Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-09-07
In Defense of
the Mail ~ ~
By
WALTER N. EGGINTON

A DVENTURES?" said the rural
~ mail carrier, reaching forward
and lightly flecking fly from the horse
with his whip. Eyes, have had them
even on this quiet, country route. I
recall one affair that happened on this
road, and not far from where we are
now
The rural mail carrier is friend of
mine, and Isat beside him on the single
seat of the wagon enjoying the glori-
Gus country drive which it is his bust
ness to take daily. The scene was peace
full and quiet in the extreme. In the air
there was only the hum of insects, the
purling of hidden streamlets, the soft
sound of waving foliage.
The road at this point curved around
a, hill, skirting the base of it, and there
was not farmhouse in sight. On one
side was the hill, rising abruptly sky
ward, well covered with thick growth
of young trees and bushes, wild, un-
cultivated stretch of country; on the
other side the ground fell away to
babbling creek beyond which the land
was fenced off. showing here field of
waving corn, there a patch of potatoes,
sud farther on a bit of pasture land with
worn paths showing where the cows
were accustomed to make their way to
the water. The whole picture looked
restful and prosperous, a typical bit
Of "up York state" farm country.
Farther on, on the other side of the
hall and down in the valley, nestled the
little town of Corning, which we had
left some hours before in starting on the
cnrney to Horribly Forks, distance of
some % miles.
The wagon was light and contained
besides ourselves only the huge leather
bag filled with letters, papers and mail
matter This lay at the carriers feet.
between his knees, and from it he tossed
letters and papers into the little boxes
which the farmers had erected near the
roadway to receive their mail, or, more
frequently, handed it out to the men
themselves who were stationed ex-
pectantly beside the boxes.
When began to work on this route"
the carrier said. which l did for the
sake of my health which had been i'm
paired, if not broken, by the too close
confinement of shop, ! carried gun,
a revolver l mean, as most of us do.
iust to be on the safe side. There were
registered letters containing money in
that bag quite often. and parts Of the
road are rather lonely. Besides, l am
not a big man and never was a powerful
one. So carried revolver in my hip
pocket and felt secure. But as time
went on and the quiet and peacefulness
of this part of the country impressed
me more and more, I began TO grow
careless. Sometimes / had the gun
with me. and sometimes not. 1t was or
one of these latter occasions that the
exciting incident l have in mind oc-
Cured.
1T was beautiful autumn day, and I
had reached the top of Horribly hill and
was about to take the road that leads
down into the Forks. when old Farmer
Grigger came hurrying down the path
from his house and hailed me, waving
an envelope. pulled up and waited for
him.
He had letter, he told me, in which
he wanted to inclose some money. As
was my custom. in such cases. told him
he could give the amount to me to-
gether with the price of money order
and the unsealed letter and / would
give him receipt for the amount, and
on reaching the post Office would see
that the money order was inclosed and
the letter sent on its way.
.''All right. sir said he, in his hearty
rely. Here's the money! Pulling out
. roll of greenbacks he counted on:
sTweRty, 80. 40. 60. 80. 100, and another
dollar to pay for the money order and
stamps. and bring me back the change
when you come this way tomorrow
81 was surprised at the amount-the
largest had ever had to take on that
route. but Iaccepted it promptly together
with the letter, and placing both care
fully in my breast pocket. drove or
down the road. Before had gone ter
yeris ! passed tramp sitting by the
roadside. hidden from the farmhous.
by some foliage, and as his glance me-
mine, something in his eyes made m,
recall that the farmers voice had beer
loud as he had counted out the money
The fellow was big and evil-looking, a
we'll as powerful. and my heart sank
little. l remembered. with regret, tina
was unarmed. helpless.
II passed him, trying desperately har:
10 look uncOnceined. and he made nj