The Opelousas courier., 1892-06-25

Ana the Gl0uSnG SUCK 10 HILLS uesPAoe
all attempts to keepit off, though by the
time he had driven the mustangs into
Red Canyon, his Indignation at having
been suspected by the company had dIea
down. The box at his feet had taken on
d new meaning for him. 1t meant smart
crowns for his wife. 1t meant a good
schooling for the children. Those hVe
little ones had had a hard ''fustle" of it
to get what few scraps of learning they
had thus far managed to clutch; and, as
for clothes, they were dressed like Juve.
nile scarecrows yes.all the harcacratch.
many another hard-pushed man had
done. Resolving the whole matter down
to a plain, clear-cut proposition, it was,
after all, simply a question of ''nerve."
Here was the place to- do it. 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-anywhere-
into the sage-brus!l. It would be as
well-concealed as though buried IN six
feet of earth. The blackboard had
reached the top Of a long down-grade.
Zach put on the brake and twisted the
reins about the brake-handle. As II
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 flashing out his six-shooter,
he sent a 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 a chill In the air just now.
Would they believe the story that ne
would have to concoct, even though he
showed them the hole in the hat-brlms
What would he care whether they did or
not2 They already suspected him. If he
had the name, he might as well lave the
game. He looked at the spot where the
sage-brush clustered thickest, and made
a mental throw or two in a tentative way,
in order to s.gegthe distance
Then he laid two nervous hands on
the box. He gave a little tug. How
heavy it was! Could it be tossed over
there, after ala It might have to be
carried. He lifted it upon the scat.
"via Thimble Spring Stage Line" What
was the sense in putting on such a direc-
ton as that2 It was the only way 1t could
go. The only way. And that way was
now closed, for he was about to-
ssGod, KANT they trust you--you,
Zach Springer. KANT they trust Old
Zachao he burst out, hoarsely. eyes,
but why don t they do as any other decent
mimi comp'ny does-turn their stuff
into the bank at Frisco, AFTER it's mint
eds What do they want on it up thars'
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
brothers name Fas 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 to.
gether as quickly as any man IN the
country. And yet Bill himself was a lit
tie reckless sometimes. He had been
acting very queer Of late, and had been
over 10 Johnsonfs a good deal, drinking
and playing cards with the boys. That
would not do. Bill must be looked at
ter. He was only a young fellow
mere boy, even if he had been trying to
raise amustache lately. Yes, Bill was a
good deal younger than he. why, he
remembered well the day he was born,
when they took him In to show him his
new baby brother. He used to carry
Bill all around, aud he was the first one
to stand him gu 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-clair.
Bill was just as much to him now a~s7ever,
and those. knocks which fate and the
weaknesses of his naturs were giving
him now hurt him just AZ baaly-gorse,
perhaps, than they did Brother Bill.
What would Bill say2
He laid his hands upon the box again.
IL would be safe enough behind the rocks
there under the sagc-brush-as safe as
if
.sGit 90 shar! Git, Buckskinl Git,
old Gabs! Ye lazy critters. GlangE'
And down came the long lash upon the
~dust-covered backs Of the mustangs. aud
of down the long grade they ran, max
ing the dust fly in TIE canoa as it never
flew before. For Zach bad grasped the
reias in a grip of iron, and both his big
cowhide boots were planted firmly on the
box.
.This ERE is what call goin' like sinl"
he said, ten minutes Later, as they were
still flying down the grade. nBat I lost
some time with a blamed-fool notion that
/ orter a ben licked for ever thlnkin' on
a mint. Wal, the mustangs got q good
rest. Maxim up fer it now, though.
They'll socn be in q lathes. I'll git to
the halfway house in . quarter Of an
hour, and then I'll take agood horn. ]
feel kinder naryous yit. Thet ERE box
is d heavy load on d mans mind. Ispose
the superintendent up to Gold Butte il
worryins about it, toe. Never mind, oil
Teller, yoa,ll see that stuff slowed away
in yer safe afore sundown.
aWhat's thia2 A hold,up, sure as
shootin't"
Out from behind a tall rock a man,
with a piece OF dark calico over his face
and d very large Winchester in his hand,
had suddenly sprung, and the muzzle of
the rifle looked right into zach's big,
round eyes. The brake scraped the
wheela and make the sparks fly. The
mustangs anne to sudden stand. There
vas no gettIg by that Winchester.