Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-20
The Argus Daily Story
The Mail Carrier-By Helen G. Chambers.
Copyrighted 1919. by Associated Literary Bureau

sletghbells jingling for long distance.
Then when he came up what clatter
there would be! Anything for me?"
THAT box is mine, l know" "Oh,
pshaw! l reckoned on getting at least
one gift by this mall" These are a
few Of the EXPLANATIONS that greeted
the carrier.
1t was not long before he passed be-
yond the houses near the postoffice and,
entered the thinly settled district that
comprised the main part OF his route.
On reaching Daisy's home she was not
waiting for him; but, seeing him trying
to hang a package on to the delivery
box, she came out and took It from him.
Merry Christmasv' he said. Sorry
I have no letter for you from Rube."
You have had none for me for
week. wrote him the day you hand
ed me my Christmas gift OF money.
and he telephoned me that he was GO
ing away for long while. ! expect
he has deserted me-"
Monson tried to cheer her. but his
effort was half hearted Besides, he
had so many deliveries to make that
he was in hurry. So he started on.
but, having gone short distance. turn
ed and saw Daisy looking after him.
It seemed, wistfully. He sighed. for
he knew that she was having trouble
with her lover. He was sure she would
suffer, and he feared Rube might bring
her more distress than by a simple de-
sertion.
Monson now began to pass over 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
two miles before he would reach an
other. While passing through lonely
place a man suddenly stepped from be-
hind tree with a gun aimed directly
at the carrier. and cried out:
stop! / want some O thatr'
Monson had a robe over his lap tuck
ed under him on each side Before
he could get out his revolver the man
would have bored a hole in him. He
had 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
a tin box holding his tobacco in his
left vest pocket He gave his horse a
sharp cut with the whip, and the ami
NAL shot ahead over the level road.
| The carrier heard a shot and at the
same time felt blow in the region
Of his heart He supposed that he
would soon die and was absorbed in
getting the mail as far from the robber
as possible before he succumbed.
He got away without being hit again
and when he felt safe threw open his
clothing to examine his wound. He
found a hole through coat and over
coat, and his tobacco box dented- His
pipe was still in his mouth and he was
unconsciously putting away Justify.
The mail was saved aud 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 fred at. The snow was beaten
down about 1t. but tracks Of 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 home he selected
a perfect imprint OF the shoe and made
a drawing the exact size Of It, This
he gave to the police. and within few
days Monson was called to look at q
prisoner who had been arrested. 10
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 letter for her, ad-
dressed in Rube's handwriting, he took
1t to the house and 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 Monsou took 1t up. She
moioned him to read It.
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
the girl. Monson was not sure that
RUDE was the man who had attacked
hlm-that Is. he could not swear to his
Identity. and the rascal escaped, much
to Monson's relief After that the car
rier. instead Of delivering letters from
another TO the girl. wrote them him
self The reason for his doing this was
that having no letters for her when
be passed her house. she didn't come
out to meet him. She understood. and
1t was not long before she was going
out to meet the carrier. and he was no
longer at the trouble of writing.
The next Christmas eve there was
a wedding party at her house. at which
MonsoD figured as groom. Another
carrier was put on the route. for Mon
SOD had saved little money. which
he put with some belonging to bis
bride and opened country store.