The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-04
EIOped Under Government PrOtec-
ffon

IlOn.
Somehow this contention of the street
car employees and others who believe that
a United States mail bag does not confer
high powers upon a bobtail horse car or
any other uncommon kind of vehicle
serves to revive memories of the elope-
ment of Luke Marshall and the Myers
girl. says the Chicago Record.
There never was such an elonement in
he history of the Teton country. 1t was
the most deliberate, tranquil and leisurely
running away with which record had be-
fore or since dealt. The elopement was
two days in its progress from one given
point to another. and the given points,
which were Myers ranch, up in Maryyille,
and Rexburg, down on the mesa, were
scarcely more than eighty miles apart.
And the old man Myers hung around in
the rear and in front and at the flank all
the time, trying to stop the enterprise,
but being utterly baff1ed by a hearty OBJ
servance and regard for law.
Myers used to talk about rights and JUS
tlce and law and all that kind of thing
a great deal, and had made speeches in
many mountain meeting against Vio-
lence and illegal acts and so on.
Blame it!' he argued. IF you people
go on lynchin rustlers instid o. sendin
EN- down to Evanston for trial you'll new
er git no postoffice ner any other favor
. the gov HeHI, out IL stay TlSnI on,
passed. o. ignorant exiles" And he argued
SO well that lawless justice actually ceas-
ed, and eventually a star-route postal de-
livery was established by an approving
government, and in recognition of Myers
services he was doomed for postmaster
and deputy marshal, both of which offices
were given him. After that he was more
legal than ever.
Luke Marshall carried the mail from
Rexburg, riding the pass on his sorrel
mare, and 1t was quite nat
ural that he should fall in
love with the girl at the postof-
flee. Now Myers, for all his earnest talk
about lawlessness, had already famed two
men and shot the ear off another because
at various times they had tried to prove
to him that he ought to let the girl marry
Luke Marshall was no such fool as these
One day when he was ready to leave for
Rexburg he called to the postmaster's
daughter to fetch her jacket and come
on. The girl came out, and Luke lifted
her up to a comfortable seat upon,the mail
bag behind him.
"Here What's them?' crieW old Myers
marshal and postmaster.
"Oh, We're going over the range to get
married" said Luke, casually. Were
eloping."
Old Myers drew up his Winchester.
julie! Git down off'n therer' he cried
L WANT Ialf aim 10 git CnaI teller square
through the eye."
This was where MarshalPs nerve came
out strong. Get out of the way, you an
archistv' he cried. Don't you see you're
delaying the United States mail! A man
of your age! A man holdin' two public
offices. Delayin' the gov ment of the Uni
ted States as is represented in this sorrel
mare an this bag. Stand aside, or I'll
have you as deputy marshal arrest your
self as a private citizen, an call yerself
as postmaster to witness the breakin of
the law"
Old Myers slowly let his gun down
You mean-you--" he mumbled
Il mean that this sorrel mare repre-
sents an actually is the gov ment of the
United States, an you delay her on her
travels at your risk"
But hold on, Luke. That's my girl"
Marshall drew his silver watch. "Are
you an anarchist, an outlaw, an attacker
of gov ment an a fanatic?" he inquired
IT'S 10 o'clock" And as Myers sullenly
stepped aside the clippers started off at
slow jog.
Old Myers followed them all the way to
ReXburg and tried to catch Luke off his
govemmentally endowed sorrel mare, but
without avail, for the mail carrier knew
his limitations and did not dismount I'M
til he reached the justice shop in the town.
And, of course, after that the law-abid-
ing Myers couldn't be expected to shoot
his own son-in-law mall route or no mail
route