The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-08-16
LUCKY PETERS
He Deserved
the Name
By CLARISSA MACKIE

"Any mail for me, captan?" asked
Frank pleasantly.
Same as usual, Frank" returned
the postmaster. showing a huge pile of
mail matter through the narrow open
ing. Seems to me youS crowding
the mails some. amt you?"
Frank complacently filed his pockets
with letters, circulars and newspapers
while HIS arms were burdened with
several bulky mail order catalogues.
Il hope you don't mind handling it."
he grinned. "If you can take care Of
large and valuable mail matter like
this here" he slapped his pockets,
why, well have so much confidence
in you that you'll go through next term
for representative. What say, boys?r
He turned to the others.
That's right" nodded the group So
berly, reminded of their power of in
vestiture.
That's all right so far as it goes"
squeaked Captain Lemming from be-
hind the window, where his nut crack
er face was thrust against the little
grating; that's all right enough, only
SpN Nuii bihiIc lllt lbI uuNluS
when there's plottin' goin' on right
here around my stove-how I'm to run
for representative while Hannibal
Flamm tries to get the postofTice.
When I'm defeated on the state ticket
what'll l do without my postofice Job,
eh?"
There was an embarrassed silence
among the voters of Little River,
while Captain Lemming surveyed them
fiercely from the window, followed by
sigh of relief when the door opened
and Capitola Webb bounced in. Her
gingham sunbonnet was pushed back
from her pink, excited face, and one
plump hand shook postal card in the
face of the postmaster.
I'D like to know" she was begin
ming aggressively when the men of
Little River thankfully seized the op-
portunity afforded by the threatening
storm and quietly left the store to
stand on the front stoop and watch
Frank Peters unhitch his sorrel mare.
He tossed the catalogues on the seat
of the light wagon and sprang in. The
sorrel twitched her ears, waved her
scanty brush of tail and started off.
Frank turned TO shout back at the
spectators, Anybody going my way
want rider
Hannibal Flamm detached himself
from the group and waved restrain
ing hand You can take me along,
Frank" he said, and laboriously lifted
his 200 pounds weight to the seat be.
side the younger man.
They drove down the village street
and turned into a road that bordered
the winding river. The trees arched
overhead and the hot sun brought out
the sweetness Of ripened fruits and
late summer flowers.
Mighty pretty weather." murmured
Frank Peters, his gray eyes contented-
ly resting on the scenery.
"HumT murmured Hannibal reflec- |
lively. TOO bad how you was stung |
on getting this mare, Frank"
Never mind" returned Peters cheer
fully; "better luck next time"
ITS all right to say that, but how |
In thunder are You ever going to get |
rid of herr"
I'm not going to get rid of her. She
sulIs me all right"
Il guess you're the first Peters that
ever drove a spawned horse"
81 guess be-"
Hannibal Flamm was Franks broth
er-in-law, and he took advantage of
the relationship to make sundry IN
complimentary remarks regarding the
shortsightedness Of Mr.. Peters and TO
remind him with stinging emphasis Of
the many times that uplucky gentle
man had been bitten in various bust
ness ventures
You can't even plant early June
peas without having 'em come up cow
peas" he ended cOmplainingly.
Il bought those last early June peas
from you, Han" reminded Frank mild
ly. ''YOu oughtn't TO have been sur
prtsed If they come up cabbagesY'
"Hum!' coughed Hannibal and
Frank knew that so far as his broth
er-in-law was concerned the subject
was dropped But the arraignment
had awakened him TO self defense.
Il may be unlucky or q fool or
whatever you fellows want TO call
me-" said Frank darkly. "Oh, yes; of
course / know they oil cali me lucky {
Peters behind my back Just because
I'm so darned unlucky, but I'll win
out some day and have the laugh on J
all you funny ones What If / did {
undersfgn a note for Dave Raybold
and had TO pay up when he skipped J
out? ! thought he WINS straight, and |
he went to school with me. That did
me $500. I couldn't help my barn )
burning down the day after / got all
my hay in. 1t wasn't my fault be- c
cause I'd been too busy TO renew the .
Insurance and lost $1,000 on that. 1
bought this horse of Jeremiah Pee "
bles, and you know as well as do S
that he's a deacon In the church, and b