Daily Republican., 1881-08-26

Old he surely was, for the withered ski
and scanty gray locks, the c,aw-lk
hands and sunken eyes, could not we
be disguised.
Half in scorn and half in pity, ye
with brain awakened to his dange,
Jack drew rein and replied to his peti
toner:
eyes Be lively and climb up here
| I'm behind time now. Where do yol
go >"
The old man answered, AZ he strug
gled to seat at the drivers side
"Dickson's
A touch of the whip AID the horse,
were again upon "a quick trot. Poo
eyed his companion as they rode on
ward, and almost unconsciously
dropped hi. hand to his booi-top ana
loosened the revolver carried there
"Cold day for May said the new
conner, sh,verins. "This yer wind 5
sharp, too
eyes, responded the other, mentally
wondering where about hi, ragged
'lothes the scoundrel at his side hal
concealed lis weapons, sit is cold.
But you'll tind it warmer in the Pass. "
"Sure ." said the old man. le"ring in
Jake's face.
"Sure :" responded that worthy, his
blood chilling with the covert hint in
the word; and he urged his horses to
yet greater speed.
The grade was sharply de"cending
now, and the road rocky and rough.
A mile more and the Pass would be
reached. The coach fairly swayed
under its rapid motion.
Old jim was forced to cling to the
seat with both hands in Cr,ler to avoid
being hurled . the ground. This was
as Pool desired, and he smiled grimly
- he noticed the Others action.
"ler-a-drivin purity FAST" scream
ed the grey haired desperate. the
words fairly jerked from linn As the
coach sprlng forward, rocking from
side to side. "You u'il-hev-to-hold- -
np-at-the-Pas -
Jake set his teeth.
The granite walls of the Pass were
now Just before them, and the roadway,
descending and steep, ran into the
siauow ot the coming night and the
gloom of the gravel like opening-a nar
row path, but little wiier tLan the
coach itself
The roar of the angry river far below
knellel a never-ending warning az it
ran, ragged aud torn, amongt the lag
ged rocks, was damp and chill.
81 won't hold up !" and, with these
words the driver struck his horses shar
nj " nd
war into the Devils Pass.
a the same instant half waythrouyh
the terrible gorge, standing motiOnless
in the centre of the roadway, "a teetling
wall of rock upon the one hand, Il chasm
of unkuo" Il depth upon the other, was
seen a man
Copper Tom was awaiting III. quarry.
The Old man at Pool ) side uttered a
cry, and loosening his grasp Of the seat
with one hand, he would have tnnrst
it into his breast but the other leaned
suddenly toward him, and pressing a
revolver-muzZie again st his forehead
whispered, hoars. ly:
''Down with yer hanls If ye stir
in I'll kill ye! | known ye, old
Jim, an ye can't catch Jake Pool nor
his load this time . Down with yer
hands 20
The shulderng rascal's hand fe,l at
his side; his face grew ashen hued, and
his eyes stared before him. They We're
rapidly approaching Copper Tom.
For an instant as they drew near,
that worthy stood facing them then,
through the fading light he saw the
position of his pal, upon which he had
te2endei--he saw the stern, set face of
the lriver-he saw the furious horses
plum .ing down npDu hin-anl with a
ferror-strlCken cry he turned and
He'd.
Could he hut reach the lower end of
The causeway he might escape-c1 uld
10 but find single spot 10 turn aside
ne would besate but it was not 10 be.
Nearer and nearer thundered the
ron. shol hoofs behind him, narrower
md still narrower grew the fatal road
Intil there rang wild despairing cry,
with the frightened snort of |
he horses, a dark something bent
lown before tie plunging st eds rolled
N instant before their grinding f ct,
nd then, spurned by the flying wheels
vas hurled, an indistingulshable mas,
nto the canyon beneath, and the coach
ped on!
Haitian hour later, Jake Pool pul led
ntO the corral at Dickson's ranch, and,
ha.f-tninting man form the
nto the arms Of the astonished host er,
e said:
"Bind that man and give him to the
heriit! 1t is old Jim the road agent!
lis pard's at the bottom of the Pass,
his one ought to stretch hemp when
he officers get him, and We driven my
lst run from (ialiatin. There is too
luch risk about the business for mel"
And Jake kept his word. He no
)nger coaches it, but now keeps pub
C h use in Helena itself, where not
ing since he told me this thrilling
Ne.
| Il.