Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-12-27


The day before Christmas 1t came on
to snow, and when Monsoon started out
on his route he took sleigh he often
used in winter instead Of his caIash.
He was glad of the snow, for he was
loaded down with packages and letters,
and there was more room in the sleigh
than in the calash Before leaving to
make his deliveries he took a revolver
from drawer in the postoff1ce and put
1t in his overcoat pocket
The snow was falling in great fakes
as Monson drove along the road, and,
since it was known that he would be
yeritable Santa Claus, there were
many children out at the delivery boxes
to take what he might have for them
from his hands. Monsoon could see
them ahead of him, running out to in
| tercept him, for they could hear his
sleighbells jingling for long distance,
Then when he came up what a clatter
there would be! Anything for me?"
THAT box is mine, l know" "On,
| pshaw! | reck0ned ON getting at least
one gift by this mail" These are a
few Of the EXPLANATIONS that greeted
i 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 Daisys home she was not
waiting for him; but, seeing him trying
| IN To tNO InIi
box, she came out and took it from him
Merry Christmasv he said Sorry
/ have no letter for you from Rube"
you have had none for me for a
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. l 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 a hurry. So he started on
but, having gone 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 sure she would
suffer- and he feared Rube might bring
her more distress than by a simple de-
| Sertion.
| Monsoon now began to pass over
part of his route where the distances
between the houses were great. Leav-
| ing some gifts and letters at d dwell
| fnO hn Sfo rEn6 fe n distance of
two miles before he would reach an
other. While passing through lonely
place man suddenly stepped from be-
hind d tree with gun aimed directly
at the carrier, and cried out:
'Stop! want some O. THAR
Monson had a robe over his lap tuck
ed under him on each side. Before
be 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 filed and lit the
latter before starting to make the long
| distance between houses, and replaced
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 hole through coat and over
coat. and his tobacco box denied His
pipe was still in his mouth and he was
unconsciOusly 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 at. 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 home he selected
a perfect imprint Of the shoe and made
drawing the exact size Of. it, This
he gave TO the police, and within few
days Monsoon was called to look at a
| prisoner who had been arrested. 1t
was the man who had attempted to
rob him.
The next time be 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
it 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 Monson took 1t up. She
motiOned him to read it,
Rube begged her to intercede with
the letter carrier to save him from