The Penn's Grove record., 1883-12-01
The TERRIBLE ARM.

The building OF a railroad through
the Black Mountains, in Arkansas, ex-
planned a mystery which for years was
regarded as beyond the powerof earthly
agencies to solve.
Years ago when all travelling was
done by stage coach or private convey
ance. the road which crossed the Black
Mountains was regarded as the best n
the State. At one place the road
wound round through a narrow pass,
on each side of which, rising perpen-
dicularly for hundreds of feet, were
massive rock walls. The pass was so
narrow that it required quite an ex-
~perienced driver to go through withoul
striking the walls. This place was
always so dark and gloomy that the
travelling public dreaded it, although
no depredations had even been COM
mjtted there, and many attempts had
been made to cut a road by another
route, but all of the attempts failed.
and Rock pass still continued to be the
gap through which the stages were
compelled to travel.
One night, as the stage, loaded with
passengers. had gained the drearles
part of the pass, the horses stopped, and
the driver was heard to exclaim,
''Great Godin
"What's the matter9n demanded
the superintendent of the road, who
happened to be in the coach.
''Just come hereln the driver said
Il amt no coward. an have fit many
a man in my life. but if this thing
don't skeer me, then Pm willin' to
throw down the lines to the first man
that comes along"
The superintendent got out, and in
a few moments he was heard to say,
IF | had room here I'd run twenty
miles without stopping. Never saw
the like in my life. What the deuce do
you suppose it wants?"
money!" came in a voice like a stiff
led cry.
Every one left the coach and edged
along the walls to get a view of the
terrible 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 possible, was a large hand, pale
and with a subdued glow. The fingers
of the hand closed in a kind of circle,
and from the hand came the shrek.
Every one was frightened, and the
driver, who was regarded as the boldest
man in the country, sat and shook the
lines so great was his fright.
81 want money" agaiu shrieked the
hand.
"Let us investigate this thing"
said one of the passengers. "After
we leave here and attempt to tell of
the adventure, we won't have anything
to tell only that we became frightened
and gave up u money to something
we knew not what"
II am with you," exclaimed the dri-
yer. II never was bluffed yet by any
man, an I'll be blamed if l don't argy
with Satan an feel of his weak points
afore l let him bluff me. Come on,
stranger, and the driver climbed down.
The horses were SO badly frightened
that they shook in every joint, and the
superintendent, having lost all control
of his courage, allowed it to slip away
from him while he leaned on one of
the coach wheels for support. The two
men approached the hand, which low
cred itself to receive them. In the
intelligent passengers own words, we
VIII give his experience: "The closer 1
drew to the appalling thing, the nor
confirmed became my impression that
= was supernatural. Suddenly the
hand reached down, seized me n
gave me a shake that. / al never for
get. Its grasp was cold and sent a
chill through me. AS soon as released
L retreated as fast as my trembling
legs would carry me. The driver was
more unfortunate. He attempted to
grasp the hand, but was seized and
hurled against the wall with a force
that stunned him. Regainlng his feet
after much difficulty, he staggered
away moaning as though every bone in
his body had been broken"
Just at this stage of the unlfoly per-
Torrance, the hand drew up its fingers
and shouted
81 want money. The tortured men
in hades demand money, and / am their
agent. Give me all your money and
you may pass. Refuse and L will bat
ter your stage coach to pieces against
the walls"
"How a we give you money
when you shake us and sling us around
SOP" asked the intelligent passenger.
II will lie on the ground. Approach
and deposit your money on my palm
and ] will not modest YOU"
Come, gentlemen" said the mtelli-
gent passenger, ''give me your money