The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-09-15
Ten Minutes
WITH THE
.Short-Story
Writers
ON TIE AveAuE
nv Robert llusseil)


ihc stuge dfyers voice was strong
ald iirm as he called 10 the ancient
horses logging slowly lnt ne broad
ayenne
nGip, Neil gip Vic7
Wili d dexteilty acquired BY years
ot practice, le snapped his long LASH
ed @Ml gathered the rcins more firm.
~ N his hands ara with bis foot
ralled tant the trap that closed the
door of the vehicle
AS The man approached the end OF
the route which had been the scene
OF his daily occupation ever since his
hair, now nearly white, had begun to
lose the hue of youth, ne paid less
and less attention to his horses and
more 10 the scenes about him
THAT there club he remarked 20
himself I've seen the same faces
in them windows ever since | can
remember. Wonder where they'd 20
II they was turned out"
AT last, with a courageous Whoa.
which seemed entirely superflous for
the habit-trained steeds. he brought
the stage to standstill at the end
OF the line For come minutes he sat
in his seat under the big red umbrella
whicn protected from the summer sun
then, With an embarrassed laugh, he
climbed down and stood before his
team. a hand on each ow-held head.
Wei. Nell and Vie, we're through
We amt going TO pass up and down
| the avenue any more, together
dreading the hills and looking forward
to the easy grades. You won't have 10
grab on the bit when you come to
/ slippery places any more, to let me
know You are afraid Of falling down
You'll 90 somewhere, where | hope
they'll be good to you, and III 60
somewhere The only sure thing is
that we won't be on the avenue any
more together'
fhe company that owned The stage
/ line IN the fainons thoroughfare had
/ progressed with the times On the
morrow automobiles were To displace
the horse drawn vehicles, aud the pie
/ turesquc bnt antiquated Stage was "a
( be thing Of the past
with a last look at his friends al
SO many years, the man entered The
office TO gel his last pay and bid good
By to the cashier
Il wish we had a place for you
Bill said he young man. handing
over some small notes
I've got my plans nodded Bill
a. he left the office determined thai
none but the dumb animals should
! hf tgtx IN. ltaft tvt1r NJ
He went to his small room In al
old boarding mousse in a humble part
Of the city There sitting alone BY
the open window. smoking an old clay
4 pipe. he looKed ont .at scenes npor
which The passing years hai made III
tie impression The lines 81 his
strong face seemed TO grow deeper a.
The evening advanced. and il was ;
very Old man whl crawled INTO bed al
last
Early the naXt morning. before The
broad avenue which he knew SO wei
had become crowded with it's strean
OF luxurious venlcles. Bill had takel
up position where he could get ;
good view Of everything tnal passe,
over the smooth asphalt The priv
ate.carriages received little Of his at
tention, but his eyes were intent au'
anxious whenever one OF the new aI
lomobile stages came into view H'
stIdlously noted The confident, quicl
movements Of the chauffeurs. WheI
the noon sun had become almost I'M
bearable. he left his retreat and walk
ed slowly down the avenue. noddins
his white head in apparent satisfac
ton.