New-York tribune., 1906-12-02

/ j ]. !. !. j. 4. !. !.
E Ill was a cabin up where the
@ trail branChed toward the
butteS from the stage road.
KK The cut the budding
- plum brush from its n
e. trance and peered in; then
- he preempted the domain.
That night he presented
himself At the general store.
Il want the biggest pan you We got he said.
For placering: asked the clerk.
4 perpleXed pucker crept between PattersOn's
straight br0Ws. No" he answered dOubtfuIly;
:" 1Or Snipe.'
The clerk stared. \ 1ounger on sugar barrel
sensed amusement and sat up
Patterson caresslngv touched the grTny bundle
still suspended from ms belt Out OF It slender
bill thrust itself into evidence. 1 picked her up
on the marshes. he announced; " shot in one leg
and the wing. But she's most herself again. Aren't
vo-t. Arabelle,'
The clerks law sagged in asronishrlent The
on the barrel significantly tapped his forehead.
There was grating covered window IN the
store The legend above II ran " General Delivery,
I 5 "" Still higher the wall was pasted a line
q rlaca-ds. Patterson glance SKINNED them and
rested. startled. the last. black and yellow
sheriff bill. Wanted Tor Forgeryl' it said.
The camp saw the new con1er through smoked
gl-sses, he could not tau1p fuse nor turn wind
las ana men mere was -Arabee Spying II had
seen him catch her breakfast; It had seen ner half
fl, l-alt run, TO meet him. her web feet tOtterlng
like Chinese baby's, and the camp shook its head.
\ month went by before the night when the
stage owner hurried hatess into the general store.
" here three passengers at the hotel besides the
express fIesSenger- ne painted " Ne We got a sick
tel tLI I5-l~t-- ne regular QIlNtT gone DtIU"
for a week, and the substitutes broke his arm!"
He moPped his forehead and looked appealingly at
the men.
Patterson turned from the counter with
package OF rlacaroni under his arm. \ keg stood
b. the door 70 hold the whips for the mule
teams. He selected one OF them and sent its lash
whining among the heads OF the bystanders. 1t
CoIled and with It's tip picked up ball OF tWine.
Shall | COZ he asked.
After that, in spite Of Arabele, the new
Cor1er was recognized as man.
Dust c-ept into the mountains, the choke
cherries bobbed on their stems, and still Patter-
son made the daily round trip stage run IN the
hours between twilight and dawn. 1t was ten
disgorged At the Union Exchange there were
usually several sleep drugged passengers waiting
l. be carried TO Fishers Gulch or the Divide.
On July night there were only two q drink
sodderl man and a vvisp OF an old woman.
The porter showed the former into the coach.
Patterson finished cording the luggage to the
traD and stared down At the woman.
D0n'tl" he said with expressive motion
OF his head toward where the man already
doing Come Up the seat with me. He
slowed the mail bags under her feet and pulled
up the apron.
You're sure those boxes won't fall of, and
the cords won break" Her tones were anxious.
Why, yes he said
Il they should There's the warn, and
the needles and the suspender buttons in the
flat box, she went on. halt 10 herself, and the
darrIug cotton. and the cloth for the shirts.
brought q lot Of stuff for patches She went
as the stage settled 10 its roll. But therel
l forgot YOU didn't know"
There was Elusive tirlhre in the voice
which sent the drivers memory unUIhngly