Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-11-28
CHATTER VII.

messed up the stage that Peter milton had driven over the day be e. when his prospective passengers re looking, with graphic panto- nic representation of take 1t or ye it." Under the circumstances ss Carmichael and the fat lady con ted to be passengers with much the he feeling of fnality that one might ke on embarking for the planet Mars an airship.
 IIere's some bread and meat and tle of cold coffee, if you live to need was Mrs. Dax's grim proy.lostica- b of accident. Leander, being of aA kotional nature. could scarce restrain tears-the advent of the travellers created welcome variation in the notony of his dutifui routine-he
 all the agitation of parting with elong friends Mary Carmichael and dith promised to wrte-they had hnd a great deal to say to each otber preceding evening.
 Chugg cracked his whip ominously, d the travellers got inside, not daring trust themselves to the box The journey with Chugg WAS but petition of that first days staging sagebrush was scarcer. the noun us seemed as far off as ever, and outlook was, if possible, more desc ke The entry ill Miss Carmichael's hry. inscribed in malformed char ters as the stage jOlted over ruts Id gullies reads: 'I do not mind tell you, in strictest confidence. .Dere ary'-as the little boy called you- bt when l so lightly severed my con ction with civilization l had no idea what an extent l was going in for e prairie primeval. How on earth les wonan who can write a letter e Mrs. Yelett stand it? And where the map of North America is Lost fail?''
 The fat lady had never relaxed her Ze from Chugg's back since the stage Id started. She peered at that broad panse of flannel shirt through the by round window. like q careful sail, B master sweeping the horizon for Ssibe storm clouds. At every DOT pn of the road presenting steep de ne she would prod Ghugg in the back tth the handle of her ample unbrell.i d demand that he let her out. as she eferred Walk ilg
 Do you think you are a-picnlcking. at you crave terminating round these re solitoodes :" And he cracked his hlp and adiurei his team with caba lie imprecations
 Ibid you notiee if Mrs. Dix giv him y cold coffee S;lule us she did usz' XioHsly inquired the fat lady from r lookout
 Mary hadn't noticed
 Hes drinking something out of T lown bottle. seems to relish it a he;iV Ore'n he would cold coffee. reported watch Hi, there' Hi, Mir Chugg" | lli-lll-ln, ile grunted sava@ely ap yins q wately eye to the round win bw.
 "Nothing.' answered the fat lady bite satisfied at having her worst ars con. n.rmed.
 Chugg returned to his driving as one Dt above the weakness of seeing and earing things.
 Faint coffee
 Conld you smell it?" questioned Ma anxiously.
 '1ou never can tell that way when ey are plumb pickled in it, like him. :" Then how did you know it wasn't ffee?'
 hls eyes had fresh watered." Mary collapsed under this expert tes- nony, What are we going to do bout it:''
 Appeal to him as gentleman said
 Tat lady, not without dramatic in nation
 lou appeal" counseled Mary 'I " him look at you admiringly when We're walking down that steep ade'
 Is that so?' said the fat lady. with consplcuouS lack of incredulity. And put her Aand involuntarily to her zzes.
 hls tlme she did not trust to the um- eila handle as medium of commu- ".loh between the stage driver and fseil' Putting her hand through the thole she grasped Chugg's arm-the aue arm-with no uncertain grip.
 "hv Mr Chugg. this were place is ttlns to be regular summer resort. 'iih or two ladies trusting them Nes to your protection and travelling
 over this great lonesome desert" "oss mind, still submerged in To
 iethe waters, grappled in silence 'u the problem of the feminine inva n' ana then he lnuttered to himself ner than to the fat lady: Nowhere $ iron ,em. Women and house flies universally prevailing.
 ne Tat lady dropped his arm as if ii
 been brand. Hes no gentle. hn , Ns'' Al mat day they toiled over sand sagebrush. The sun hung like a
 'en ulsk, paling the blue of the sky slasshoppers kept up their shrill
 piiis' and the loneliness of thu,
 s@o'chea waste became q tangible