Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-15
A USE FOR CUPID.

AAAA Df''
daughter Molly.
At that moment a slam of the door
a blast of wintry air made her look up, as
a strong limbed young fellow entered, car
rying a much scuffed leather sack.
"That you, Jim? Pretty cold day to
tramp in from the Holler, amt it?"
"Cold!' echoed the mail carrier. "That
hain't no name fer hit. Hits colder'n
cold. Guess hit froze ole hens on the roos'
last night"
"Big mail, JIM"
"Naw. Thar amt but three letters, an
one O. them's a postal cyard. Gosh, but
I'm froze! Don't see why the gov'ment
wants them letters every day. Coon Holler
+, amt got no seoh important business ez
needs immejit answers. They orter wait
till they's a batch Of letters AL then bring
'em in"
Business is business, Jim, and l reckon
theirs is just as important to the Coon
Holler folks as ours Is to us. 81 turned
as she spoke and began stamping the mail.
Then she delivered ~ paper to a shock
headed small boy and waited on a custom
er, while the mail carrier warmed his
hands by the stove In the rear of the store.
The customer was a young girl, and the
two grew absorbed in the comparative
merits of two pieces Of dress goods. Then
they discussed the happenings at the
church fair of the previous night. with
many a And l says, and he says" and
~ just told him" until the customer
turned to 60 with, "Well, l must be 60
ing. C'mup."
"Well, I will. You ON down." said
Molly and began rolling up the goods on
the counter. AS she stood with her back
to the room, placing the bolts Of goods
on the shelves, she heard faint click at
the back Of the store. Looking over her
shoulder, she saw Perkins, the loutish
mail carrier, in the act Of shutting the
door Of tho little safe.
Molly's first impulse was to scream.
Then she started to speak. sob, Jim,"
she began, but checked herself. If she let
Perkins know that she had seen him, he
would leave the store and the town and
there was no telling when he would be
caught. She glanced out of the window.
No one was in sight. She must keep Jim
until her father returned. Jim was but
toning up his coat and pulling on his nit
tens.
Don't 30, Jim. Stay and warm
awhile"
ooh, I'm warm all better be t%raInpin.
Hits a long way back, an l gotter go II l
want any dinner"
"Oh, wait d minute, Jim! You never
told me anything about the folks. Howe
Katie Joness"
: jim grinned sheepishly, but did not nm
swer.
II heard you and her was keeping COM
: pany. How is that, Jims"
"Pshaw! Thar hain't nothin in that,
Molly. I never went with her, 'oept home
from meetin onct or twict."
: "Well, that's what they told me. I was
5 getting right jealous Of Katie" And Molly
, smiled a bewitching smile on Jim.
ooh, huh, Molly, you hain't no cause
ter talk that away, an reckon you
/ wasn't jealous much" Jim shuh1ed biz
feet and u pleased grin fiokered among
; the freckles On his face.
: "Yes, I was, Jim. Most any girl would
, be Jealous If she knew a Teller she thought
was her friend was going with another
: girl" +.
!, Jim sided over to where Molly stood,
. and his big hand stole along the counter
behind Molly's waist. She moved away
step, and Jim, crestfallen, started for thu
u door. e,
"Oh, say, Jim, don't go! You know
$ YOU know-oh, somebody might see your
Q "Naw, they won't. Thar hain't any
Q body comm along this here street fer
9 went around Molly's slim waist. Sh'
1 -. 4.,l .,o~l,vol ~ tho nlr1a ot thI
5 "Holler'' had whalebone ribs.
"Not 40 tight, Jim. You hurt"
Laws, honey, that hain't nothin. Ell
was to give you jest one good squeeze, II
break you In two"
"Well, don't try it. don't mind-tha
d is-oh, don't be too rough!"
SET you call this rough! Say, Mollyl"
q "What is it, Jiins"
=" "w'y, say. 1 don't believe ye like III
tall"
T. "Yes, I do"
"Do ye now really? Then gimme
y kiss"
"Oh, Jim! Not here!"
"W'y not? Come, now. IF ye don
I'm a.goin right away"
i Molly ehuddered. There was nothin
for 1t. She had started in now, and afte
going SO far to gain her end might as we
90 through with it. She turned her fac
9 slowly up to his sidewise, and the next In
slant was kissed with a smack that too
away her breath. She gasped a little, an
them
"Oh, father!'' she cried, while Jim start
ed back. Father, I've got him! Here b
d isP'
oil SCOT whop Got what?" asked the posi-
master, slamming the door behind hir
and walking to the rear of the store.
u SCOT the robber! Got the one who's bee
stealing the letters!"
:: "Whatp Jim Perkins9 Come nov
Molly"
"Just youeearch him! I saw him! He
got g letter! I saw him at the safe! Loo
g In his pockets!" !.
d "How is that, Jim?" demanded th
g postmaster. "Have you been rohbing til
Is Registered letter box in the safeY"
d Jim said nothing. His head hung dow
and his big red fingers picked nervousl
If at his coat. The postmaster took a ste
e forward. go get Constable Stout, Mo
It ly," he said. "Ill watch jim"
When Jim was searched, a letter not h1
own was found In the pocket Of his coat,
If registered letter, presumably with none
g In 1t, and he was marched of In arrest
AZ they were taking him from the store b
turned and looked at Molly. "Was this
wy ye did that, Mollys" ;,
Eyes, 1t wasI You didn't think, ID
you"- M
:. "What did he mean, Mollyp" asked he
father after Jim and the constable ha
gone. "How did you manage TO keep hi
heres"
"Oh, I'LL" stammered Molly, .
Just kept him. That's all. And Pos
10 master Spiker never found out how Mol
held the thief.-St. Louis Giobe-D emocra