The record-union., 1898-03-27
The Fo0!ing Of Jim NcGrath and
Another Man.
Written for the Record Union" by Kittie
Hnls

take my book and gather some ferns, .
said Ruth Harris one summer after
noon as she tied on the big null shade
hat which formed a most becoming
frame for the prettiest face in Wal
Iowa Valley
Her aunt watched her as she went
down the lane and entered the pine
woods. Her old eyes filed with tears
as she thought of the dead sister she
had loved SO well, and who, dying, had
left Baby Ruth TO her care.
Ruth herself was q beautiful witness
to the faithfulness with which that
trust had been fulfilled. The winters
at school in a town a score of miles
away had given her the opportunity OF
cultivating a mind naturally inquirine
and bent on the requirement of useful
knowledge rather than the superficial
accomplishments with which shallowel
girls We're content
The summers spent on the farm as
slstlng her aunt in the performance OF
household duties, out in the pure all
OF meadow, field and wood, riding tc
the village for the mail, sometimes even
making hay for her uncle when he
was short of hands-though not as
Maud Muller did for Ruth in the seat
OF modern hayrake, driving her horse
and now and then pulling on the lever
to release fOrkful of hay, would have
caused Whittier's heroine to open hel
hazel eyes wider than she did when the
Judge stopped to ask for a drink-all
this brought the flush to her cheeks
the sparkle to her eyes, that perfect
health alone can bring. She was self
reliant and independent, yet possessed
the real modesty and refinement of a
womanly young woman.
Unconscious of her aunts thoughts
she went slowly along, sometimes
STOPPING to pick a flower or q fern. She
had a long walk before her. but the
afternoons We're long, and it was sc
pleasant in the woods that she had nc
desire to hasten. She was in sight OF
the stage road, and saw the stage as il
passed, heard the rattle of it's noisy
wheels, and noticed that there was only
one passenger, who sat beside the
driver.
CHANGING northward through the
trees, she caught sight of something
that caused her to throw herself fiat
on the ground
I'D surely be a bright and shining
mark in this white dress" she thought
She crawled along the ground to the
shelter of some bushes and cautiously
parting them, gaZed on a scene that
evidently was peculiarly interesting.
What If he should come this way?"
she thought. We'll l could take nv
fern book and pretend to be blissfully
unconscious of everything else. If |
try to go back, ten chances to one he'll
see me. It's six of one and half a
dozen of the other Guess I'd better
stay"
No" said Jim McGrath. the stage
driver between Dixie and Union, to his
one passenger that afternoon. Il hain't
been fooled yit this day. an I hain't
a-goin to be, neither, not if I know
myself. That new waiter-gir tried it
mighty hard this mornin'. but she
couldn't make it stick. 1 never was as
easy fooled as some folks
The passenger WINGED He had a
vivid recollection Of something that had
happened to him that morning. He had
given orders the night before that he
should be awakened early. While it
was still dark there had come a knock
at his door and the waiter girl had
bidden him git up" She had added
that breakfast was waiting and the
driver nearly ready to start He had
Jumped into his clothes and started
forth in search of the driver, only to
be confronted by two giggling speci-
mems of femininity who greeted him
with cries of April Fool, April Fool!
Wash your face and go to school"
He had looked at his watch and found
that it was just , o'clock, and with a
rather sheepish expression had be-
taken himself to bed once more
But the miSchievous waiter girl had
given him honey for his hot cakes and
condemned the other guests to skim
med milk that morning that he might
have cream for his coffee and oatmeal; ;
and she had thrown him a kiss, too,
when the stage ratified away, which
was some recompense, for the waiter
girl was young and pretty.
Haiti"
Jim McGrath pulled his horses up
sharply at the word of command from
a man with rifle who had just step
ped from behind huge pine. The face
of the highwayman was concealed by
holes had been cut; a slouch hat was
drawn we'll over his forehead, and the
bandana only partially concealed a
heavy black beard. He wore a faded
blue Jumper, ragged overalls and heavy
boots, but the passenger noticed what
the frightened driver did not, that his
hands We're soft and white and on the
fourth finger of his right hand was a
:. Il
mingled in a peculiar and not easily
forgotten pattern.
Let the passenger hold the horses
You throw out the box and then get
out and open it. Here's an ak"
Mr.. McGrath obeyed with alacrity.
4 want only the gold and greenbacZs
if there's enough. 1 guess that will
do" he remarked coolly. as the driver
showed him the contents of the box.
Put the letters and the rest back and
climb in Jim obeyed
''I'll stand behind the stage. When I
say go you start. Don't either Of you
look back. or I'll shoot. Understand ?"
Yes, sir" said McGrath meckly.
After Il moment came the command.
Col" The stage went.
There was silence for n moment
Then Mir. McGrath spoke lie did not
say much--only "i'il he dad gummed,"
but there were whole volumes i'm
piled and his companion understood.
After awhile when bend in the road
had been passed. the passenger spoke
His tone was mild, but it was Jims s
turn To vince.
1T seems ike you got fooled after
ali, Jim. Put it's lucky he didn't bother
us. I've got $500 of my own that I'm
taking home 10 pay off q mortgage for
the old folks. They inow I'm coming
and I'd hate to disappoint them. l
didn't have a shooting ircn about me.