The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-03-24

thin on this" said Jim, twirling his
thumb toward Craig's; and there was
thirsty look in his eye.
"All right" said Gray. But the tone
was not so responsive as his words.
And yet taking something" now
would be the beginning of that week
of happy oblivion to which he had
been rushing so blindly. Happy? He
looked at, jim, whose eyes were shot
with crimson threads and whose hand
shook like the needle in his lost tran
sit. Still he slowed the horses and
headed them straight for Craigs.
And then a voice-Murieps beyond
questiOn-fOated to him from some
where out of the vortex Of the memo
ries he was trying his best to stife.
and made his puzzled will as shaky as
Jim's nerveless hands. He started up
in wonder and for an instant a blur
lay all over the shabby little town,
upon which, however, the sua-glare
was playing so strongly as to dispel
all belief in the vision which he had
thought at the first must surely accom-
rakish uncouth little band of idlers in
tropt CT CraiS's and they again too.
on their look of everyday reality
Then once more came the voice. clear
in tone. but the words, whatever they
were, or prayer or warning, were lost,
for Jim's heavy, swill-fed breath was
pursuing him with: Craig keeps the
best straight goods On the hull road
Gimme them lines, now. You're aw-
full kind to take 'em back there. |
dunno what made me so dopey. What
| need is little bracer."
But Cray did not give up the lines.
He headed the leaders out and down
the road, though they tried to swing
in as was their wCnt-he1ded them
straight out, and smote the middle
team fercely.
whats up? Amt yeh goin' to stop
here?" demanded Jim. 'Lemme have
them there lines"
No street" The whip snapped vi
ciously over the wheelcrs. The stage
was off in a cloud of dust, while the
lOungers at Craigs stood up and
shouted after it, waving their hands
But we've got to stop there. It's
as good as my contracts WORTH" in
sisted Jim.
"Oh, hang your contract" said Gray
I'm more afraid of that place than
| am of the stace-robber. You can go
back later and pick up the mail if you
want to. I'm going to Presley's Flat.
Got important business there that can't
wait"
The stage-driver tried to take the
reins from his hands, but he chung On,
and swung along with a free brake
down the grade to Presley's in fifteen
minutes after passing Squaw Valley.
There he handed the lines to Jim, and
said: You'll excuse me, but l had to
meet some friends here. Guess l got
in ahead of them"
That's all right, young feller," said
the stage-driver, admiringly. And
when you want job at handling stage
horses let me know. I'll recommend
you. You're the best man at slid b
in snake l ever see. But don't know
why you was so blamed anxious to get
by SQuaw Valley. We might got a
drink therein ALFRED thirsty-but
there amt drop O bug jooce in this
place. Presley's one O. them silly pre-
hibitionists!"
The passengers all got down from
the coach before Gray stepped from
the box. He was "a bit frayed around
the edges" as he said, and didn't feel
meet some one, for one of the yelled
young women came forward before he
stepped over the wheel and spoke con-
cernedly to him in Muriel's voice:
Gray, get right down and let me see
your face. What's the matter with it.
It's all blood"
He had forgotten his scratch, but
he wiped his face, mechanically now,
while he stared at Muriel, and asked:
"HOw did you ever get here? Were
you inside all the time?"
Yes; l came up with Kate Nichols.
She's going to teach the Squaw Valley
school,"
and you thought you might run
across me up here, too, didn't you, and
go back to Fresno with me?" he asked,
tenderly, putting his arm around her
right before the whole crowd
She smiled and blushed a Eyes"
But your face?" she asked, solicitous-
ly.
"Oh, it's nothing-just a Craze.
doesn't hurt. But 1 must apologize to
your friend for carrying her past her
station"
''You-were you driving? Did you
run away from the robber?" and she
smiled upon him, proudly.
Eyes, drove; and I've got such a
lot to tell you Come away from the
rest and get the sad story of my bad
luck"
They walked down the road a little
way, and he told her of his loss and
how it had so nearly undone him.
And that was the reason why we
were whisked past Squaw Valley" she
said. you were running away from
the evil one as we'll as from the rob-
Der. Oh, I'm so proud of you! And
you know it doesn't matter about your
loss. Well go down to Fresno right