Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-07

! day gift, she said.' and added on my own
hook, for your thirtieth birthday My
wife tells me that bout three weeks ago at
| the sewing circle the womenfolk were all
| talking about other folks ages. when Sary
got techy and wouldn't let anybody know
Wilder Boyd handed me that bundle 1 saw
a good chance to find out by putting her
age a year or two higher than l had
sneaking idea 1t was. Oh heck l amt
laughed go hard in a month of Sundays, and
I've got to laugh again when l think what
Saryll say when the sewing circle women
let her know at the next bee that they know
her age right down to the very day.
Sign on the Mail Box.
"Hullo! Now, don't know whether the
| regulations allow such a thing as that or
not. Strikes me The. Hill might have asked
| me about 1t before he took 1t for granted
| that everything was all right and stuck up
| that sign there-'Peaches for sale'-under
| the box. He raises good peaches-um- m
MN! Good Teller, too, The. Is so l guess
I'll not say anything about that sign. But
| l wouldn't let it slide for lot of other
| folks know-not for glass of hard cider?'
The horse having negotiated the sharp
bend in the road a small cluster of white
painted houses came suddenly Into view.
Jefferson Valley" explained Mr.. Green
Still got it's star route post office through
political pull So l carry a lock pouch TO
the postmaster, l wait while he distributes
the mail, he keeps all for the folks living
within half-mile radius of the town and
l get the rest"
While HI waited for the mail to be sorted
he engaged in conversation with the loiter-
ers assembled the porch. Every once in
while he delivered himself of ooh, heck!
"Shoor You don't say" and Go way
now! the native way of saying quit your
kiddin'." From my perch in the buggy 1
judged that he being made acquainted
with some bit of intelligence out of the
ordinary and the circumstance that he and
the idlers kept their heads together the full
fifteen minutes that the mail was being
sorted further strengthened me in my con-
viction. But not until we had made our first
stop out of Jefferson Valley did l become
partner in the news that was creating
a deep stir in the village. This stop was at
Ock Barger's, and Ock lifted himself out
of an easy chair to get the paper that Hi
fiourished the latter sang out excitedly:
A stork Joke.
They've killed a stork in Jefferson Val
ley lake!'
Ock Barger stood stock still in his tracks.
apparently all forgetful of the newspaper
brimful of news of the big happenings in
the outside world.
go way, now!" he cried, half incredu-
lousy.
That's right" insisted Hi. That's what
they're saying in Jefferson Valley and
You don't say! Who killed it?''
Zone of them Hawkins boys
Didn't know be could hit the side of a
barn
mo more did 1. First stork killed in
these parts since 1 was boy. Everybody
in the village is trying to figure out how
it got there
Ock wrinkled his brows In thought for a
moment
"Shucks, that's easy" he said. as he stuck
his hands into the cavernous pockets of his
lie q n inn Sci1 of {f.,do
Don't they know In the village by this
time that that youngest Dean boys wife
has got baby? Arrived last night, and
bet that Hawkins boys gone and shot the
bird that brought it,
locks the wise man in this neck of the
woods confided HI as we drove on. You
can see that for yourself; and let me tell
you that he's got two st. Bernard dogs
and they do all the churning that's done
on the Barger place. Hitches them UP
to pole and they walk around and around
the churn, some sort of a contrfvance is set
going that churns up the strippings, and
first thing you know there's butter, and all
Mrs. Barger and the gals have to do is to
work out the water and put 1t up In nolds.
Why, whenever we want some one to make
a speech out of the ordinary at any kind
of meeting at all we always send out here
for Ock. Did you see the way he stood
mighty fetching? and he's witty-oh hecki"
Reaching under the seat, Hi brought forth
a bag made of bed ticking with a draw
string at the mouth. He selected letter
ferson Valley, and, as he placed 1t in the
bag and drew the string taut explained:
Private Mail Bags
Some folks are set on being exclusive
Want their own private mail bags, so they
give me these things and to please 'em I
put their mail In 'em and then put EN- In
the boxes. But the Widow Smith up the
road a bit has all the rest skinned to death.
She's got a leather lock pouch-must have
paid much as s. for it-and before her
house she's put up a pole with long swing
ing arm on it, and when l go by I just
reach out and hang that pouch that arm
as nice as you please, and when l come
back this way collecting, why take 1t off
as nice as you please, too. Jest like a
through express picking up mail at measly
little way station loot! toot!''
1t was 10 o'clock when we reached the
little village at the end of the route. 'On
started with the last pouch into the little
post Office. He had barely disappeared
through the doorway when one of the
loungers. all of whom had time pieces In
their hands, directed himself forcibly to
one of the group:
'tJim Hobbs, you dunn tilt. the elders on
you agin. I'd think you'd have better sense
than to bet agin that Hi would be late
after losing the fifth time
The group of hardened gamblers wended
its way into the dingy little store to Stake
Its several thirsss and to ags from ron the the
"You don't says that were soon shifting
the outer atmosphere that delectable task
was performed TO an accompaniment OF
HIS recital OF the killing of the lone stork
and of Ock Barger's explanation of its APP
pearance in the community.
HI Ioafed about the post Office until the
twc-coach train on the jerk-wafer railroad
ruf ring through the village brought along
pouch of mail from the north; then receiv-
ing a bare handful for distribution he turn
ell the horses head honeward on schedule |
tif.e--a quarter after eleven O'Clock.
Made Numerous Stops.
But though the letters that Hi carried
were few. and red flags were flown at In
frequent intervals over boxes to let him |
know that mail had been placed inside for |
collection, he made numerous stops
Scarcely a half mile OF the homeward |
journey had been covered. when. In answer
to summons BY means Of violently