The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-19

boat when tne blue Ec3red q notable victory
he looked out from behind the bars of the
cstcher's mask Of the university nine for 9.
least two seasons, snd was not far behind
when Jimmie Nelson won the race over the
Holly meadows and killed his MONT At the
finish. Bearing these II mind it is scarcely
TO be wondered at that the owner looked for
ward 70 the contest to be fought out on Bald
Mountain with as great an anticipation OF
pleasure as of fear.
81 am sorry" enc said TO him. after quite
psuse. II thought l might prevail on
you not to go into trouble, but see it is USE
les
"Yes, quite useless he replied. ''I must
fight it cut myself. II must be q very pleas
ant kind Of congregatio waiting for me-
oueiing 10 the nerves snd ell that" with 6
smile. 'If IL is all srrAnged beforehand,
Mise Cheswisk, they must have lesder,
Play tell me the namO of this gallant Captain
Of tanditti"
As he asked the question lightly, looking
down at his companion, the red blood rushed
to her fsce.
"True, they have leader, she said passion
stely, "snd he is my father.n
Sincerely beg your pardon" no cried,
taking her hand; 1.-The question was fool.
ish one, but GO 20 Bald Mountain on the
stage with you to morrow" Then calmly,
"Let US hope for the best. I can only go
vhsiever tie ending ia,p and then, hat in
band, be stood silently watching her move
slowly down the sunny street until she dis
appeared in the crowd Of people.
The Rev. Frederick Gordon was on time
at the little stage office the next morning,
and possibly the fact Of pleasant companion.
ship had much to do with his p<omp.ness.
l. -
pesred, wrapped up carefully in q great
coat go az to securely keep out the frost and
rather chilly mountain ar, and bearing
IN ono hand email vslise which con-
tanned large proportion of his earthly pos
sessions.
The stage stood ready for its passengers,
and wss an old-fashioned and somewhat di-
lspidaied vehicle, no better or more modern
vehicle being considered necessary fo- the
connection Of Bald Mountain with the out
eide and more civilized world.
The inclemency Of the weather had pre-.
vented the sale of outside seats upon this
trip, and, consequently, those inside did not
lack for occupants. Miss Cneswick, in
neat travelling dress of gray, sat with her
back 10 tho horses, and Gordon managed to
secure, much to mis- satisfaction, seat bssids
her, and to be received with smile of vel.
ccILe- Two women, enc quite large, tho
other quite small, and both exceedingly dir.
", occupied the rear seat. In the middle
rested e q Picsi "pcor white" not unccm-
mon in that region, whore wo.begone face
tod the story OF his life, and whose de- 5ctsd
figure chung 10 tho swinging strap with
cup9rSte griT.
Thus they logged along, the psrson and
his companion Carrying on a conversation in
low tones aud the others staring straight at
them without q word; logged along for two
hours until station was reached where the
horses were changed, when they all alighted
for short resting-spell.
al an s.raid, sir, that the driver Ia; bean
drinking too much, the girl said, as that in
diyidusl Issued just then from tho bsrroom
and endeavored. with doubtful success, 10
rlske a straight line for the box.
He does seem a htils unsteady" al
swered Gordon, watching his movements
cioselY
Eyer needn't be afeerd, num-" remarked
the poor white, lszily. "JimSksggs drives
better drunk nor sober. He'll fetch you
around sll right, reckon"
Friend Sksggs did certainly start of sll
right, though little uncertain as TO keeping
biz goat, but h9 seemed TO grow little bit
drurller with every step his team took. L.
IS possible he carried with him a private bot
tic for use III such emergencies. Anyway,
the liquor was warming him up rapidly and
bringing forth sll the recklessness OF his ns-
uTe. The whip began to crack more fire.
quently in the air, ne commenced a song
only 10 end it with burst of profanity a.
his team, and when they finally reached the
lorg grade that led TO the Forks. instead cf
putting on his brake, az was customsry, he
cfwr rrt las I'D aNa 10
down unchecked, much to his own grstiics-
ten as well "a to the fear of the psssen gers
eOoped up inside and expecting an accident
with every plunge OF the coach, Aroused by
the rough jolting from pleasant and rather
personal conversation with his fair seat ste.
the Rev. Gordon thrust his head snd shoul-
ders out of the window nearest him to see
what was the matter, and WAS decidedly
startled at the prospect for wrecked coach.
On one side was wall of rocks, and on the
other drop TO the river, and down the steep
grade the team WAS going at gsllop, with
the drunken driver swsying bsck and forth
and shouting at his horses. The reverend
gentlemsns fsce grew = lit.ls white rs he
locked ahead. Under him, and within reach,
wss the foot rest OF the heavy brake, aud,
lesLing out as far rs possible. he hurled it
forward and pushed with all HI; strength.
TIE wheels began to CRATE, and, exer.Ing
himself even more, every muscle brought
into play, the strain told, and slowly the
FFeed of their descent slsci1ened. Bat now,
Inno;iced, came q new danger. The driver,
swaying so unisfely in the seat above, just
drunk enough TO feel hia importance ami 5s
Ugly, noticing The chsnge in the ceach's mo-
ticn, looked down from his perch for the
cGufe.
Let 60 that brakep he cried ss7agely.
Gordon, leaning far out the windoS, his
hsnds bard down on the brake and his eyes
fastened on the steep, rocky rosd ahead,
psid no attention TO the rough command,
possibly never even heard it. S&sggs yelled
again:
"Who's runnin' this coach? Let go thst
brake or III make vel"
Again there wss no responEe to the Unrest
from the divine, whose whole thought was
given to stopping the wheels. The driver,
with one terrible oath, grasped the hsnd-rail
to steady himself. and swinging his heavy
Whip in tie air brought i. down on the par
sons broad back with sharp crsck. OHce
more did the lash fall with full forcs upon
the bowed figure; then the heavy brake
swung back suddenly, the hands which had
held 1t grssped the rail on top, and Gordon
swung himself up until his feet restei on the
lower sash. Then ne Strengthened up.
Twice Sksggs struck him, and then the next