The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-08-30
strongly forward, and the empty coach

"It's old jim, sure !" half whispered
Pool to himself, as his trained eyes
searched the winding road before him.
"The old devil wants to ride so that
he'll be on hand when Copper turns up
in the Pass. see it all.
The teeth closed with a snap.
"Good ~ he continued, moment
later. g He shall ride"
Some five miles, were passed, when,
in the shadow of great pine that grew
near the trail, Jake espied bis prospec-
tive passenger, prone upon the ground,
at the foot of the tree, apparently rest
ing. AS the rattling coach grew near,
the man bestirred himself and slowly
rose.
Hullo, driver Kin you favor an
old beggar with lift? Pm played, fer
Pm too old to tramp as used to, an too
poor to pay for a ride. Kin you give
me one ~
He stepped forward as he spoke
Poor he was if tattered garments beto-
ken poverty, for his clothing was but
single patched rag from head to foot
Old lie surely was, for the withered
skin and scanty gray locks, the claw
like hands and sunken eyes, could not
be well disguised.
Half in scorn and half in pity, yet with
a brain awake to his danger, Jake drew
rein and replied to his petitioner;
Yes be lively and climb up here
I'm behind time now. Where do you
gop"
The old man answered,as he struggled
to seat at the drivers side:
Dickson's."
A touch of the whip and the horses
were again on quick trot. Pool eyed
his companion as he rode onward, and
almost unconsciouly dropped his hand
to his boot-top and loosened the revolver
carried there.
Cold day for Mayl" said the new
conner, shivering. "This yer winds
sharp, too"
Yes" responded the other, mental
ly wondering where about his ragged
clothes the scoundrel at his side had
concealed his weapons, sit is cold. But
you may find it warmer in the Pass
Sure !" said the old man leering 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 descending
now and the road rocky and rough. A
mile Liore and the Pass would be reach
ed. The coach fairly swayed under its
rapid notion.
Old Jim was forced to cling to the
seat with both hands in order to avoid
being hurled to the ground. This was
as Pool desired, and he smiled grimly
as he noticed the others action.
Yer-a.drivin'-purty- fast ~ scream
ed the gray-haired desperate, the words
fairly jerked from him as the coach
sprang forward, rocking from side to
side. to-hold-up-at-
the-Pass-I reckon ~
Jake set his teeth.
The granite walls of the Pass were
now just before them, and the roadway,
descending and steep, ran into the shad-
ow of the coming night and the gloom
of the grave-llke opening-a narrow
path, but little wider than coach itself.
The roar of the angry river far below
knelled never-ending warning as it
ran, ragged and torn, among the Jagged
rocks, and the death-like mist that
crept upward was damp and chill.
I" won't hold upl" and, with these
words the driver struck his horses sharp
ly, and, snorting, they sprang forward
into the DEVILS Pass.
At the same instant, half way through
the terrible gorge, standing motionless
in the centre ofthe roadway, a beetling
wall of rock upon the one hand, chasm
of unknown depth upon the other, was
seen man
Copper Tom was awaiting his quarry
The old man at POOLS side uttered
cry, and loosening his grasp of the seat
with one hand, he would have thrust it
into his breast; but the other leaned sud-
denly toward him, and pressing re-
volver muzzle against his forehead,
whispered, hoarsely:
down with yer hands If ye stir
ag'in I'll kill yel know ye, old Jim,
am We can't catch Jake Pool nor his
load this timel Down with yer hands ~
The shuddering rascal's hand fell at
his side; his face grew ashen-hued, and