The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-11-07

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saying:
'Uncle Peter, nobody will blame you
for not bringing the mail when they
learn that you are sick"
Maybe not" the old man answered,
testify; "but that don't mend matters
much The mail is due up there; and
they'll be expecting it, and it ought 10
| CO."
"But nobody would expect you to
bring it when you couldn't get out of
bed" the lad urgc1.
mo, of course not. But for six yeats
| have never missed day, and now to
| miss this, one of my most important
days of all! If it had Just been some
other day it wouldn't have been so bad.
But to-day-my Lord. boy, if could
make the trip up there to-day anyway
at all I'd go, even if had to crawl"
| "Why is it so important that you
should go to-day" Frank asked.
| Because there is lot of money TO
go up. Jake Bushnell has $4,000 down
here that 1 promised to bring up to
him to-day, and it ought to &c if pos
sible. In fact, Frank, it must go il
there is any way to ge. it there"
"Is it so important that it should
go?"
"It's going to mean gain of $50, 900
| to Jake, and it's failure to go means
| twice that much loss. 1t is just that
important to Jake. And you know
what he has been to me, and how, when
1 was crippled up years ago in the
mines, he took care of me and watched
to serve Jake, and now, when so much
is depending on me and so little is re-
quired, am helpless"
Frank was silent moment. Then he
said:
"uncle Peter, can't somebody take
that money over there?'
"Who is there that can trust?" old
Peter questioned in turn. "Sx thousand
dollars is large sum of money to in
trust to the hands of just anybody"
"Yes, but surely there is somebody
you could trust?"
81 don't know who it would be, my lad
If it was my own money might afford
to take some risk, but can't take any
with what belongs to jake"
Cant you trust me to take it:'
Frank questioned.
"Yes, so far as honesty is concerned
can," the old man replied. "Td be
willing to trust you anywhere with any
amount of money. But you are small
and not used to the road, and it's a bad
. day."
II can ride horse as good as any
body, if am small, and know the way
well enough not to get lost; and, as fol
its being bad day I don't mind that
for can wrap upwell. Let me take the
mail and money"
Old Peter hesitated, but after consid
ering awhile finally gave n reluctant
consent for Frank to undertake tbs
trip.
Frank did not lose any time, but pro
ceeded at once to saddle his horse ani
prepare for starting. When all was
ready he looked in at the door to tell the
old man good-by.
"Be careful of that money" the ole
man admonished, land don't give i
into anybody's hands except Jake's."
II won't,Y Frank answered, closing
the door and mounting his horse.
Frank galloped off down across {;
mile stretch of level ground, then be
gan the ascent of road that wound it:
way up the mountain side. The da,
was dark and chilly and the atmospher,
was heavy with falling snow and rair
There had been heavy snowfall
! already, and the mountain sides ia,
buried several feet deep while tn;
gorges far up in the range were packed
; full.
Franks road led below the snow linz
and he was able to make good progress
He had gone half the distance of hi
journey, and was riding along at thu
foot of an abrupt mountain, when hs
came suddenly face to face with {
heavily armed man, who seemed to have
been lying in wait for him. As he ap
preached the man whipped out pisto
and ordered him TO stop.
Frank obeyed. of course, and as sool
! as he recovered sufficiently from hi:
; fear and establishment he asked:
"What do you want of me?"
II don't know jest what may wan
of you," the man replied, until 1 SEE
what you happen to have. / see
though, you have mailbag there, so
!, reckon I'll look through that first an
see what there is in it. You know you
might have some letters for me-som
; registered letters and the like-an,
there wouldn't be no use for you Il
carry 'en no further when I'm RICH
here to take 'em off o. your hands. Al
the registered letters find are intended
for me, you know, though they may b
addressed to other folks. People oftel
make mistakes in addressing registered
letters, and in cases like that have T.
hunt up the mailbags and git my let
tiers, wherever / can find them, cans
| p0stmaSfarS whan thew pef hold n