The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-04-04

otis choctaw to Me-"
the word. amt supposed to let any
one see what goes over the wire, you
know. So long" He handed her q
bulky envelope and turned.
lis it all this?" Stella began, when
Alvin broke in:
"Oh, my works in there, too. Say.
Miss Stella, you're bully teacher!
My brains are growing so fast my
skull aches. l must skip or my
chief'll call me before l get back, and
thatll mean" He drew his finger
across his throat, laughed merrily and
almost closed the door when he turned
back a sheepish face and in voice to
match said: There's a note to vi in
there: would you-would YOU"
Stella laughed. "Oh. yes, will; but
Ill tell her mother. too"
YES, s'pose that goes, o. K.
too Goodbye. I'm gone"
Stella heard him stamping of down
the street, watched him through the
dim light climb the muddy hill to the
little box where he was jailed with the
"clicker" "a hours a day. save the
three-sometimes only two-short res
pites the chief operator in Sacra-
mento gave him for meals. Stella
thought of the eerie nights, thought of
Alvin's social nature and sighed. No
wonder his predecessor had been dis
~ko pNt
was made of better stuff.
Tonight the budget went unopened
Stella extracted the note addressed
to Vialo. carried the rest to her home
made desk in grandma ANS room and
went to supper.
appreciated. She toyed with her food
listening tensely for a herald Of the
stage and was gladdened at last by
the shout that announced it's coming.
Doors we're flung open and anxious
eyes peered into darkness. watching
q black object embody itself from the
night and labor up to the lamp-lit ex-
press ONCE. Stella saw rigid form
on the box and ran down the sidewalk
to learn for herself II it was really
Uncle Billy. He did not move; only
q feeble voice testified to life.
Some one take the lines, IL cain I
open-my fingehs." he said, as kind
hands held hot whisky to his lips.
Don't mind me yet" The words came
thickly between swallows. take the
po' fellehs out from where they stand,
won't you? Boys, you all take hold
those bosses played a lone hand-don't
make 'em pull the ole-wagon up that
muddy hill-to-night. Po' Snorteh!
It's goodbye for him-I reckon. He's
His words dwindled to a whisper,
and the huddled figure, relaxed from
the long strain, dropped lower and
lower.
Boys. he'll fall! Some o you lift
him down." called Sally B. sharply.
BE keerful! Don't straighten his I'm
gers too quick!"
And some Of you bear me also to
my downy couch. won't you? I, too.
am frozen wayfarer, Sally b."
Phineas climbed out of the coAch and
stepped up to Sally B. with proffered
hand.
""Oh. you git!" she said, half vexed,
though she laughed. "Why diGo't you
set on the box an spell Uncla Billy
with the lines. you skunk? Yeu are
younger'n him."
II amt driving Charley Croeker's
stage. I'm his passenger"
Sally B. hustled him aside and
cleared the way for the men who car.
ried Uncle Billy, protesting feebly. to
her best chamber, where the two
women took him in charge.
But their ministrations and the
sight Of Stella's plying faos. reused
him for minute only; he was soon
in the viston-laden spaces where trick.
sizes make jest OF human travail. For
long hours, under wearying conglom.
Grafton Of angles and curves that
grandma am called dream of the
night" poor Uncle Billy tossed and
moaned, fought over again his lonely
battle with the storm.
Keep 1t up a little longeh, boys.
Lights ahead-no, lights out! Fly
boys! The mountains falling! Pc
enorteh. down again! Git up, boy!
Pull up, there! Now, altogether!
Uncle Billy must stick-by the stage
live-or die-save the treasure-don't
Stella, dear! The old man amt woth
| Q teah from-yo' sweet-good-bye, lit
tie one. Uncle Billy CANT go any
Stella's tears fell unheeded on the
stiff blistered hands while the story
| Of the awful drive grew out Of his
y (To Be Contiuued.)