The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-27

with DOOR aDDCLlC the supper long
grown cold he pondered deeply on Mar
gery's devotion to such a heartless EN-
rIoyer That the effects of her attack
of influenza would already have disap-
peared but for her anxiety about her
situation the doctor had assured him,
while warning him that a continuance
of the anxiety would send her into a
rapid decline. The girls weakness and
depression had been so great when he
started from CuIvertOn on this the last
day of her leave Of absence that he had
decided on the personal appeal to Mr.
aI'ye never held with strikers and
such, me being a Guv' ment servant, \
but it's enough to make one SIDE with
labor against capital-that fat diapers
insolence," the old man muttered, as
he pushed his plate aside. Making
eyes at the men. too! That amt Mar
gery's way, III bet If she wasn't so
set on it I'd be right down glad she
wasn't going back to chap that
salves his conscience by bringing
false charge against an innocent girl
He drained his beer, and instead OF
remaining for a chat with the fire.
ouenters of the taproom went straight
TO the room which he occupied over
the stable, so as to avoid disturbing
the house when he rose IN the mloole
of the night. There he slept till it was
time to put the horse in, but his sleep
was fitful. for the germ of temptation
was working in his mind
That germ did not take final shape
till he had loaded his cart with the
mail bags at the pOStotfice and hao
driven out of the town into the quiet
country It was a crisp. star-ht nlgnIs
with a high hung moon three-quarters
full and there being no stress OF
weather to contend ~, VIII ne was aOie
1T is terrible hard that nave TO DC
the one to carry that letter.. he mused,
giancing askance at the Culverton man
bag which lay at ms Ieet-a go. $50
yiIIages-.and yet it seemingly gives
me a chance 1 shouldn't otherwise get
Gee up. Pollyr'-this to the mare-1t
don't do TO think
tween the familiar hedgerows Simon
did think, and with growing clearness;
He thought how Margery, hollow eyed
and eager would be lowering at the
door of their cottage home on the look
out for letters when the postman came
/ in the morning: he thought how the
| fatal letter lying sealed up in the man
| bag at the bottom of his cart was now
/ in his possession. he thought how 1t
| would be out of his power once ana 1or
/ all the moment he had delivered the
mails at the Culverton postofhce-
Il might slit the bag up, take out the
letter. and say I'd been attacked and
i robbed he reflected "Margery might
take a turn for the better if she dfdn'
4 get the sack on the day shes oeen e1-
/ l..
to bear it a week or two later on
His eyes caught the mail bag again
and unconsciously he slackened the
mares speed. The thing seemed easy
| enough. and he might even gain credit
| for withstanding the imaginary roooer
4 at the expense of a damaged bag. Yes,
! il was all plain sailing. but for one
fact which Simon had forgotten III II
/ came to the pinch-the fact that ne
was a faithful servant
No I'll do no such thing" he tolo
I hfmsalf Thirty years I've carried
| the mails with never a black mark &C
my name. and-weu. respect myseh
too much"
He drew the whip across the mares
TANKS to start her on again, but almost
Immediately his hand frightened on tnt
reins- A figure had stepped from tne
hedge into the middle OF the road r1gh'
in front of him The moonbeams gilnt,
ed on the nickeled barrel of a Dlsto
and a pair Of eyes shone from the silts
of a crepe mask Simon could hardly
believe his senses. 1t seemed ike
Judgment on him for thinking OF hls
abandoned project-to be CONFRONTED ..
a real robber Just then. the urst ns
had ever encountered
Pull up my man, and chuck out tht
mail bags" said he Of the mask in grur
tones. suggesting 4 feigned voice, o.
see I am armed; shanf hesltate q
, shoot if you discbey." -
To whip up and drive over the fnipu
| dent footpad was Sinon's first impulse
but the pistol was aimed full at hi!
head and caution prevailed
You've got a good cheek whoever yoI
are, but I've no mind to be shot at m.
time of Iife." the old man replied
bringing the cart to q standsttn. It'll
be the registered bag you're after, Ell? 2
IT want them ALL was the reply
: Come look sharp and throw then
down. You can have them back whel
! I've got what I want
One by one Simon dropped the bag
in the road, carefully letting them fal
: close to the cart They had hardl!
touched the ground when the robbie
singled out the bag stamped Culver
? ton" and, ripping it open with his knife
: shook out a white shower on the high
t way BY the light of the gig lamp h
began eagerly to scan the addresses OF
J the envelopes. keeping a wary eye Oh
Simon the while
simon. too, watched the aggressor Xix
q lynx and presently seized the oppor
tunity for which he had been waiting
The robber had become suddenly en-
crossed in the address Of an envelope
when with an agility wonderful for hi
years the old driver leaped from thu
: cart on his back. hurting him to thu
ground and send the loosely held pisto
| dyfng In a moment the two were Strug
: Cling for the mastery. Simon Merridev
: with the advantage Of being uppermos
an advantage which he used to plucl
off his opponents mask
well I'm blessed If it amt tn
younger of they two RoystonsI" b