Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-07-23

I'm afraid we'll need the stage 1or the
living Tiff we get through"
Alfred said no more; and Uncle Billy
warmed to him as he saw the ~clear-cut
Jaw set and a steely light creep into
the dark violet eyes.
He's camel" Uncle Billy whispered
to himself.
Gently they disposed of the poor,
mutilated bodies. and hurried back to
the stage. The driver armed each
passenger with a rifle and revolver;
and ordering Alfred beside him, and
Phineas to keep the lookout from the
top, he swung his team into the road
and drove forward through the cut
with slash and oath.
Dark was stealing on, yet the suns
| goodnight glory still fingered, its
flaming banners striking into the over
head darkness, flooding earth and
heavens with strange, sinister color.
Alfred thought of what lay behind, and
gripped his gun sharply. The team
slowed, and Uncle Billy no longer piled
the lash.
See that light there, away yon to
the left?"
yes"
That's Anthony's, the next station
Some ones alive there, and that some
one is white, or there wouldn't be a
candle light; the whole place would
be alight.' Relief ~unspeakable
breathed in his words, and a half mile
passed in silence.
This is a terrible way to earn a
living!" Alfred said at last.
Yves; but this jobs easy compared
to the trick the pony express boys
used to play"
This is dangerous enough. | won
der the company can induce men to
undertake the work. Don't you find
it w~earing?"
ooh, yes, l suppose it is. It's right
smart skeery sometimes, specially at
; night when l make the trip alone. And
wondeh passengehs don't buck
against being sent across without es-
COTL, ike now.
They would if they knew what
they'd see. But it's infinitely worse
for. you drivers"
well, | reckon the Lord knows his
business, an mine, too. | figger all
got to do is to see he don't catch me
asleep on the box
A sudden admiration for this hero
of the desert warmed Alfred's heart,
This time I'd hated to let then
bacon-colored critters get me before
| got to Anthony's. Those tracks arr
ell from Anthony's; and there's more
than men and property-there's An
thongs little gal, and"
Alfred shivered at the significan
pause.
"Anthony's had hard luck. He's on,
of Gods best, if he is set up a nit
queer"
Does he live alone? Oh, no; l SUI
pose he has a helper as they have a
other stations, hasn't he?" Alfre
hoped the driver would tell him NOR
of the station agent, not because Q
his own interest in the agent, but tina
he might be saved from thinking.
Eyes, he has a helper, Gid Ingram
but he's only a boy, if he is big. An
Stella, pore little chicken! She"
Alfred waited ~discreetly.
Away back in the tifties Anthem
aAu,o1r ~ &;oh oH,oh WTaChnn uyoyp III
Gle Billy began again in a steadie
tone. Struck it powerful rich; panne
out money fasteh'n he could count i
And what did he do but put up tn
durndest biggest palace this side {
'Frisco-put it up right there wher
he struck tin. 1t was a bang-up plac
fo' sho'; big rooms with tioweh gya
dens in the carpets, and fioweh gya
dens on the walls; gold chairs, an
looking glasses till yo'd see yo'self s
many times yo'd think yo'd got 'el
again."
"That there house." he continue
presently, stood in a little artificis
looking garden, just as sassy as a ia
ulIu, 5SltllS LllCtC VII IhC pdlO Iul
of the Sieery Nevaydys. But Il
whole blamed outfit looked awful Ion
some in spite of bein' sc grand ar
handsome. 1t seemed burned out
place, like a peafowl in full spread {
- a snowbank."
re Didn't Mr.. Anthony have a fa1
ily?" Alfred questioned.
Sc Eyes, one little gal; that was a
he When he got those domestic cyar,
he dealt out to suit him, he sent bat
east somewhere for her. She was
in peart little slip bout nine yeahs o
do come oveh from Sacramento in n
ba stage. I used to drive in Gods cou
.as try those days.
use Anthony put her in as mistress
i'd. the mansion; an there she'd sit in h
lid high-back chair at the head Of Il
as table as big as life, the only bit
crinoline present when he'd give graz
in. dinnehs to the Washoe quality. T.
men would toast her, and she'd sta
DIV up and bow, solemn as a funeral"
ed What? No woman at all arou,
herr"
he ooh, he had an old woman to 10
after her a mite, comb and mend, a
to such; a good old critteh, but
thoroughbred. And except for her t
MT little one neveh saw any but men"
lty How did she learn %anything?"
CTo BE CoNTINUED.)
.fKIhn. M oSAnz