Mexico Missouri message., 1908-06-25
CHAPTER X.-continued.

OF opposition road.
CHAPTER x.-Continued.
Some deviltry to our company.
Say! You know everything: maybe
YOU can figure II out. And say! NUNS
the word. I amt supposed to let any
one see what goes over the wire. you
know. SO long" He handed her a
bulky envelope and turned.
is It all this?" Stella began, when
Alvin broke in:
"Oh, my works in there. too. Say.
Miss Stella, you're n bully teacher!
My brains are growing so fast my
skull aches. must skip or my
chieTll call me before | 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 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 day, save the
three-sometimes only two-short res
pites the chief operator in Sacra'
inento 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
charged for drunkenness. But Alvin
was made OF better stun.
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.
But Vic Wah's best efforts were I'M
appreciated. She toyed with her food,
listening tensely for n herald of the
stage and was gladdened at last by
the shout that announced Its coming.
Doors wsre rung open and anxious
eyes peered into darkness, watching
a black object embody itself from the
night and labor up to the lamp-lit eX'
press office. Stella saw rigid form
to learn for herself II II was really
Uncle Billy. He did not move; only
a feeble voice testified to life.
Some one take the lines, IL CANT
open-my ilngehs," he said. as kind
hands held hot whisky TO his lips
Don't mind me yet" The words came
thIckly between swallows. Take the
nh haNs 1Na "A
won't you? Boys. you all take hold
those bosses played lone hand-don'
make EN- pull the ole-wagon up that
muddy hill-to-night. Po snorteh'
It's goodbye for him reckon. He;
-"
His words dwindled TO a whisper
and the huddied figure, relaxed from
the long strain, dropped lower anC
lower.
Boys. he'll fall! Some o. you III
him down." called Sally b. sharply
BE keerful! Don't straighten his fin
gers too quick!"
And some OF you bear me also e
my downy couch, won't you? |, too
am a frozen wayfarer. Sally b.
Phineas climbed out of the coach ant
stepped up to Sally b. with proneret
hand.
"oh. you git" she said. half vexed
though she laughed. why didn't yo
set on the box an spell Uncle Bill
with the lines. you skunk? You ar
younger'n him"
Il amt driving Charley Croker
stage. I'm his passenger"
Sally b. hustled him aside an
cleared the way for the men who cal
ried Uncle Billy. protesting feebly. I
her best chamber, where the tw
women took him In charge.
But their ministrations and tn
sight OF Stella's plying fao,. rouse
him for a minute only; he was 500
In the vision.laden spaces where tricl
sizes make Jest of human travail. Fo
long hours. under wearying conglon
GRAFTON OF angles and curves this
grandma'am called dream OF IN
night" poor Uncle Billy tossed az
mOaned. fought over again his iOnsl
battle with the storm.