Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-09-22
In Defense of
the Mail ~ ~
By
WALTER N. EGGINTON

- 4 DVENTURES?" said the rura
II mail carrier, reaching forward
and lightly fecking fly from the horse
with his whip. eyes, have had them
even on this quiet, country route.
recall one affair that happened on this
road, and not far from where we are
now"
The rural mail carrier 10 q friend OF
mine, and sat 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 all
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
I hill, skirting the base of it, and there
was not a farmhouse in sight. On one
side was the hill, rising abruptly sky
ward, we'll covered with thick growth
of young trees and bushes, a wild, un-
cultivated stretch of country; on the
other side the ground fell away to a
babbling creek beyond which the land
was fenced of, showing here a field OF
waving corn, there patch Of potatoes,
and farther on 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
hill and down in the valley, nestled the
little town of Corning, which we had
left some hours before in starting on the
Journey to Horribly Forks, distance OF
some rs 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
JuSuSSlVcS WIN "CAO oS0SAOASU SA
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, l 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, am
not big man and never was powerful
one. So I carried a 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, began to grow
careless. Sometimes I had the gun
with me. and sometimes not. It was or
one of these latter occasions that the
exciting incident have in mind &C.
Cured. ~
1T was beautiful autumn day, and
had reached the top of Horribly hill and
was about to take the road that leads
down into the Forks, when old Farmer
0figger came hurrying down the path
from his house and hailed me, waving
an envelope pulled up and waited fol
him.
HE had a letter, he told me, in which
he wanted to inclose some money. A.
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 I 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.
Cali right, SIR sad he, in his hearty
way. Here's the money! Pulling out
q roll of greenbacks he counted of:
Twenty, 80, 40, 60, 80, 100, and another
dollar to pay for the money order and
stamps, and bring m" back the change
when you come this way Tomorrow
II was surprised at the amount-the
largest l had ever had to take on thai
route, but accepted itpromptly, togethe,
with the letter, and placing both care
fully in my: breast pocket, drove OF
down the road. Before had gone tel
yarcs~ I passed tramp sitting by tn
roadside, hidden from the farmhouse
BY some foliage, and as his glance me
mine something in his eyes made M
recall that the farmers voice had beel
loud Is he had counted out the money
The fellow was big and evil-looking, a
we'll q powerful, and ny heart sank ,
little I remembered. with regret, tina
VA unarmed. helpless.
II passed him. tryiHg desperately har:
. look unconcerned, and he made NJ