The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-03

4 ThriIling chest story.
lrkan.aw Traseler.

Years ago when travelling was By
stage coach or By private conveyance,
tbs ra.A which ekassed Black noun
80. ,ras REGARDED as the best In the
gEafe. At one place the road wound
around through narrow pass, on each
side Of which, rising perPendleniaFiy
for hundreds of feet we're massive rock
walls. The pass Wze 50 narrow that II
required quite an experienced driver %
30 through without striking the walls.
This place was always 80 dark ana
gloomy that the travelling public dread
"A If although no depreciation had ever
heen committed there, and many at
temnts had been made TO cut road by
anolher route but All Of the attempts
tailed and Rock Pass still continued to
he fhe gap through which the stages
were compelled to travel
One niaht. Is the stage, loaded with
had gained the dreariest part
of the Pass the horses stopped, and the
driver was heard toexclaim, 5Feat
God
whats the matterf' demanded the
superintendent of the road, who hap
pened to be il the coach. :,
Just come hereT' the driver SAID,
ssI amt no coward an have bit many |
man in my life, but if this thing don
skeer me, then I'm willin to throw
down-the lines to the first man that
comes along The superintendent got
ont and in a few moments he was neard
70 saw: sIf had room here I'd run
twenty miles without stopping. Never
saw the like in my life. What the deYll
do you sup tose it wants! -,
MONEY! came in voice like stl1ed
shrek
Every one left the coach and edged
along the walls to get view oI the ter
rible something in front. From the
middle of the road arose an enormous
arm. With the sleeve turned up. At the
end of the arm, in the most natural way
nossible, was a large hand. pale and with
3 subdued glow. The fingers OF the
hand closed in q kind of circle, and from
the hand came the shrek. Every one
vas frightened, and the driver, who was
regarded as the boldest man in the coun-
trY. sat and shook the lines, SO great was
his fright. ,.:.Lo,, ~.
aTet Ms investigate this thing" said
ono of The messengers. after we leave
r bnre . and attempt TO tell of the adven-
ture. we won't have anything to tell
only that we became frightened ana
gave IN our money to something we
Rnew not what II am with you,
exclaimed the driver. 81 never was
bInft;sd vet by man, an I'll be blamed II
/ don't argy with the devil an Ieei - u
his weak points afore | let him blum me.
Come on, stranger, and the driver ehmp- d
ed down. The horses were so Daaly
frightened that they shook in every
Joint. and the superintendent, having
lost all control of his courage, allowed II
TO sliu away from him while ne leaned
ON one of the coach wheels for support.
| The two men approached the hand,
which lowered itself to receive them. IN
the intelligent passengers own words, d
We will give his experienced: ne
closer drew to the appalling thing, the
more confirmed became my impression
that II was supernatural. Suddenly the
hand reached down, seized me and gave
me a shake that can never forget. lI'
grasn was cold and sent chill through
me As soon as released, | retreated a
\ fast AZ NV trembling legs would carry
i me The driver was more unfortunate
i He attempted to grasp the hand, Du
.,ss seized and hurled against the wal
with 4 force that stunned hlnl. re
:. gaining his feet after much diinculty
he staggered away moaning As tnougl
, every bone in his body had been Dfok
Inst at this stage of the unholy pei
) formance, the hand drew up lts nhger
: and shouted:
3 ~ want money. The tortured me
i, in hell demand money, and ! am thel
t accent. Give me all your money an
: Won may pass. Refuse and | will oa
!. ter your stage coach to pieces agaln'
+ the walls" aHow can We give you OF
0 n,oney when YOU shake us and sling
ornrnd so7 asked the intelligent Pa
n senger. II will lie on the ground. a
II nroseh and deposit your money on
r. palm and will not molest you. Com
gentlemen, said the intelligent passe
r ger, "give me your money ana ! y :
0, surrender it. am sure that TINS =
q only way we can ever escape. Eve
Is one Welded and the intelligent Passe
to Der deposited the money in the hand
ly f Law on the ground. Closing lts 2
gers around the money, the hand dlss
d. Feared. The driver modnted the pe
70, Fhe Messengers resumed their places q
eu the stage proceeded on its lourn'
,r- Great excitement was created when 7
1T starv was told IN Little Rock, but ma
ed matter-of-fact people were disposed
on scoff At the passengers for their 81
his ~ foors David Caldron, well kno
an, blacksmith ridiculed the passengers
ng naercilessly that there came very nea
)u- being blood shed. Quite . NUMBER
Zip the holdest men in town agreed TO
zee hack with the stage and investigate
:, the mystery. -. ), :
to Captain Lomal, addressing the Dis
q !, smith. o.,,.oa
ufi Il can't leave home, Caldron
vas piled, AZ am not afraid, Tor don Z
i'm Eieye thar's anything the matter
to thar. but I've got too much WORK = 8
he al home and sides all that amt
ng- the money to spar for the trip.
Pal ssThe trip shall not cost you anytnii
the captain declared.
has AT don't believe want to go.
eur aYou are afraid, said the capt
lice ssyan snort aroUnd and laugh at Otf
Int when the time for showing
and mattIe comes you back out Ike
fast coward Won are. You needn't get !
ght car Won know you are coward.
the The blacksmith, whose courage
.arer before been disputed, bit his
the and walked away.
snd, M Captain Lomal rode on with
~ driver. .tTell me, the captain, !.
MI mn s.when we get nearly to the place
sWe are nearly there SAID tne q
J~l wi after few moments
hau The captain examined his Pls
I - tsFor Gods sake, exclaimed the or
!, adon,t shoot. tell you the I
ssuh whatever it Is, amt to be fooled =
nAh, saI,eave that to me- the captal
nlied. aHelIo, what's this
'll. The horses stopped and the 9
-. whispered. .sThat's It.
'edu- TTka arm arose The white,
au- uhorescent hand cleaned with :
Iiohf The captain, despite the
s .Hs s,ered protestafions of the driver
go !. eled pistol and fred.
, " The hand laughed.
nlnkr lls The captain leveled another pista
Ssre5 ~ q fred.
ssIsa 49,. The hand laughed again.
.5 'a5Gn The Messengers got out Of the
'-... = 5. ard tie captain dismounted.
they eertsinlv verv wonderful be
.D..s lrs.ss ssBruxton what do YOU think o it2
-lt y. 81 don't know, replied the Pefs
els1s dressed. Never saw anything
49,. 49,. before, and hope ! never shall Z
'apo1s ssNhaf d0 you want the eaptl
! ,I...s -. nanded of the hand.