Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-10-03
THAT "SHARP," SMITH.

The Austen coach had left Murphy's
ranch, and was climbing the steep hill just
this side of the Echo canyon, when a man,
springing out from under big pine, hailed
the driver.
The solitary passenger in the coach, when
he heard the shout Of the stranger, drew
his rcyovers, clinked back the hammers,
and peercd earnestly out Of the window
This passenger was a man Of thirty-fve
or thereaboutS, slenderly built, with
smoothly shavcn face, clear gray eyes and
dark brown hair.
lie locked nervous and excited, and the
hands that griped the revolvers trembed
viSibly, as he pecred through the window
and looked earnestly upon the stranger,
who had sprung from the shelter Of the pine
just as the driver of the coach had eased
his horses up on the rest" preparatory
to cncounteriny the still sleeper incline
which lay beyond, extending to the hill
summit.
The person who had hailed the coach was
man .jast about the size Of the passenger,
aud singularly like him in appearance. He
had the same cool gray eyes, the same dark
brown hair and long, oval face. He was
| bearded, thongh; a little mustache and
goatec and was dressed in a neat, dark
business suit. As he sprung forward, his
coat-tais swaying with the motion, the
butts of a pair Of silycr-mountcd reyolyers
peeped out.
The occupant of the coach seemed relieved
when he discovered that there was but a
single man in the road
''Say, old man, hey you got room for
another pilgrim inside your hearse?' quoth
the pedestrian, addressing the driver
The solitary indiN dual shuddered at the
word, hcarse.
81 reckon kin accommodate you inside,
as the whale said to Jonah alore he swa!-
loved him. replied the driver, with a
friendly nod Of recognition. 1t was evident
that he knew the stranger
"All right; Eve been waiting for you at
Murphy's, and | really reckoned that You
never would come: 50 | walked along the
road apiece, thinkin', mebbe, you'd ketch
me a!orc sundoWn."
Mighty nigh that time now, ain it?'
queried the driver, with look to the west,
where the sun, now great ball of fiery
hue, was sinking slowly behind the far-ofr
peaks.
"What kept you? Getting lazy, old
man?'
"No; heap of excitement down to Spur
City; had to wait fur the mail the people
We're .ist risin' onto their hind legs and
howlin' about the bonds issued to this new
narrow gauge railroad that's to come up
through the valley Thar's been heap
Of gougin' by somebody and the boys were
talkin' to Judge Lynch pretty hot when |
left"
And here again the solitary passenger
shuddered and nervously grasped his re-
volvers; they lay ON his knees, concealed bv
the folds of his cloak which he had cast over
the weapons.
"This burned excitement Jest kills busi-
ness growIed the stranger, preparing to
get into the coach. 81 ginerally rake the
sports down in the valley for a triae when
peel and go fur 'em, but, really, this time
they're all talkin' railroad and fight, and
won't see the blind nary time"
"All they want to see is that Judge
Durell, the fellow that got the bonds and
hasn't put down nary iron hoSs yet.
reckon he'll hev to fork or fight. heered
say that they were on his track A big
party passed Murphy's this afternoon: on
the war-path, too, reckon"
Again the passenger started. shiyered,
and cast nervous glance around.
The stranger got into the coach, took
seat opposite to the solitary passenger, and
the steady horses commenced to climb the
hill.
GLOW are ye?" said the stranger, nodding
to the passenger, and looking curiously into
his face. ''Kinder dill travelling, isn't il?
! reckon now that they'll be about an hour
more of light, and if you happened to have
sich thing as pack of keerds about you,
we might have social game, jest to pass
away the time
The passenger merely shook his head.
"An't got no keerds, Ell? Well, hev;
alters travel with EN-" and the persuasive