The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-08

breath of relief and Tom felt her his
cause heart and soul, for veal
H looked at his watch. and knew that if he made
the train he must do it by the shorter He
urged his team ahead. Dnah capered first. and
would not do her part; but Harmony clinging to
Toms sleeve and bending eagerly forward
treated her:
'Oh, be good Dnah; be good Dinahr And
Dnah, quoted again by voice she knew, subsidized
into steady pace.
They had passed the and had turned into
the old road before Tom looked backed. Two be-
wildered standing before the Cushman
gate.
Some minutes passed before they fully understood
the situation, and then McMahon exclaimed;
The young idiot! H s forgotten that the road S
blocked! He II have TO come back to the Cor
nersl" and Mr.. McMahon doubled himself together
in triumphant glee.
up to the closed portion OF the road 4 chain was
stretched across hooked to, post upon each side,
The foreman OF gang OF laborers SAID surllly:
mo thoroughfare. You can't pass here
The boy rose upon his feet locked at the broken
road, and that it passable. Then he lifted
the mailbag into sight, saying quietly
81 carry the United States Mail sir
The made reply, but turned away and
kicked sulenly into clod OF earth.
Tom sprang to the ground unlocked the chain
end, carried it the other side dropped 1t,
and, regainng, his seat at a bound, drove on The
road rough in places but not dangerous, and he
passed safely it, though to the inconvenience
of several groups of workmen.
Ahead of him he saw the train already slowing a
the station. 1t would do to go close with the
risky Dinah. SO drawing to the sidewalk few rods
away he flung himself to the ground, put dime
and Dinahs bride into the hands of gaping ider,
lifted Harmony 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 now wait half hour for the mail-tran
the homeward road, the long hill road, for he knew
that if Bates and the constable were to come after
him they would come that way
The road was clear and he went back to look
after Harmony. HIS team quict the boy he
had hired still holding the pair, and Dinah gravey
eating clover from Harmony's hand. Saying to
himself, Busy hours go fast he pulled few fresh
tufts from under fence and fed them to the patient
the task of scraping the mud from the wheels of the
stage; but he worked in haste IT, instead
turned his team about heading them toward the hill
road and home. Then he made bargain with his
hoster. giving him another dime to remain until the
train arrived.
1T must be nearly due" he thought and looked
at bis, his watch Just ten minutes had sped :.
placed foot firmly upon hub and with incest pre-
cision whitfield stick to pn-point. He as care
and mounted the stage steps to view the road. No
Bates in sight. Again he pulled out his watch
rs it most half hour now?" whispered HarS
mony.
Ten minutes more" he said, and, STOPPING. united
her bonnet and smoothed back her hair, talking
soothingy to her meanwhile.
started, | don't believe they II dare to take Dinah
away from us They won't unless they get US u, an
and will you keep Dinah and me and the United
States mail with you envy speck of time till papa
comes?"
Il II try to-; and with parting pat OF encourage
ment he left her and went and stood upon the plat
For perhaps the twentieth time he jerks his
watch Ia lime up and no tram IN sight
ground. The train is coming!
Upon the platform again, he tries to look round
corner a hundred rods away, where the track bends
out of the thick woods
But it is coming 1t is almost in sight announced
along the Hill road No Vehicle in sight but upon
the summit cloud of dust. 1t takes shape under
his strainng gaze; scampering horse, tumbling
buggy, and the drivers-Tom cannot see them, but
his instinct outleaps his senses
train has 1t is close at hand and in his eager
the boy stretches out his and wildly beck
ons it forward It comes slowing and seraPing
abreast of the that holds the coveted bag 1t is
uGg his his feet He fuohs: it d stands ready
upon m the pat9r m 6ny 9 St then en- Van Bu
REM and he bounds forward,
AS be down the steps he glances up the road
Bates is not far away but his horse is rearing and
fore. and shouts and blows from behind The boy
heeds everything that may make delay. and as he
precious time in fumbling with its old fastenings
hill road, too-taken it in while clnging to the rail
OF fence: and Tom made his dash for
there mute. but following dstressfuy his every
ton, As he tossed the bag at her feet, she with
gentle, hands adjusted the ungainy thing
for ready grasping for, having its value in
peril. she had faith in it a passport through all
Only three passengers appeared. active men,
Tom knew them all-and he sprang to his seat
gathered I'D his reins, waved away his groom, and
off before they were fairly seated. But he
slow pace, seeming 70 fear stoppage little
If he drove the chariot OF the sun
stop, you thief" yelled the Tuning Bates: and
"Stop, you thief,' echoed Mcmahon.
The stage was brought to standstill
You audacious rascalp shouted Bates. He
fourshed his whip, and in his frenzy he might have