. 1t
could be thrown over there-any-
where-into the gebrush. 1t would
be as well-coucealed as though buried
in six feet of earth The blackboard
had reached the top of long down
grade. Zach put on the brake and
twisted the reins about the brake
handle. AS if about to take a plunge
into ice-cold water, he reached down
for the box. But wait a bit. He
took off his big sombrero and hung
it on a projecting rock. Then flash
ing out his six-shooter, he sent
bullet through the brim of the hat,
which he then replaced on his head.
Though it had been hot enough
when he started out from Thimble
Spring, there seemed to be chill in
the air just now. Would they be-
lieve the story that he would have
to concoct, even though he showed
them the hOlein the hat brim ? What
would he care whether they did or
not? They already suspected him.
If he had the name, he might as well
have the game. He looked at a spot
where the sage-brush clustered
thickest, and made mental throw
or two in tentative way, in order
to get the distance"
Then he laid two nervous hands
on the box. He gave little tug.
Lord, how heavy it wasl Could it
be tossed over, there, after, all !? 1t
might have to be carried. He lifted it
on the seat Via Thimble Spring
Stage Line" What was the sense in
putting on such direction as that !?
1t was the only way it could go.
The only way. And that way was
now closed, for he was about to
God, KANT they trust you-yOu,
Zach Springer. KANT they trust
Old Zach ?" he burst out hoarsely.
Yes, but why don't they do as any
other decent mimi comp'ny does
turn their stuff into the bank at
Frisco. arter it's minted? What do
they want on it up thar"
Well, after all, that was their bust
ness. But he couldn't be trusted.
What would Bill say? Bill was an
honest man He would blush with
shame every time his brothers name
was mentioned after that-for, OF
course, he would know. Sue would
never suspect. Any kind of a story
would bamboozle her. Bill was
smart. He could put two and two
together as quickly as any man in
the country And yet Bill himself
was little reckless sometimes. He
had been acting very queer OF late,
and had been over to JOhnson's a
good deal, drinking and playing
cards with the BOYS. That would
not do. Bill must be looked after
He was only young fellow-a mere
boy, even if he had been trying to
raise a mustache lately. Yes. Bill
was a good deal younger than he
| Il I he ri
he was born, when they took him IN
to show him his new baby brother
He used to carry Bill all around, and
he was the first one to stand him on
his legs and try to make him walk
He remembered how it used to hurt
his own head when Bill got a knock
by falling out of his high chair. Bill
was Just as much to him now as
ever, and those knocks which fate
and the weakness of his nature were
giving him now hurt him Just as
badly-worse, perhaps, than they
did Brother Bill.
What would Bill say?
He laid his hands upon the box
again. 1t would be safe enough be
hind the rocks there under the safe
brush-as safe as if
Cit up, thar, ye! Git, Buckskin
Git, old Gabe! Ye lazy critters
G1ang!" And down came the long
lash upon the dust-covered backs o
the mustangs, and off down the long
grade they ran, making the dust fly
in the canon as it never flew before
For Zach had grasped the reins II
a grip of iron, and both his big cow
hide boots were planted firmly or
the box.
This ere is what 1 call goin
licketty-split y he said, ten minute:
later, as they were still flying dowr
the grade. But / lost some time
with a blamed-fool notion that
orter a ben licked for ever thinkin