The Portland daily press., 1899-01-05
HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

That Miss Foster was different from
and more charming than all the rest OF
her sex might have been proved from any
of the Is man to whom she had been en-
gagged in the two years since she had come
back from school, beginning with Cadet
Ferris and ending with Cady.
That Captain Foster was exactly like all
the rest of mankind and little deserved the
blessing be had in his daughter was mani
Tested by his drawing from his pocket q
letter and saying as he gave 1t to her, by
the by, Kitty, this came for you yesterday
while you were riding with Cady, and
forgot to give it to you."
Nfass Foster looked at the postmark and
al the almost feminine chirography and
knew that the letter was from Fort Bowie
and from 0locester. She laid 1t beside her
plate and finished her breakfast. After
ward she took It up 10 her own room and
read II. Then she sat with folded hands
and looked, unseeing, at the photographs
of the Is upon the wall before her. She
Yves very white
The most astuts woman will frequently
stake everything and play all her game
upon honor In man. When that chances
TO fail, her calculations are set at naught,
and the bottom falls ont Of her universe
And Glocestsris honor had failed. He
wrote-Kitty read n again: $50 you tell
me you are engaged to Cady. That means
little TO you, bus It may mean much to
him. Therefore to prevent his being made
the fool that l have been. have taken the
liberty of sending him by this mail the
letters you have written to me within the
last month-four in number-that he may
know with what manner Of woman he has
to deal"
Now, IA times before Miss Foster had
not been In earnest but this time she was.
Unfortunately the fact that she cared
greatly for Cady had not prevented her
from writing 10 Glocester more affection
ately than prudently In order to keep him
--t'other dear oharmer who was away
upon her string SO long as it would hold
him without swapping, and the letters,
sent while she was actually engaged to
Cady, were going to fall into his hands.
It was a desperate situation, but, for all
her blue eyes and curls and bewildering
ways, Miss Foster was the woman to meet
1t.
After time she rose to her feet and set
her lips. It Is popularity Of Cupid's
bow lips that they can set upon occasions.
She knew that Cady had not yet received
those letters, and she determined that he
never should. She would rob the stage.
Guard mounting was just over, and the
stage was not due until noon. Kitty set
q big hat a-tdlting upon her ourls and
walked down 10 the postofnce. Fate, with
her parmaifsy nor the brave and lair, Will
ed that the postmaster should have left his
desk. Miss Foster pushed open the gate
and went behind inc rail-. Inc Keys TO the
mailbag hung upon their hook She pus
them In her pocket when the postmaster
came back, she was piacidiy marking his
clean bio>ter with she letter stamp
II you piense Hdf. Jones, she said' II
want this letter Registered.
An hour later Miss Foster reined up her
'hoxee % theeop OF arise and looked across
The 1asgeFeSbh OF greasewood and cactus
ana sAgA Ear away tiny speok was
crawling howard her along the white road.
Ut was the stage. She had been born upon
The plains, and she had nm unfaiiing eye
for its distances. There would be full half
an hour To WHIT. She cast about for some
way OF killing time and found deep, wide
fissare IN the par0hed earth. 1t appealed
to her daring. Sho put her horse TO run
and jumped 1t time and again until ne
was winded Then she rode again to the
crest OF the slope. The stage was near.
She dismounted, felt OF the garths and sat
down, hugging the tiny MONDAY shade of
p mesquite bush for the sun was burning
down from hard, blue sky. A big red
ant was carrying beetles wing many
times larger than itself. Kitty watched 1t
until she heard the rattle Of traces as tihe
stage climbed the other side Of the slope.
Then she commended her soul to heaven
and brought her quirt down upon the
horse's black TANKS
The stage driver drew up his stock, and
the one passenger put out his head and
shoulders and gazed at the slender gray
figure rising alone in the midst Of the
prairie.
"Whabsver, Miss Kitty - The driver
stopped snort DE saw The horse grazing
on bunch OF seumpy grass 100 yards
her hand on the wheel. She had seen that
a.. .,-,~., ~ .ho ~+.ro -