Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-10-27

Run. So rapidly that the whirling
cloud of dust dragged with II down the
steep grade from the summit hung over
the level long after the stage had
vanished. and then, drifting away,
slowly sifted red precipitate over the
hot platform Of the Laurel Run post
office.
Out of this cloud presently emerged
the neat figure Of the postmis.rcss with
the mail bag which had been dcxterous-
" flung mt her feet from the top Of the
passing vehicle. A dozen loungers
eagerly stretched out their hands to as
sist her. but the warning. "lt's agin the
rules. boys. for any but her TO touch it.
from bystandcr and n coquettish
shake Of the head from the postmistress
hersclf-much more effective than any
official ntertlict-withheld them The
bag was not hcavy-l4aurcl Rua was too
recent u settlement To have attracted
much corrcspondcncc-and the young
woman, having pounced upon her prey
with certain feline instinct. dragged
Il, not without difficulty, behind the
partitioned Enclosure in the office and
locked the door. Her pretty face. mo-
mcntariiy visible through t.i~ window.
WIS slightly flushed with the excrtion.
and the loose ends Of her fair hair, wet
with perspiration. curlcd themselves
over her forehead into tantalizing little
rings hut the window shutter was
quickly closed and this momentary but
charming vision withdrawn from the
waiting public.
"Gov'mcnt oughter have more sense
than to make woman pick mail bags
outer the road" said 10 Summons. sym
pathctically. faint in her days
work, anyhow; gov'mcnt oughtcr hand
'cm over 10 her like lady; it's rich
enough and ugly enough"
faint government: it's that stage
comrany's airs and graces," interrupted
newcomer They think il mighty
fine to 20 bcltin' by maxim everybody
take their dust just because. stoppin
amt in their contract. Why, II that
expressman who chucked down the
bag had any fcelin's for lady"-but he
stopped here ut the amused faces of his
auditors.
Guess You don't know much o that
cxprcssman's fcelin's. stranger" said
Simmons. grinly "Why. you oughter
see him just nussin' that bag like
baby rs lac comes tearin' down the
grade and then rise up and sorter heave
il to Mrs. Baker cz II il was u fivc-doilar
bolSay. His fcclin's for her? Why.
he's give himself so dead away to her
that we're looking for him TO forget
what he's dom next and Just come n
sailin' down hisself ut her feet"
Meanwhile, on the other side Of the
partition. Mrs. Baker had brushed the
red dust from the padlocked bag. and
removed what seemed to he sup
Elementary package attached to II by
wire. Opening itsh found handsome
scent bottle. evidently supcraddcd
gift from the devoted cXprcssman. This
she put aside with light smile and
the murmurcd word: "Foolishness.
But when she had unlocked the bag.
even its sacred interior was profancd by
n covert parcel from the adjacent post
master ut Burat Ridge. containing
gold specimen" brooch and some circus
tickets II was laid aside with the
other. This also was vanity-and pre-
sumably-vcxation of spirit
There were seventeen letters in all,
of which five were for herself and yet
the proportion was sma that morning.
Two of them were marked Official
business" and were promptly put by
with feminine discernment: hut in nm
other compartment than that holding
the presents. Then the shutter was
opened and the task Of delivery com.
menccd.
II was accompanied with social
popularity that had in time become
habit Of Laurel Run. As the young
woman delivered the !,tters in ,arp to