The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1899-06-10
The POstrniStress
Of
Laurel Run.
e9 nR HT HHRTH.
cOpyEigAAi sol. By the Author. All Rishs Rssssvod
CHAPTER I

] CHAPTER I s
The mail stage had Just passed Laurel
Run. So rapidly that the whirling
cloud of dust dragged with it down the
steep grade from the summit hung over
the level long after the stage had
vanished, and then, drifting away,
slowly siftcd red precipitate over the
hot platform of the Laurel Run post
office.
Out of this cloud presently emerged
the neat figure of the postmistress with
the mail bag which had been dexterous-
ly hungsat her feet from the top of the
passing vehicle. A dozen, loungers
eagerly stretched out their hands to as.
sist her, but the warning: TITS agin the
rules, boys, for any but her to touch 1t"
from a bystander and coouettisb
shake Of the head from the postmistress
herself-much more effective than any
official nterdict-withheld them. The
ibag was not heavy-Laurel Run was TOO
recent settlement to have attracted
much rrespondence-and the young
woman, having bounced upon her prey
with certain feline instinct, dragged
1t, not without difficulty, behind fthe
NNe4C4ANN
locked the door. Her pretty face, mo.
mentarily visible through the window,
was slightly flushed with the exertion,
and the loose ends of her fair hair, wet
with Precipitation, curled themselves
over her forehead into tantalizing little
rings. But the window shutter was
quickly closed and this momentary but
charming vision withdrawn from the
waiting public.
"Gov'ment oughter have more sense
than to make u woman pick mail baRs
outer the road, said 10 Simmons. svrng,
pathetically. " 'Tain't in her davis 4
work, anyhow gov'ment oughter hand
en- over to her like a lady; it's rich
enough and ugly enough"
faint government; it's that stage
company's airs and graces," interrupted
q newcomer. They think it mighty
fine to 60 beltin' by maxim everybody
take their dust just. because stoppini |
amt In their contract. Why, nsthat |
expressman who chuclsed down the
bag had any feelin's for a lady''--but he
stopped here at the amused faces Of hiis
auditors.
Guess you don't know. much O. that.
expressman's feelin's, stranger, said
Simmons, grimly, ''Why, you ouRhtei
see him just nussin' that bag lie q
baby as he comes tearin' down the
grade and then rise up and sorter heayes.
It to Mrs. Baker ez If it was a fve-dollal
bokay. His feelin's for her? WY,
he's give himself so dead away to hef
that we're looking for him to forget
what he's dom next and Just come !
salin' down hissef at her feet"
Meanwhile, on the other side OF the
Partition, Mrs. Baker had brushed the
red dust from the padlocked BAG, and
removed what seemed to be sup
package attached to 10 by q
wire. Opening itshe found . hsndsome
scent-hottle, evidently superadtie;5 4 /,
gitt nom the devoted expressman. This
she put aside with a light smile ana !
,he murmured word: 'Foolishness. ,,
But when she had unlocked the BAG.
'Ven It's sacred interior was profaned BY
covert parcel from the adjacent post ,
master at Burat Ridge, containing .
gold specimen" brooch and some circui
tickets 1t was laid aside with the
'ther. This also was vanity-and pre- ,
umably-yexation Of spirit.
There were seventeen letters In ALL
4 which five were for herself -and vel I
he proportion was small that morning /
TWO OF them were marked s''Oficial c
'ssiIiess' aud were promptly put By .
sith 1eminine diseernment; but In an. i
,tner compartment than that HOLDING s
ne presents Then the shutter wa d
pened and the task Of delivery com, 4
neneed. !,
~ was accompanied with q social 8
'eenliartty that had In time become 1
iahit Of Laurel Bun. As the youns S
edEsEsd TIE letteEs in turn e