Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-04-02


like a haunting spirit. sopeetimes.
as the light breeze shifted, Il capc
back upon the blackboard and its
driver like heavy thoughts on tho
conscience of a guilty man.
II would serve them just right
Besides that, only think--ten thou
sand What would the people down
in Mexico or Guatemala, where he
would fly. know or care if somebody
up in far off Nevada had dumped a
box off his blackboard and gone back
and got it after few days-maybe a
weelxl 1t would have to be dark
night. wouldn't itl You couldn't go
and get box like that in the day
time and take it anywhere, for the
whole country would be out looking
for the man who had it. Maybe a
month. That would be better. 1t
would all blow over by that time.
Let's see. would itl Ten thousand
was a good deal. Those stage stop
pers were always striking the box on
tine wrong day. They never got 80
much as that at one haul. In two
months, then-perhaps two months.
But it would have to be well hidden.
And the thought stuck to him, de
spite all attempts to keep it off,
though by the time he had driven
the mustangs into Red canyon his
Indignation at having been suspected
by the company had died down. The
box at his feet had taken on 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 rus
tie" of it to get what few scraps of
learning they had thus far managed
to clutch and as for clothes, 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 PROPOSE
ton, it was after all simply ques-
ton of nerve"
Here was the place to do it, Right
here, where the high, scraggly rocks,
with the patches Of sagebrush atop,
came 80 near to the blackboard. 1t
could be thrown over there, any
where, into the sagebrush. 1t 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 if about 10 take plunge
into ice cold water, he reached down
for the box. But wait 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 b1im 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 believe
the story that he would have to con-
coct even though he showed them
the hole in the hat brim2 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 spot
where the sagebrush clustered thick
est 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 was Could it be tossed
over there after all9 1t might have
TO be carried. He lifted it upon the
seat via Thimble Spring Stage
Line" What was the sense in putting
on such direction as that2 It 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 Springerl KANT they trust
Old Zach2" he burst out hoaIsely.
YES, 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 minted2 What in
hell do they want on it up thar2"
Well, after all, that was their bust
ness, 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
was mentioned after that, for of
course he would know. Sue would
never suspect Any kind of a story
would bamhoozle her Bill was smart.
He could put two and two together
as quickly as any man in the coun.
try. And yet Bill himself was lit
tle reckless sometimes. He had been
acting very queer of late, and had been
over to Johnson's good deal, drink
ing and playing cards with the boys.
That would not do. Bill must DO
looked after
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 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, and
no was the first one To stand him ON
his legs and try to make him walk
He remembered how no used TO hurt
his own head when Bill got a knock
nv falIing ont Of his hiuh chair Riu