Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-29
A RACE FOR A LIFE.

the back part OF the drug store and
his employer, Mr. Blye, was doing in
a chair in the front part, with yes
terday's Chicago paper flung over his
face for perfection against the too
rersistent flies The three O'Clock
mail had not yet come i'll. Mr.. Blye
was waiting for fresh newspaper to
waken him.
The street outside was as somnolent
SIS Mr.. Blye. A group of taciturn and
batient farmers were waiting outside
the postoffice: a few horses nodded
drowsily above their hitching- posts.
The sun snone hot, and the towering
elm in front of the drug store scarcely
stirred it's dusty leaves.
Robert mated to clean bottles. Ev-
cry now and then his wide-awake blue
eyes wandered restlessly towards the
distant window in search of some life
and interest.
"Simmonsville's the deadest hole in
Michigan he muttered, discontented
ly; nothing ever happens.
He hustled a row of bottles together
and crash! one of them slipped to
the floor and broke into hundred
pieces.
Mr.. Blye started up from his chair,
bewildered and irritated by his sud.
den awakening. He glared through
his spectacles towards the dim end
of the store for a moment, and then
sank back into his chair.
Carr" he called out sharply, as he
stopped and swept up his scattered
newspaper with his hand, "Carr, do
wish you'd learn to be a little more
careful! Bottles cost money. Be-
sides, they're my property, and not
yours-remember that!"
Eyes. sir" said Robert flushing hot
ly under the rebuke. "The idea OF
calling fellow down for a little thing
like that" he muttered angrily. 1--WE
a good mind to quit"
But Robert knew very we'll that he
could not quit if he would-that his
little salary of four dollars week
was absolutely necessary to the main
tenance Of their home. He was Six
teen and the oldest of three. Bella
and Dick must be kept at school, His
widowed mother did all the dressmak
ing she could get; but this was not
much. for Simmonsville was but a
village of three hundred. Assuredly
Robert could not quit-just yet.
Il s'pose I am careless" he said
t. himself, for Robert was an honest
boy. "When you come to think of it
carelessness is a pretty poor habit to
get into. I'll have to turn over a
new leaf
Presently an old Indian shuffled into
the store His face was as impas-
sive and unchanging in expression as
if welded in copper. and only his black
eyes seemed alert and anxious. He
nilCAIiy loIti S1Cdoy olIp VI paper oI
the count ar.
Mr.. Blye stepped up to read the
message it evidently held. The writ
ing, hastily scribbled in pencil, had
been rubbed and was far from legible.
From Hy Colborn, eh?" said Mr..
Rlye. HE says your little baby girls
got the Group, Johns that right?
Too bad! Too bad! Well, We'll try
to fix up something thatll ease your
papoose and make her lively again"
"Be back in fl minute" said the
Indian stoiiGly. "Me go postoffice TO
Mr.. Colbn'.
"All right, John. Itll be ready by
the time you're back.
Mr.. Blye adjusted his spectacles
more firmly and peered among his gilt
labeled shelf bottles. He took down
two Or three of these, carefully exam
ined their labels, smelled of their
contents, and then measured out a
small quantity from each He poured
the mixture into smaller bottle,
corked tightly, and then wrapped
it in cracking pink paper. All Mr..
Blye's movements We're deliberate and
methodical for he had been a drug
gist for many years.
When this was done, he placed 1t
ca his prescription desk, near another
bottle wrapped in blue paper.
Carr" he said. I'm going to step
over for my paper. If that Indian
Genes in. give him the bottle wrapped
liz pink. Remember-the pink one"
All right, sir answered Robert,
cfeerily. His old good-nature had re-
turned by this time.
1.-The charge is quarter Mr. Blye
went on, over his shoulder eTha hl1a