The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-11-02


of man-as thin and crooked-backed
as if he were seventy. His face was
angular and wizened. His eyes were
little, and seemed half closed; his
mouth was big and amiable His whole
countenance gave the impression of
sly good nature. He was dressed
plainly-almost shabbily-and carried
long gray overcoat across his shout
der. His only visible article of lug
gage was a greasy battered leather
satchel, which he handled with great
care. A
In spite of his decrepit appearance.
the man proved himself tireless
walker using long, swinging stride
that carried him ahead at a surprising
speed. For more than an hour he
walked on steadily. All at once he
heard not far behind him the squeak
ing of brake and the humping of
wagon wheels upon the rocky road. A
few seconds later the Antonio and Fort
Stanton stage hove into sight.
'Howdy!" shouted the big, red
whiskered driver, heartily, pulling up
his horses.
'The same to you, pardner!" The
voice was surprisingly resonant.
Where you bound for?"
Next town. How far is it from
here?'
Well, sir, San Marcial's every bit
of eight miles-and mighty bad walk
in in the dark. Better jump up here
with me! Got plenty O. room!"
Thanks, pardner, | don't care if l
dol" Thereupon he swung himself UP
beside the driver with an ease that
astonished this good-hearted individ-
ual.
You're powerful spry for an old
mani he observed, admiringly.
The stranger smiled slyly and nod
ded. ''Tomorrow's the Fourth OF
July" he muttered, half to himself
That's right replied the driver, re-
gretfully. ''There'll be big doin's at San
Marcial tomorrow-an' it's just my
blamed luck to have to miss 'em. BY
George! I'd give a dollar just to see
the big shoot!"
His companion seemed mildly in
terested. "a shooting contest?"
Sure! The big pistol-shoot for the
championship of the county. There's
a cold hundred in it for Tim Whit
sett. He'll win, hands down.
Il see," observed the stranger, quiet
ly.
The stage was now descending
ticklish grade, and the drivers atten-
ton was wholly occupied in guiding
his horses-so that the stranger was
left to his own thoughts. He shooh
his head obviously. San Marcial was
perhaps the last place in which he
would have expected ever to find him.
self But this was before the Royal
Amusement Company of San Francis
co had been stranded. When the crash
came, he found himself marooned in
little Arizona town without even suf-
ficient money to make his way back to
Phoenix. He had already written to
his brother in San Francisco; but, he
knew that it would be many days be-
fore the money could reach him. Be
sides, his boy was at Phoenix. And
at the thought of the child-a little
curly headed rogue Of ten-the fathers
eyes grew moist. Injured though he
was to long absence from his boy, he
was suddenly seized with a longing
to see him-to hold him in his arms.
But as yet this longing seemed cruelty
far from realization. For as matters
now stood the man figured that it
was at least hundred and fifty miles
to Phoenix. And he had. just three
dimes in his pocket. At last he had
decided to start out for Phoenix On
foot, hoping that perhaps something
might turn up. At the moment wher
the stage driver had picked him up he
was finishing his third days journey.
For long time the man sat alb
sorbed in his gloomy thoughts, dream
lily watching the trees and rocks and
bushes as they grew shadowy and in
distinct in the thickening darkness. He
was reused at length by the hearty
voice of the driver.
well, pardner, here we are!"
AS the stage drew up the stranger
thanked the driver earnestly. The men
shook hands, and the stranger jumped
lightly to the ground.
Good luck to you!" called the big
driver Then cracking his whip and
shouting at his wiry, thin-necked sor-
rels, he sent them down the main
street of San Marcial at a spanking
trot. The stranger watched the lum-
bering stage as it pounded away
through the darkness, and long after
II was out of sight listened to the rap
Id clatter of the horses hooves. Then
he looked about him. Except for
a few stragglers the street was de-
serted. The man deliberated mo-
ment Then he began to walk rapidly
down the street, continuing his pace
until he came to dense patch of
brush just outside of the town. Plung-
ing into this he found small cleared
space where he could not be observed
from the road. He then cut a few
r. 4 AZ -