The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-03-11

perhaps two months. But It would
have to be ell-hidden.
And the thought stuck to him, despite
all attempts to keepit off, though by the
time he had driven the mustangs intt
Red Canyon his indignation at having
been suspected by the company had diec
down. The box at his feet had taken on
new meaning for him. It meant smart
gowns for his wife. 1t meant good
schooling for the children. Those fivs
little ones had had ,s hard "rustle" of it
10 get what few scraps of learning they
had thus far managed to clutch; and, a,
for clothes, they were dressed like iuve
nile scarccrows Yes all the hard scratch
ing would be over il he dared to do what
many another hard-pushed man had
done. Resolving the whole matter down
TO plain, clearcut proposition, it was,
after all, simply q question of ''nerve."
Here was tho place to. do it. Right
here, where the high, scraggly rocks,
with the patches of sage.b brush atop,
came SO near to the buckboard. II
could he thrown over rtherc-anywhere-
into tho sage e-brusil. It would, be as
wcll-conccaled rs though buried in six
feet of earth. The blackboard had
reached the top OF u loug down-grade.
Zach put on the brake aud twisted the
rcins about the brake handle. AS IL
about to- take II plunge iuto ice. cold
water, he reached down for tho box.
But wait bit. Ho took OIL his big
sombrero aud hung it on a projecting
rock. Then flashing out his six shooter,
he sent bullet through the brim of tho
hat, which he thcu 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 believe the stony that he
would have to concoct, even though he
showed them tho hole in the hat -brim2
What would hc care whether they did or
not? They already suspected him. IL he
had the name, he might as well have the
game. He looked ut the spot where the
sage-brush clustered thickest, and made
mental throw or two in a tUutative way,
in order to "get the distance"
Then he laid two nervous hands on
the box. He gave little tug. How
heavy it was! Could it be tossed over
there, after all2 1t might have to be
carried. Ho lifted it upon the seat.
"Via Thimble Spring Stage Line" What
was the sense iu putting on such direc-
ton Us that2 1t was the only way 1t 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
Iach7" he burst out, hoarsoly. eyes,
but why don't they do as any other decent
minin' comp'ny does--turn thoir stuff
into the bank at Frisco, arter it's miut-
ed9 What do they want on it up thar2"
Well, after ali, that was their business.
But he couldn't be trusted. What would
Bill say2 Bill was an honest man. He
would blush with shame every time his
brother name was mentioned after that
for, of course, he would know. Sue
would never suspect. Any kind of
story would bamboozio her. Bill was
smart. He could put two and two to.
gethcr rs quickly rs any mau in the
country. Aud yet Bill himself was lit
tic reckless sometimes. Ho had been
acting very queer Of late, and had been
over 10 Johnsons good deal, dsinking
and playing cards with the boys. That
would not do. Bill must be looked af-
ter. He was only Young fellow-a
mere boy, even if he had been trying to
raise mustache lately. Yes, Bill was a
good deal younger than he. Why, he
remembered we'll the day 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 tho first ono
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
knock by falling ou: of his high-uhair.
Bill was just as much TO him now as'evcr,
aud those knocks which fate and the
weaknesses of his naturs were giving
him now hurt him just as badly-worse,
perhaps, than they did Brother Bill.
What would Bill say2
He laid his hands upon the box again.
1t would be safe enough behind the rocks
there under tho gc-brush--as safo as
il
"Git up thari Git, Buckskini Git,
old Gabe! Ye lazy critters. G'laugp
And down came the long lush upon the
dust-covered backs Of tho mustangs, aud
off down the long grade they ran, MAX
ing the dust fly in tue canon as it never
Jew before. For Ztch hal grasped the
reins in a grip of iron, aud both his big
ccwhide boots were planted firmly on the
box.
''Thls ere is what call goiu' like sin /"
he said, ten minutes LATER, as they were
still flying down the grade. "But lost
some timo with blamed. fool notion that
l orter a ben licked for ever thInkin' Oh
mint. Wal, the mustangs got q good
rest. Maxim up fer it now, though.
They'll soon be in lathcr. Ill git to
the half way house In quarter of an
hour, aud then I'll ea&e good horu. I
feel kinder narvous yit. Thet 'cre box
is heavy load on mau's mihd. Is'pose
the superintendent up to Gold Butte is
worryin about il, too. Never mind, oil
fcller, you'll see that stuff slowed away
in yer safe afore sunuown.
"Whnrs thisf A hol! up, sure g,
shootin'"
Out from behind tall rock, mau,
with piece of dark calico over MS face
and very large Winchester in his hand !,
had suddenly sprung, and the muxzlc of
the rifle looked right into Zach's big,