San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-20

EN- sent up to yer room as soon as nv
son comes in. Our 'commodations amt
the best, but reckon the ole house will
keep the rain off-which amt such
bad thing, considerin the kind of
night we're likely to have"
"We are not going to find fault with
our quarters" observed the tall man,
seating himself in chair which his
host had placed at his disposal. sits
lucky thing that we didn't have to re-
main out on the prairie"
At this juncture Dan Riggsby entered
the room.
go out an tend ter the stage bosses,
Dan," said the father, going to the door
and opening it. The youth hastily
obeyed, and in a few moments the driver
came into the room, the water dripping
from his broad brimmed hat and rubber
coat He carried small leathern mail
pouch in his hand, which he handed to
the postmaster.
"Perty rough weather on We, JIM"
observed Riggsby, depositing the pouch
behind the counter. bin havin a
breakdown, hear; anything very bad:'
'aWell, yes answered the driver.
"One side of the off front wheel is COM
pletely smashed, and had to lock it so
could move at all, and I'm hyar to say
that it mecks perty heavy pullin."
Reckon it would" commented the
landlord. Don't see how We ever got
hyar Wind jist blowed We along reck-
on; it's powerful windy in Kansas-pow-
erfulr'
II reckon I'll have to stop hyar till
mornin, when I'll see if the wheel can't
be patched up" added the driver, remov-
ing his dripping hat and coat
81 think | can fix it up fer ye," replied
Riggsby. I've got some tools out in the
ole workshop, an used ter be perty fair
hand with EN-"
Although it was early in September
the storm had made the air quite chilly
and cheerful fire had been made in the
office stove. Near this the two strangers
had seated themselves and were convers-
ing in low tone.
plague take the luck!' exclaimed the
tall man in tone of vexation. "This is
decidedly worrying 10 To wrecked here on
the prairie when we have SO much bust
ness to attend to at our destination"
The short man nodded assent.
"But guess we've got our business in
shape so it will keep" he remarked af.
ter short pause, cunning glitter in his
small black eye. "Of course you have
got the papers all rightT'
"Yes. and don't intend that they shall
get out of my possession till our little af-
fairs are adjusted to our satisfaction"
and the tall man tapped his breast pocket
to indicate that the papers referred to
were safely stored therein.
Their conversation was soon interrupt
ed by supper being announced, and they
were ushered into the dining room, where
they were served with a substantial re,
past.
While his guests were at supper Simon
Riggsby proceeded to open the mail that
had Just been brought.
"Only three letters" he commented as
the pouch was emptied upon the pine
counter, ian I'll declare if hyar amt one
fer Sally-yes, sure enough, an one fer
Sug Whitwell an the other is fer Ben
Ropes"
Placing the one for his wife in his
pocket he distributed the other two in the
little row of boxes which were arranged
in alphabetical order behind the counter.
"lt's kinder handy ter have postof-
flee in mans house, he unused; lit
beats goin fifteen or twenty miles fer a
letter Hits a great government we have
in this country an powerful 'commodat-
in. Grant an his men made it perty
lively fer us fellers fer awhile down
In Georgy, an had some perty hard
thoughts agin 'em an lowed the coun-
try was ruined, but faint SO. The Union
Is right after all, an know it don't hold
no i'll feelin toward a southern man er it
wouldn't IA made me postmaster of Prai-
rie City It's the hand of Providence
that's the way it looks ter me-that
things have been settled as they have.
hain't no i'll feelin against the north
but-it's powerful windy hyar in Kan
eQs"-
He stopped his soliloquy abruptly, for
NJ that instant the door opened and Ben
Ropes, man who owned large herd
Of cattle which were being herded in
that vicinity. entered. He was heavily
built man of some forty years OF age,
and his sun tanned face was almost COM
pletely covered by thick growth OF red
beard. Two pistols were visible IN his
wide leathern belt, and in his hand he
carried heavy cattle whip.
"Howdy, Ben" greeted Riggsby as the
man entered. "Jist got the mail an
thar's letter fer ye." As he spoke he