The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-09-20
THE BOSS PASSENGER.

the dryer on "the outside" and coached
away uown the dangerous road along
that part of the Rocky mountains Nor
man knew this driver, having seen him
call at the house Tor or with passengers;
AMI the driver had, with q stage driver
borsey observations, measured the Young
man, aud put him down as "high-toney,
'way-up young feller.'
Coin to kulleige, Young man?' querl-
ell the driver, as the team was slowed
d 'wn to climb Il grade.
"Nnt YET Norman responded.
"Goin' down to the bay?"
"Ye4."
"GJin' to be one O. them spry young
fellers what skeets round for broker's
office, p'hap,?"
II d. not know what I shall do in
San Francisco. am going to seek my
for ure.'
Tho growing day, warmed with the
cloudiess sky and strengthening sun.
suggested to Norman to draw of his
ov-rcoat, and as he was doing so the
driv remarked;
Dye allers go heeled?"
"Very seldom" answered Norman.
placing his hand upon his hip. AS il
making sure that the matter of being
"heeled" b I'd not been dis placed by the
change of his dress.
II used to pack one o them things
said the driver, "hut faint no use to
pack em If We don't use 'em. I've hen rd
lots O. 'Hik among passengers about fight,
but it takes the sand to fight stnge rob
bers. Dye reckon you'd stand III it
three OF four masked men was to come
into the road out q these YER bushes v ilh
cooked double-barreled shot guns drawcd
on us, and b, Her 10 us halt aud put NJ
Yer hands2"
Il think 1 should" said Norman.
well. you wouldn't. Bet Yer lite "
~ouldn',.'
Perhaps not, said Norman.
At this moment the stage was winding
slowly up the graded side.hill road. ou
OF the canon, toward the open uplaud
country. Up the hillside the slim req
branches OF the madrOnos aud the white
stems OF the buckeyes shone out among
the live oaks and struggling piues. Tue
situation an, tue convtrsatiOn, in SOM
way, bad caused Norman to rest bis hauo
upon al, armed hip as lie looked quietly
about him. Arriving at the edge of the
woodland, the driver was about gather
lug his lines more frmly III his hands ioI
gait, when, as il by magic, there appear
ed in the road three men, with guns aud
masked faces, one OF whom shouted:
Halt" and then added, looking
through the holes in his THde mask NJ
Norman:
Hold up your hands" To which
NormGn replied by putting bullet-hol,
though the mask Immediately above the
two heles which had eyes behind them.
Drive on" said Norman. quietly Uu
firmly. az he sent ball III dangerous
nearness TO the head of the masked Tel
low in front of the horses.
Drive on quickly!" aud again be fred
upon the fellow in front. while a load oi
Uuckshot went singing over his hea5
from the fellow on the right.
For the next mile the driver had bust
ness on his hands-his team was run
ming away" or at least believed they
we're.
Norman qnIetly watched the road to
tue rear, while the driver kept an eye TO
the fore, but neither said anything to the
other. By and by, Ss they nearsd the
tetion where change of horses should
take place preparatory to entering upou
a more Inhabited country, the driver
succeeded in slowing his team to q tTol'
uphill.
"Are You hurl" asked Norman, still
keeping his eye upon the Tearward road
"Dum il know. Hain't had time Il
hnd out, but there's place on top q
my slouch that burns red-hot can
slack up these yer lines to prospect il, Z"
LET Inc look. said Norman, takinI
Of the drivers hat aud feeling his crown
"There's no blood, and think tners'
no new hole in your head"
Norman next examined the driver
hat and holding il before the sysa Q