The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-12-06
). interest in him that he made ever
ii hiunderS in his deliveries.

| II ~ AtsS
The day before Christmas it came on
10 SNOW. and when Monsoon started on,
on his cute he took IL sleigh he often
used in winter inst cad of his calash,
He was glad of the snow. for lie was
loaded down with packages and letters,
and there WAS more room in the sleigh
than in the calash. Before leaving to
from a drawer in the p~ostottice and put
It in his o%vercoat pocket.
The snow was falling in great flakes
as Monsoon drove along the road. and.
since it was known that he would be
a veritable Santa Claus. there were
many children out at the delivery boxes
to take what he might have for them
from his hands. Monson could see
them ahead Of him. running u to i'll
tercept him. for they could hear his
sleighbclls jinyling for a long distance.
Then when he anne UP what a CHATTER
there would be. Anything for me?'
"That box is mine. l know" oh.
pshaw! reckoned on getting at least
one gift by this mail" These are a
few Of the Explanations that greeted
the carrier.
1t was not long before he passed be-
yond the houses near the postoftice aud
entered the tEinly settled district that
comprised the main part Of his route,
On reaching Daisy's home she was not
Whiting for him: but. seeing him trying
to hang a package on to the delivery
box, she came out and took 1t from him.
merry Christmas" he said. Sorry
l have no letter for you from Rube."
You have had zone for me for a
week. | wrote him the Gay you hand
ed me my Christmas gift of money.
and he t%elephoned me that he was 60
Ing away for Il long while. expect
he has deserted me-"
Monsoon tried to cheer her. but his
effort was half hearted. Besides. he
had so MANY deliveries to make that
he was in a hurry. So he started on.
but. having cone a short distance, turn
ed and saw Daisy looking after him.
1t seemed. wistfully. He sighed. for
he knew that she was having trouble
with her lover He was ure she would
suffer. and he feared RUDE might bring
her more distress than by a simple de,
sertiOn.
Monsoon now began to pass owe a
part Of his route where the distances
between the houses were great. Leav-
Ing some gifts and letters at a dwell
ing. he started to cover a distance Of
.1,o ,,,;1Oe hofnwn ho uyo,y01 ro0oh on.
other. While passing through a lonely
place a man suddenly stepped from be-
hind a tree with a gun aimed directly
At the carrier. and cried out:
"Stop. want some O that"
Monsoon had a robe over his lap tuck
ID under him on each side. Before
lie could get out his revolver The man
would have bored Il hole in him. He
bad his whip in his hand and his pipe
in his mouth. He had filled and lit the
latter before starting to make the long
distance between houses. and replaced
4 tia box holding his tobacco in his
eft vest pocket. He gave his horse Il
sharp cut with the whip. and the ami
ma shot ahead over the level road.
The carrier heard Il shot and at the
same time felt Il blow in the region
If his heart. He supposed that he
would . die and was absorbed in
getting the mail as far from the robber
rs possible before he surcumbed
He g0t away without being hit again
and when he felt safe threw open his
clothing to examine his wound BE
found Il hole through coat and over
coat. aud his tobacco box dented. His
pipe was still in his mouth and he was
unconsciousIy putting away Justify.
The mail was saved and he was happy.
Having completed his delivery. he
returned and on coming to the spot
where the attempted holdup had taken
place he left his sleigh and went to
the tree from behind which he had
been fired ut. The snow was beaten
down about it. but tracks of a pair Of
"toothpick" shoes pointed into the
woods. Monsoon followed them for a
short distance. when they turned in to-
ward the road. where he lost them.
But before he went holue he selected
q perfect imprint Of the shoe aud made
a drawing the exact size of it. This
he gave to the police, and within Il few
| days Monsoon was called to look at q
prisoner who had been arrested. 1t
was the man who had attempted to
rob him.
The next time he passed Rube's
sweetheart on his route she did not
appear. the blinds were drawn and the
carrier knew that there was trouble
within. Having a letter for her. adj
dressed in Rube's handwriting. ne took
It to the house aud knocked on the
door. The girl appeared. but not the
girl she had been. Suffering was
stamped on her features. She took
the letter, read it and covered her face
with her hands. The paper fell to the
ground and Monsoon took 1t up. She
motioned him to read 1t.
Rube begged her to intercede with
the letter carrier to save him from
punishment. He was the man who
had attempted the robbery.
The next Christmas brought q great
change between the letter carrier and