The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-10-03
ssoeeoese,
The FIRST OFFEHSE
BY EDNA MAY RooTH.

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Old David Strang moved slowly
back and forth behind the letter boxes,
now and again appearing at the lit
tie window he had just opened. He
handed out the mail with smile that
sometimes nghtened heavy burden
and sometimes set a light heart all
atune For David Strang took q per-
sonal interest in each letter, post card
and paper. Suddenly his brow con-
tracted. a shadow of some deep feel
ing futtered across his fact as Carlos
Judd shambled up to the window.
Got anyt pg sides the paper?" the
man asked 5ppefully.
Silently i tvid went to Judd's box
and took OH ia paper. a letter slipped
from the folds of the paper into q
crevice made by a jutting drawer. Da-
vid left it where 1t fell
Nothing but the paper he said,
handing 1t out.
Nothing from John?'
THAT Is ALL said David, and there
was no smile lighting his face.
Might a knowed It, growled Judd.
Il need little money want Jetson
ter make me some iron spokes / can
make some wheels as good as new,
II have some new spokes ter put in.
David's eyes narrowed.
''Oh, give 1t up, Carlos
We'll, I-guess-not! I'd have the
neatest machine around here If Johnd
send me some money, He promised
to send me some and he could do 1t as
well as not-yer know he could. But
that's all you get outen children now
adays.' He turned with an interroga-
tive glance toward man standing
near
Half an hour later David put out
the lights and closed the post office.
He shook the door to try the lock.
Then his hand sought the inside peck
ct of his coat. Judd's letter was
there.
It's an offense against the gov
eminent and sin" he muttered. sThe
Lord help mel"
When he reached home he SNUG
gled the letter into drawer of the
big dresser and locked the drawer.
All night, In his fitful sleep, he
dreamed of 1t, and his waking thought
was of It. In the morning he SNUG g
gIed it out of the drawer to take 1t
to the office, and he meant TO give 1t
to Judd.
Again, toward closing time, Judd
came In.
Any mail?"
None tonight, . said David.
"Humph, grunted Judd There's
that auto-mo- beeI, there amt any bet
ter In town, If only had some coed,
strong iron spokes ter put in the
wheels But, laws. yer can't get any
thing in this town less yer plank down
the cash furst thing
well, I'll tell you," plunged David,
his face white and tense. I'll tell you
what 1t is, Carlos, automobiles, espe-
cialiy old ones, are too much OF lux
ury for poor folks. You'd better sell
the iron In 1t and get yourself some
clothes
Carlos Judd turned a WFathfu}
glance upon the postmaster.
You're the same pesky sort Of a
human being that Lucy Judd is She
don't care no more about that auto
mo-beel-not SO much as she does for
some little frothy get-up to ea1-"
Old David spoke UP braVeU
'Lucy's never been strong; she
ought to have something to nurture
her.
Il guess I'm capable of taking care
of my own wife, snapped Carlos
Judd.
II hope So, answered David. and
he knew then that when he went
home Judd's letter would be in his
pocket,
In the morning he brought II back
again, and for a week David carried
the letter to the post office In the
morning and at night he took 1t home,
And every day Judd came to ask for
| the mail And every day David be.
came more harassed and oppressed.
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