Litchfield enquirer., 1863-03-05
nlisfellallp.
 The Stage Drivers Adventure,

I
 Fourteen years ago, drove from Littleton distance of forty two miles, and, as I had te await the arrival of two or three coaches, die not start till after dinner; so very often had good distance to drive after dark. It was in tho dead of winter, and the season had been Q tough one. A great deal of snow had fallen. and drifts were plentiful and deep. The mail carried was not due at Litttleton 1 by the contract until one o'clock; but that winter the postmaster was very often obliged to sit up a little later than that for me.
 One day in January. when drove up for my mail at Danbury, the postmaster called nae into his office.
 tPete," said he, with an important. serious look. |" there's some pretty heavy money pack ages in that bag" and he pointed to the bag as lie spoke. He said the money was from Boston to soms land agents up near the Ca nadian line. Then he asked me if had got any passengers who were going through to Lttleton. l told him did not know; |" but suppose l havnt?" said l.
 ;" Why" said he, the agent of the lower route came in today, and he says that there have been two suspicious characters on the stage that came up last night; and he sus- poets that they have an eye upon the mail, so that it will stand you in hand to be a little careful" as
 He said the agent had described one of them as short, thick set fellow, about forty years of age, with long hair and tkick, clump of bsard on the chin but none on the side of his face. He did not know anything about the other. I told the old fellow guessed there wasn't much danger
 "Oh, no, not if you hays got passengers through. But only told you this so that you might look out for your mail, and look out when you change horses'
 answered that should do SO, and then took the bag under my arm and left the office. l slowed the mail under my seat Q little more carefully than usual, placing it so that could keep my feet against it;-but beyond this did not feel any concern. It was past one when started and had four passengers, two of whom rode to my first stopping place. ] reached Gowan's Mills at dark, where we stopped for supper, and where my other two passengers concluded to stop for the night. About SIX oJ|ock in the evening, Jeff Gowans Mills alone, having two horses and an open pung. #
 Ihad seventeen miles to go, and hard seventeen miles it was too. The night wal quite cold, the wind was sharp and keen the loose snow flying in all directions, while the drifts were deep and closely packed. | was slow, tedious work, and my horses soor became leg-weary and restive. At the distanc, of six miles came to little settlement called Bulls Corners, where Itook fresh horses. I'l been two hours going that distance. Just a! l was going to start,a man came up and asked me if l was going through to Littleton. ] told him should go through if the thing coult
 be possibly done. He said hs was very anx 
 fious to go, and as he had no baggage, I tolt thim to jump in and make himself as comforta ble as possible. l was gathering up my lines when the hostler came and asked me if kney
 that one of my horses had cut himself badly l I jumped ont and went with him and foun, 'l that one of the horses had got 9 deep cork GU
 on the of fore foot I gave such directions' . sl I considered necessary, and was about to tur laway, when the hostlar remarked that b ]thought came alone. Itold him 4 did
 ssThenwhere did that passengercome from sl said he.
 s < ]" He has just got in" I answered. i" Got in from where r' 13 sf don't know" szas,a satsssss,s isso ,
 We'll pow.s 7 said the hostler, I that's kin
 o' curious. There ain't no such man been vsfthe house and knoR that .thsrs sina be- z iuons:at the neighbors.n sse..i sssf Let u have . look at his face, 2 said pi Eve can get that much, at any rate. Do y, 2 go back with mo, and when I ret Into tho pul just hold your lantern 90 that the light " 1shine into his face,p
 Sz sssSls