Arizona republican., 1908-07-12

cause heart and soul. for veal or woe
 He looked at his watch, and knew that if he made the train he must do it by the shorter route. He urged his team ahead Dinah capered at first, and would not do her part; but Harmony clinging to Toms sleeve and bending eagerly forward en- treated her:
 "Oh be a good Dinah be good Dinah" And Dinah, quieted again by voice she knew, subsded
 into a steady pace.
 They had passed the corners and had turned into the old road before Tom looked backed. Two be- . wildered men standing before the Cushman gate
 Some minutes passed before they fully understood the situation, and then McMahon exclaimed: 'The young idot He $ forgotten that the road s blocked! He Fl have to come back to the Cor nersl" and Mr. McMahon doubled himself together in triumphant glee.
 But Tom had mt forgotten anything He came up to the closed portion of the road. A chain was stretched across, hooked to post upon each side. The foreman of gang Of laborers said surllly:
 "No thoroughfare. You cant pass here"
 The boy rose upon his feet, looked at the broken road and saw that 1t passable. Then he lifted the mailbag into sight, saying quietly.
 q carry the United States Mail, sir"
 The man made no reply but turned away and kicked sullenly into clod of earth
 Tom sprang to the ground, unlocked the chain at one end carried it the other side dropped 1t, and, regaining his scat at bound, drove The road rough in places. but dangerous. and he passed safely 1t, though to the inconvenience of several groups of workmen.
 Ahead of him he saw the train already slowing at the station. It would not do to go close with the frisky Dinah. drawing to the sidewalk few rods away. he flung himself to the ground, put dime and Dinahs bride into the hands of a gaping ider, lifted Harmony to the ground for safety, snatched his mailbag, and made dash for the platform. He reached it just in time hurl the bag aboard the train starting.
 He must wait half-hour for the mail-train from New York; and from the platform he scanned the homeward road the long hill road, for he knew that fl Bates and the constable to come after him they would come that way.
 The road clear, and he went back to look after Harmony His team quiet. the boy he had hired still holding the pair, and Dlnah gravely eating clover from Harmonys hand. Saying to tufts from under fence and fed them to the patient old creature at Dinah's side. Then he set himself the task of scrapng the mud from the wheels of the stage; but he worked in nervous haste if. instead of killing time, he were trying gain it. Then he turned his about heading them toward the hill road and home. Then he made bargain with his hostler, giving him another dime 10 remain until the train arrived.
 "It must be nearly due" he thought, and looked at his watch Just ten minutes had spedi
 Fretted by what he called his, foolishness, he placed a foot firmly upon hub and with incest pre- cison whittled stick to a pin-point. He fully sharpened the other end, then threw it away Bates in sight Again he pulled out his watch.
 "Is it most half an hour now?" whispered Har- mony
 "Ten minutes more" he said and, stooping united her bonnet and smoothed back her hair talking soothingly to her meanwhile
 When we get another mailbag aboard and get started I don't believe they II dare to take Dinah away from They won't unless they get other horse, and no one here has one to lend"
 And will you keep Dnah and and the United States mail with you evwy speck of time till papa cOmes?"
 q II try to-; and with parting pat of encourage ment he left her and went and stood upon the plat form
 For perhaps the twentieth time he jerks out his watch. Time up and train in sight,
 He steps from the platform and puts his to the ground The train Is coming!
 Upon the platform again he tries to look round a corner hundred rods away where the track bends out of the thick woods
 But it is coming. It is almost in sight. announced by rumble and whistle and fleece of smoke sitting upward through the trrc=tops He his eye along the hill road No vehicle in sight, but upon the summit cloud of dust. It takes shape under buggy. and the drvers-Tom cannot see them, but his instinct outleaPs his senses.
 But though his heart has stood still, the belated train has not It IS close at hand and in his ness the boy stretches out As arms and wildly beck ons 1t forward It comes slowing and scraping alongside of the platform and he runs with it abreast of the that holds the coveted bag. It flung at his feet He clutches it. and stands ready, waiting for the crowding passengers to come out upon n, the platform m Only moment then: ren!' and he bounds forward.
 As he down the steps he glances up the road. Bates is not far away but his horse is rearing and plunging made frantic by the shriekng engine be- fore and shouts and blows from behind The boy needs everything that may make delay, and he comes up in the of the Eclipse he filings the door wide open, lest a would-be passenger waste precious time in fumbling with its old fastenings.
 Little Harmony had taken in the long view of the hill road too-taken it in while clinging to the rail of fence: and Tom made his dash for the stage, she had scrambled to her place and sat there mute but following distressfully his every tion As he tossed the bag at her feet, she with gentle hands, adjusted the ungainly thing for ready graspng. for, having its value in peril she had faith in it passport through all. Only three passengers appeared. active men, Tom knew them all,-and he sprang to his seat. gathered up his reinS. waved away his groom, and was off before they fairly seated But he went at slow pace, seeming to fear any stoppage little as if he drove the chariot of the sun
 Stop, you thief!' yelled the fuming Bates: and "Stop, you thief" echoed McMahon
 The stage brought to a standstl
 "You audacious rascalP' shouted Bates He fourshed his whip, and in his frenzy he might have