The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-05-20

BuBed, glaneing askance a. the Cnf.
vegtOn NAH bag, which lag 81 his feel,
as he drove out into the eounfrym
giant among the lesser bags for sur
rounding villages-aand jet Il seem
ingiy gives me q chance / shouldn't
otherwise get Gee-up. PolIyg' this TO
the mare. 1T don't do 10 think"
But his thoughts possessed him.
Il might slit the bag up. take out
The letter and cay I'D been attacked
and robbed" be reelected. '.Margery
might take q turn for the better II she
didn't get the sack on the day shes
been expecting IL Maybe she'd bo
more able 70 bear II q week or two
later on.
mo. III DO no such thing. be told
himself Thirty years I've carried tina
mails. and never a black mark to my
name. and-well, / respect myself TOO
much"
He drew the whip across the mares
tanks to start her on again, but al
most Immediately his hand tightened
on the reinA A figure had stepped
from the hedge into the road. Tho
moOnbeams gIinted on the nicksIed
barrel Of q pistol ard q pair Of eyes
shone from the Sits OF a crane mask.
Simon could hardly believe his senses.
II seemed like a Judgment on him for
thinking OF bis abandoned project
to be confronted By a real robber JUST
then, the nrst be bad ever encoun-
tered
Pull up. my man. and chuck out
the mail bags" said be Of the mmmk
In gruR tones. suggesting a felgneA
voice. NYou zee am armed; ahan't
hesitate TO shoot IL you dtsobey."
One by one Simon drCpped the bags
into the road, carefully letting them
fall close to the cart They had hardly
touched the ground when the robber
singled out the bag stamped Culver
ton" and ripping II open with hIa
knife. shook out white shower on the
highway. BY the light Of the lantern
be began TO eagerly scan the addresses
on the envelopes. keeping q wary eye
on Simon the while.
Simon. Too, watched the azRTessor
Ike a lynx and presently seized the
opportunity for which he had been
waiting. The robber had become sud-
denly engrossed in the address % an
envelope, when with an agility won
derful for one Of his years the old
driver leaped from the cart on to his
back. hurting him TO the ground ana
sending the loosely held pistol Tying.
In moment the two were struggling
for the mastery. Simon Merridew,
with the advantage Of being upper
most-and advantage which be used
to pluck on his opponents mask.
well. I'm blessed IL IL amt the
"Well, I'm blessed II Il Amt the
younger OF the two RoystOns." be
painted as the light fell on the up-
turned features I'm going to hang
on to you and get yOu seven years for
thIz."
Il suppose that would be the pen
atty" said the young man, calmly. e
win do whatever you wish. Mr.. Mer-
rideW. II you viii let me get up ana
hear what have to say"
Elated by his victory, Simon per
mitted him to rise, but not till he haa
reached out and possessed himself az
the pistol snow spit It out ana BE-
done with II before ! drive you 10 Cui-
veFtOn police station be said. stern-
". But Edward RoystOn's reply took
his breath away.
I'VE have had this rough ana tum.
bic. Mr.. Merridew." said the captive.
because l love your daughter and I
believe she loves me. l wanted 10
stop that letter which my father posted
to her with his own hands, and / waa
not aware that you drove the mail cart
till after had ordered you to puIR
up: then thought I had better 70
on with Il Believe me, l had no To-
tention OF doing the driver any harm
II he resisted; hoped to carry the
play through by sheer blur. That pis-
tol isn't loaded"
SimOn's tanned visage creased into
hundred wrinkles, the upper half oe
his face seemed to be frowning. buh
round his mouth the lines curved and
twitched suspiciously like q grin. he
spoke not for nearly ? minute, for he
Was trying to reconcile the dictates OF
duty with those Of parental affection.
Had you found the letter. he asked
suddenly.
I had II In my hand when you
jumped and didn't let 60" said Roy
EtOn, disclosing a erumpled paper In
his palm.
Then, my lad. | trust you to carry.
out the rest Of the program" said
Simon. "I'n forget pulled your mask
on when report the attack on the
mall. Sun.