The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-12-28

ecu plSlOlS,
The stage was trapped and Conner
pulled up his horses promptly.
You chose your day luckier than
seemed probable from the weather" he
said, gazing keenly at what little was
visible Of his unidentified assallants,
as they drew nearer. TIN rather pre-
JUDGED against killing a fellow-creature
on Christmas eve, if l can anyways
avoid it."
Something that sounded like a deri-
sive laugh issued from the fur collar of
one of the highwaymen.
"Ycu planned the killing to be on your
side, eh?"
Conner continued slowly: We'll, I'm
a dead shot at longer range than most
chaps, and, though you have the drop
on me, you couldn't hit me when first
saw you, Jim Gwynne."
I'm not" broke forth a hoarse, as
tonished voice.
ooh, yes, you are-little boys shouldn't
tell fibs," Connor asserted. But you
don't want to shoot me more than I
banker to put a hole through you-or
the job would be done by now"
That's SOL" came in chorus from
either side of the road.
But we mean business" one added,
and the other exclaimed:
Starving men don't count costs, and
we intend to have your load"
"There are two ways of looking at this
matter Hear NINE" Conner began
authoritatively. And speak lower
when you answer, for my express mes
senger is asleep inside, and he might
take things less peacefully than 7, if he
wakes"
Again there was sound of laughter
and this time it came from both figures
though their pistols yet covered the
stage driver.
you are queer lott" the taller fell
low said.
tie heard the same BEFORE" Connol
agreed.
Being queer boys, you will not be sc
surprised if I ask you to listen to 6
Christmas sermon?"
Quit fooling'
Its too damned cold for joking"
| you will hear my sermon. or III
! chance shot from each of you, while
| get my gun into play" Conner de
clared with curious CONTINGENCIES.
"Silence gives consent, Ell? Well,
amt long-winded preacher, and II
skip the text"
| ''Three or four miles away there arr
| two camps full Of hard-worked, ill-fed
half-frozen men. In one camp they ar
mostly roughs, like you and me, o
worse. In the other they are soldier
who live clean because they must, and {
| pack of officers who grin and bear it
I guess, for the same reason. Their
amt much resemblance between TIL
| disorder in Zenith City and the order a
| Fort Fletcher, but they are alike il
cold and hunger. Yes, sir, and in on
thing more! They both remember
| lesson they learned when they wer
| kids, that hundreds Of years ago tn
world got Christmas gift it Amt neve
| forgotten, though it makes a big pre-
tence Of forgetting! And, for the SAX
of that gift, they. poor souls, expect t.
get tomorrow, this Teller one kind o
| present, and that Teller another, from
some woman who loves him far off be
You'd these prairies.. Those presents
have here ir this stage-and nothing
else, There is money in many of them
I've seen the messengers receipt book
There is 8. diamond ring and couple o
diamond pins for the lieutenants, and
I live half an hour they will get then
presents. Boys! you are at your wits
ends, I know, but you were honest me-
until no work and all-night poker sen
you to the DEVIL guess you amt goin
| to interfere with them other chaps
Christmas, eh?"
The leveled pistols sank simultane
ously.
'Connor!" Jim Gwynne said, and hi
voice sounded youthful and piteou!
This is our last chance. We haven
eaten a square meal in a week. Thes
fur coats we stand up in are pledged fo
day after tomorrow. Let us hav
only"
mot a penny! But, see here"-Cor
nor leaned forward eagerly-"you 70
low me to town. and I'll treat to tn
best supper Zenith City can spread. I
swear you shall not starve on Christina
day-and TIL drive you back to Biz
marck next trip where, if our compan
don't offer you well-paid work, you ca
| shoot me for a. damned liar!"
He held up a huge fur gloved hand o
either side. Shake on that!" he erie
cheerfully.
Half an hour later the rabble gail
cred in unusual numbers at Zenith Cit
to witness the unloading of the stag
which had brought the Christine
mails Morris, the messenger, sleepil
emerged from within it's huge bull
when Conner called him.
81 had a sort of nightmare awhi
ago." he exclaimed with laugh, 6
Conner beat himself about the chest
restore circulation. IT thought II
stage stopped, and that you were tall
ing of shooting! But T knew it was
dream. so T went to sleep again"
'Best you could have DONE" Come
agreed "ere, Jim Gwynne," he adde
to tall fellow who lounged near, '1er