The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 42, 17 October 1907, Page 3

The Storyteller

THE RURAL MAIL CARRIER

Leescom came down the lane in his shirt sleeves, a fat, rather vacuous smile on his broad face. The world went well with Leescom. The mail delivery wagon was just rounding the next hill, so he waited 15 y his box, a letter in his hand. ' Mornin', Bates,' he said, "as the wagon curved in and stopped at his box. "How's weather predictions ? ' 'Bad,' replied Bates, exchanging a paper for the letter. ' Signals all out. Regular blizzard coming in from the north-west ; mercury down to forty below in some places, and predictions for ten below here.' Leescom laughed unbelievingly. ' \our weatner reports are generally pretty close, he said, ' but I guess it's off this time. Why, look here,' with a comprehensive sweep of his hand over earth and sky, * thermometer high's seventy, with birds singin' an' not a speck in the sky. Course, 't ain't the end of March, yet, an' there's bound to be some - kore cold. But ten below— pshaw ! My almanac's marked T ' Expect fair weather 'bout i'his trine," an' it runs down over ten whole days. That brings it into • April. . I'm willln' to go by your predictions when they're reasonable, but when they ain't I'll fall back on the old almanac. That's stood by me a good >/ many years. I've" been plowin' the last week, an' this mornin' Fve got the garden ready to set out early cabbages an' onion sets. I'm goin' right back to 'em now. Ten below— huh ! I've lived -'round here fifteen years, an' have never seen it over six below in the dead of winter.' 'Well, I'd put off the cabbages and onions a few days longer if I were you,' warned Bates, as he took up his reins. ' Maybe the cold wave'll moderate some before it gets here, and maybe it won'.t. But your ! cabbages will bfc just as well off in the cold frame and the onion sets in the cellar. They ain't apt to grow very much the next few days.' ' When are you counlin 1 on sendin' this cold wave V called Leescom jocosely, as the wagon moved away. 1 An' is it to be mixed with rain or snow, or with solid ice all blocked out for the ice house ? ' ' Predictions say heavy snow storms, terrific wind, ■ and due here some time to-nigh^,' answered the mail carrier. Eeescom looked after him with a grin, which, how- ' ever, speedily changed to an expression of anxiety. Weather Bureau predictions were not things to be treated lightly, He well knew. Then he seemed to think of something else,' for his hands went suddenly to his mouth in a loud bellow. ' Bates ! O-oh, Bates ! Hold up ! I forgot suthinV The wagon came to a stop, and he hurried after it as fast as his heavy body would permit. ' Say, B-Bates,' he panted, "1 came out mostly to speak to you *bout that note, but your weather talk knocked it all out of my head.' Bates looked surprised. ■ ' I thought the note was all arranged,' he said. 'It was to be extended three months, you know. You said you were perfectly willing.' • , ' Yes, yes, That was all right, but— well,' desperately, . ' I let the note go, an' that's aIT there is to-itj I had use for some money unexpectedly, .an'r-an' I thought I'd better tell you so you could look out' for its comin 7 due.' • Who to ? ' ' ' ' ' Gheesick.'- "* v Bates started, his eyes flashing. Uheesick was a merchant in town, with an unenviable reputation. Jit was said that he never did business with a man without manoeuvring to get the fat end of the deal, with a commission on the lean end besides. Bates • had never dealt with him. much. But they had had words.- His face grew stern. v " ' ' Why dil you do this", Mr. Leescom,' he demanded, ' .without first coming to me ? When , I bought the land from you for a thousand dollars, 'you said you hand no use for the money and would wait as long as I wished. However, I raised you five hundred, and have paid you three hundred since. I had the other two and the interest for you last week, but my brother was ill and needing help,- so I came and asked .if ' you were perfectly willing to wait another six months. You answered tliat you would rafKer have the money on interest than be paid. Now it seems you went almost immediately and sold this note to Mr. Chee.sick. Why ? He is said to never buy anything without a

profit, and you certainly had no reason to offer it at a discount.' , , Mr. Leescom coughed uneasily. ' No, I didn't sell at no discount,' he declared. ' Fact is, Mr. Cheesick paid me a premium— two per cent.' ' A premium — Mr. Cheesick ? ' incredulously. ' I don't understand. And, anyway, how did he come Ao know you held my note ? ' ' Well, you see,' apologetically, 'he was out this way yesterday talkjn' over- things. He'd been to Lindenwood^ place, 'joinTn' me.' Seems to think he'll be a close neighbor before long, so he's round gettin' friendly.' ' Lindenwood doesn't want to sell,' sharply. "No, no, course not. It's Lindenwood's gal, Mercy. They'll make a fine couple,' with a grin, and looking, at Bates through the corners of his eyes. ' I guess it is pretty much fixed. He seemed to hint that way. An' he said he counted on givin' up business an' comin' out here to be a gentleiran farmer. I guess he'll' be a good neighbor, for we need more money in the country. OK, come, came,' at the look on Bates' face. ', Don't go to gettin' mad now. "What difference does it make- whether the note's in my hands or Cheesick' s ? 'Taint due till day after to-morrow, an' I guess you'll be able to fix it up all right with him. You see, he knew r bout you buyin' land from me, an' he asked sort of casual if it had been paid for. That led to my tellin' about the note. Then he said he'd got some money he'd like to put out at interest, an' he'd buy the note an' give me two per cent v Of course, I let it go. PC was just a business trade, an' nothin' for anybody to git mad over,' in an injured tone. ... ' No, 1 suppose not— from- your point of viewj* \vell, I must be getting on.' '*' LindenwoocTs house was a half-mile farther", on, reached from the main road by- a winding lane. Long before he got to it Bates saw a girl standing by the box, and the sight momentarily drove the anxiety from his face. Not so very long ago she had often waited there, when the weather Was good, and he had remained as long as his duty permitted and talked with her. But of late, even on fair days, he had seen nothing of her. The Lindenwood mail had been depo- v sited early in the morning, and the indicator raised, and he had mechanically exchanged the mail 'he brought for that found in the box and driven on. Now he urged his horse a litTle faster. 'Good morning, Mercy,' he said cheerily, as he took - her mail from its pocket and sprang from the wagon. 1 Isn't ft a fine day ? ' 1 Yes, it is- very nice,' the girl answered. But she .spoke coldly, and her face lacked its usual animation. As he hancled her the mail Bates noticed 'that she did not look at him ; her eyes were averted, gazing somewhere out across the fields. ' What's the matter, Mercy ? ' he asked anxiously. ' Are you ill ? ' 'No, I am as well >as usual.' 1 But something's the matter,' he persisted. -' I never saw you look or act like this before. Is it anything I— oh,' as though with sudden enlightenment. 'Is it because I 'didn't come out thaV evening last week, as I promised"? My brother -was "taken ill that day, and v remained with him all night, -and have been with Jhim part of every night since. I thought you would I intended .to explain the next morning rhen I brought the' mail, but you wasn't here, and haven't seen you since until now. I shall have Sfiore time after to-day, for I left my brother, much fetter this morning, and *the doctor, says he wiil improve steadily now. Suppose I 'come out to-morrow | evening— Wednesday ? ' j <* She shook her head, her eyes coming round to his *now, as he thought, indifferently. .', ' I have an engagement for to-morrow evening. But "please- -fill .this out as "soon 'as you can,' handing him a money order* 'lam in a hurry. I had been 'waiting here ten minutes when you came.' ' Yes, I was detained by Leescom,' ■ He filled out the money order rapidly. " Well, say the next nightThursday.' ' It wonTi be worth while— any time,' she answered impatiently. -•— * Bates finished the order, and shanded5 handed it to her, then •changed t"h"e ten-dollar bill she- gave 'him. " But as he -' gave her the difference 'he grasped the extended hand firmly.. • ' 'Now, wha^Ts the matter, Mercy ? '■ he. deirianded. •It's my right to know.' 'Nothing that you don't, know already,' she "replied, her eyes beginning to flash. ' Let go my hand, sir ! ' ' BuT tell me,' he .pleaded. ; . \ ' Det go my Hand! *'■'*' !

He released it. 'I'm sorry, Mercy,' -ho said simply. I asked only what I had a right to ask, and 1 thought you would be fair1 Well, then,' she blazed, ' you haven't been doing well lately. You get ~ in debt and don't pay, and you visit saloons, and 1 don't know what all. As my father says, quiet folks who pretend to be nice, and do such queer things, are worse than those who make no pretensions and do them openly.' ' Get in debt and don't pay,' repeated Bates, looking puzzled. "1 never did a thing like that in all my life. I don't owe a man a cent, except in one case, where I've bought some land and haven't quite finished paying for it. And as to saloons, I've never bought — oh, yes,' his face broadening into a smile — ' I did go into one the other day after a quart of brandy for my brother. But it was by the doctor's orders.' ' You've been in them more than once,' sharply. 'You were seen ' ' Twice, 7 he ' smiled. ' You've got a pretty good scout, Mercy. I went into one after alcohol to bathe Tom. I dohT; know when I've been into a saloon before that, though,' sturdily. ' I shouldn't hesitate to any time if there was need. I don't drink myself, but that ain't -saying I don't think liquor's good for lots of people, especially ailing ones. I'd just as soon go on an errand into a saloon as into a grocery store. It doesn't hurt me, and I'm not trying to run the world after my ideas. I don't know enough, for one thing. Any more charges against, me, Mercy? ' The girl's head was high, her eyes flashing, but it was a flashing of " That peculiar lustre which has tears behind. 1 Flenty,' she answered shortly. ' Mr. Cheesick says .' She stopped, biting her lips and flushing a little. - Bates stepped quietly into his wagon. ' Oh, Cheesick,' he said. ' I've already heard some things about him .this morning." I haven't anything more to say. I don't care to balance my . word against- his.' He had two letters in his hand which, she had given him. As he rleposited them with the outgoing mail they chanced to fall with faces up, and involuntarily he noticed the superscriptions. One was the firm to which he had inaae v out the money order, the other to Alonzo Cheesick. The letter given him by Leescom had also been to Alonzo Oieesicß. He wondered what they contained. A~s he tightened the reins he remembered a voluntary duty which had devolved upon him gradually, but which was regarded by some of the farmers as of equal importance with their mail. He was their weather forecaster from day to day, as well as the deliverer,' of their letters and papers. He leaned from his wagon. 'Mercy,' he called, 'please tell your folks the thermometer will probably fall to zero or below to-night, with heavy snow. The cattle and sheep had better looked after and the poultry given "good shelter. The indications are that it will be much the worse storm 1 of. the winter.' * Mercy had started up the lane. She had made a slight inclination of her head that"* she had heard, but dicl not turn. The principal outgoing mail in the afternoon left the Post Office at 3 o'clock, and the carriers were" supposed to complete their/ rounds in time'to have their Tetters and papers assorted and .the stamps cancelled for this mail. Usually they were back .by two, and 'then, 'spent an hour or more in the Post Office, helping" with the . mail and arranging as much as they could of the next day's delivery in order lo facilitate. work in the morning. That afternoon as Bates was arranging and tying packages of mail, a letter was thrust toward him through the window. ' HelTo, there, Bates ! Put a stamtp on this letter, will you ? And say, let me have fifty cents' worth of twos while >ou're" about it.' , Bates affixed the stamp and passed out' the required numßer, dropping the change into the money drawer without looking up. He knew that oheesick was grinning af him through^ the .window. Indeed, he. believed the letter had been thrust in to him solely that he should see the address while he was affixing), the stamp. ; - • 1 You'll take it out all right in the morning ? ' -. ' Of course,' shortly ; ' that is my duty.' ' Well, I thought I'd better ask. I don't want any carelessness, you know. Take it right to the house.' .' Certainly not. You Enow very well" our rules don't allow us to drive from the main road.' ' Yes, that's so. . Well, put it in. the box. Some oJs 'em will be out- during the day. You see,' confidentially, ' I'm going there in the evening to call on Mercy,

and this letter's something particular I want her to know. By tne way, did Leescom speak to you this morning abou| the note ? Said he would.' ' Bates finished tying "the package he was __at work upon, placed it with the "outgoing mail, and reached for another litTle pile of lefters to tie. He did not-look up or speak. He did- not dare to, for fear of what was trembling on his lips and showing in his eyes. He was "on duty now. ' Yes,' he said slowly, ' Mr. Leescom spoke of the note. lam coming round to the store to see you about it just as soon , as I finish here.' ' <Well, do so,' affably. ' And 1 want to talk with you about the land out that way.' I'm thinking some of turning farmer myself. Let's see, your tract joins .'Lindenwood's, 1 think, cornering on his land and Leescona's ? Maybe we can make' a trade.' •Bates made no answer. Twenty minutes later he finished his difties at the Post Office, and from there went directly to Cheesick's store. No customer happened to be in. • Cheesick was sitting, upon The counter paring "his nails. 'wello !' he called as Bates appeared. ' Glad to see you in my store. You don't often come. Most all the folks out your -way are my customers, but I don't remember tßat you ever bought much. 1 ■ ' Not a "filling since 1 traded you a calf for a "suit of clothes,' said Bates dryly. ' *ou remember, I' brought back the suit because it was shopworn and ready to drop to pieces, and you refused to accept it because you said it ha d been a trade. Then you sent me a' bill for Two dollars on account of beef going down the day I brought the calf, you "said. As I didn't take the suit, that would have left me a calf and two jdollars behind, provided I had paid the bill, which I didn't. But Pm here now to see about the note.' 1 Yes, yes, of course,' sliding from the counter and showing' his teeth a" little. " 'Ready tojyay it already,"before it's due ? I don't see liow you mail carriers ■ handle so much" money on fifty dollars a month. Only a few ' days ago you let your brother have over two hundred to meet some crowding bills, I understand, and now you're bringing me as much more. I'rr. going to give up store-keeping and turn mail carrier. It's' the only way to get .rich.' Bates' hands clinched a little, but he managed to keep his voice stea' '~i ■ '^. ' I'm not here 'to pay the note, and won't even be able to pay if when due,' he said. ' I want you to extend it another six monlhs, as Leescom agreed to do. I will pay you double interest for the accommodation.' Cheesick grinned. ' TTiat wouldn't be legal,' he objected. 'Of course, I couldn't think of double rates, though its- very liberal of you. No, the only thing is to meet the note when it's due. I suppose you could borrow the money,' with a trace of anxiety appearing in his voice. - - Bates shook his head. z ' I'm afraid not,' he answered.- ' Money is very scarce just now, and. 1 doubt if- There's more than two or three men in- Town who' have eyen that much unemployed. With more time I could arrange it, but I supposed the matter all settled.' Cheesick was again grinning. ' Oh, well, it doesn't matter,' he said, with assumed indifference ;> 'the land's a pretty piece, and plenty good for the note. Of course, I'd like the money to use in my business, but I guess the land will be a fair, value. Leescom had "a" mortgage To secure tEe note, and you understand h.e turned the whole thing over to me. It'll- cost a little foreclosure, -of course, but I won't" mind that.' ' You'll foreclose, then ? ' c "Why, it's the only thing I can do,' opening his eyes as though in surprise. ' It's business. But don't you -worry over -it; Bates, '. consolingly ; 'it was bound to come to you sooner or later. Visiting saloons and not paying bills couldn't lead to anything else. You've got only yourself to blame.' Bates made a quick step forward.' ' That's anoTher Thing I intended to see you about, after the note was settled,' he said sternly. ' You've been telTlng lies about me .to Mercy, and perhaps to others. I suppose that two dollars you couldn't cheat me out of was the debt I wouldn't pay, and ' • Yes, I told that, I suppose,' and a few other things, but not half so much as "I might,' tantalized Cheesick. llt was a clear duty, you know, for Mercy is a nice girl. She saM ' ' Stop ! ' Thundered Bates. ' Never mind what she" said. We will leave her "name -out.' 'Mercy said,' imperturbably, 'that she used to have a good deal of respect for you; buT of late ' The Two men were of about the same height and weigjfrt, but there the similarity ended. What was

brawn and whipcord-like muscles in Bates, made by constant hard work and outdoor exposure, was" "mostly flesh in Clieesick, fn'duced by Ins inactive life behind the counter. Already he was beginning to jshow a double ..chin. Evidently he had been trying to provoke. Bates' to anger, though" not to actual violence, for as the mail carrier sprang forward- lie retreated toward the -opening . which led behind the counter. ' Perhaps he' t'hough.'t that some demonstration on Bates' part might further his own interest at the Lindenwood farm ; possibly, he considered" himself as physically the mail" carrier's equal. In either case, he was speedily undeceived. Before tne last sentence was finished Bates' ' grasp was upon his shoulder,' swinging him back toward the centre of the floor. In vain Cheesick struggled and. swore and threatened. Bates was oblivious of consequences now. One hand was still upon" Cheesick's shoulder, where it . had closed like a vise ; the other was like a steel band round his waist. Sometimes the storekeeper's feet struck Iris own floor, sometimes the counter, someiimes the -wall, knocking down -boxes or goods. But irresistibly, little by little, he was dragged and swung across the room toward the door. By the time they reached there Cheesick's breath was gone, and he was almost -passive in. -.the mail carrier's grasp. - Then through the , doorway and down the steps, still .sti-ugglitng and panting, and across the sidewalk to the horse trough, when Bate f s, .suddenly exerting all his strength", lifted his opponent bodily and flung : him "at full length into the water. A, -broom was. -standing, near, which had been used, to sweep, the sidewalk. Bates caught up this, and as Uhpesiek rose coughing anil sputtering, thrust" him back into the water, once, twice, thrice. T< There, you're washed clean outside, _, atf any, rate,' he said finally. ' But I'm afraid the -meanness -is too deep in for broom and water. Now crawl out and go ; into the store and dry yourself, and, mind, don't-ever .let- me hear of you making free with Mercy Lindenwood's name again,' and, oblivious of the people, who . were beginning to gather, Bates dropped the broom "and strode away. , - --" 3-t sunset that night the mercury had .only dropped to sixty, and many of those who had gazed anxiously at fhe prediction on the bulletin board began to look wise and say they guessed the weather-bureau man had made a slip this time, or else concluded to ?send' the storm around "by another route. At 9 o'clock it had fallen but two degrees, and at 12 but three more. Most people left their chamber windows open. Between twelve and one, however, the stars in the north-west began to grow dim and obscure, and the mercury fell 20 degrees. By three it had fallen 20 more, and the whole sky was overcast. At daylight it commenced to snow. If mails were on .time, the carriers- teft the Post Office at 7 o'clock ; but if the, trains were late, they could be hela 1 until eight. ' At that' hour the regulations said they must be released. • This morning the through train was three-quarters of an hour" late, and the carriers were detained until a quarter of eight.- It was then four below zero, with the snow whirling in blinding sheets * before a fiftymile gale. When Bates struck his route the_snpw w&s three inches deep on a level, and' drifting In depressions and wherever the wind did not have- a clear sweep. Bates urged his horse as rapidly as .possible, for he realised that this was only the beginning, and it was ten, miles arouna" his route. ' For' the first five or six miles it was not : bad} though He found some drifts of two feet or more which it was almost -impossible for his horse to pull through. The worst of these was just before reaching the Lindenwood lane. • At this point Be was obliged to .alight from the wagon and apply Eis .own strength to ' the wheels. - " , ' ~ ' ' (To be^concluded next week.) - -— •

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