The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-06-10


ot moro modern vehicle being consider
ed necessary for the connection of Bald
Mountain with the outside and more
civilized world.
The uclrmcucy Of the weather had
prevented the sale of outside seats up-
ON this trip, and, consequently, those
inside did not luck for occupants Miss
Chcswick, IN neat travelling dress of
gray. sat with her back 90 the horses,
and Gordon managed Co secure. much
60 lis own satisfaction. a seat beside
her. and to hc received with smile of
welcome. Two women. one quite large,
the other quite small, and both exceed
iugly dirty. occupied the rear seat. In
the middle rested typical poor white"
not uncommon in that region, whose
wo-hcguuc face told the story OF his life.
and whose detected figure chung to the
swinging strap with q desperate grip.
Thus they logged along. the parson
and his companion carrying on a con
ycrsatun IN low tones and the others
staring straight ut them without awurd:
logged along Tor two hours. until sta
ton was reached where the horses were
changed. when they all alightcd for
short rpating-spcll
Il am afraid. sir that the driver has
been drinking too much. 90 the girl said.
rs that individual ISSUED just then from
the harroom and cndcayorcd, with
doubtful SUCCESS. 10 make straight
line for the box
lie does seem little unsteady" an
swcrrd Gordon, watching his move
mputs closely.
Yer needn't be- afecrd. mum" re-
marked the poor white. laYily. Jim
NhHggs drives better drunk nur sober.
He'll fetch yer around al right, | rcck-
on.
Friend Skaggs did certainly start of
ail right, though a little uncertain as to
keeping his seat, but lac seemed tu grow
"a little bit drunken with every step his
team took, II Is possible he carried
with him 20 private bottle for Use In such
emergencies. Anyway, the liquor was
warming lin up rapidly and bringing
forth all ihp rpCkltsSlicss of his nature.
The whip began tuCGtCk more frequent
~ IN the dlr. hu commenced u song only
to end IL with burst uf profanity at his
team, and when they finally reached
tlC long grade that led tu the Forks. in
stead ui putting ON his brake rs WAS
customary hc struck his horses again
and started them down unchecked.
much To- his own qualification as well rs
tu the fear of the passengers coOpcd up
inside aud expecting an accident with
every plunge of the coach. Aroused hy
tn" rough loltlug from a pleasant and
rather personal conversation with his
iair Scat-mHtc. the Rev. Gordon thrust
Dis head and shoulders out of the win
dow st him to see what was the
matter tul WAS decidedly startled ut
the prospect for u wrecked coach. ON
one side WIS "A wall ot rocks. and on the
other drop To the river. and down the
steep grade the team was going at a gal
lOp, with the drunken driver swtying
back and furu and shouting ut his
horses. The reverend gcntlcmans face
grew little white ~ he looked ahead.
Under him and within reach. was the
iOut-rcst of the heavy brake, and lean
my ont rs far as possible. he hurled il
forward andpushed withall his strength.
The wheels began To CRATE, and, exert
ing himself even more. every muscle
brought into play, the strain told. aud
slowly the speed of their descent slack
cucd But now, unnuticcd. came new
danger. The driver. swaying 50 unsafe
~ in the seat above. just drunk enough
To feel his importance and be ugly,
noticing the change I'm the cOach's mo-
ton looked down from his perch for tho
Cause.
LET 20 that hrakc,' he cried savage
ly. Gordon leaning far ont the win
dow. his hands hard down on the brake
and his eyes fastened on the steep,
rocky road ahead, paid no attention 10
the rough command possibly never
heard IL. Skaggs yelled again:
Who's Il rmum' this coach. Let go
that brake or III make ye,'
Again there was no response to the
threat from the divine, whose whole
thought was given to stopping the
wheels. The driver, with one terrible
oath, uraspcd the hand-rail to steady
himself, and swinging his heavy whip
IN the air brought IT down on the par
SONS broad back with sharp crack.
Once more did the lash fall with fun
| force upon the bowed figure; then the
heavy brake swung back suddenly, the
/ hands which had held it graspcd the
! rail on top. aud Gordon swung himself
up until his feet rested on the lower
sash. Then he Strengthened up. Twice
| Skaggs struck him, and then the next
! instant that individual was grasped by
! a hand Ike iron and flung backward
over the wheel into the road. To climb
mp into the empty seat, grasp the reins,
ana halt the plunging team was but the
/ work of a moment. As IT stopped, those
| inside, only half understanding what
/ had occurred sprang hastily out.
Can You driver Gordon asked calm
| ly of the SallOW party who had occupied
the middle seat.
Wal, yes, kinder middlin', stranger"
and he began to climb over the wheel.
DO you know the road?' relinqush-
! ing the lines
Il reckon | dew. Anyhow, I've bin
over 1t enough Then. CHANGING about
as If just discovering something wrong,
he leaned over and whispered, "Whar's
JIM
The parson pointed back up the long
hill where in the distance tile former
driver was staggering along and wildly
gesticulatinJ for the stage to wait,
Drive ON. he said shortly. 1T will
do Jim's system lots of good to walk. -
Il reckon yer right pardner,n said
the recruit, starting up the team. Jim
| De powerful walker nj times
II would be Il great pleasure to chrOni-
Gle the remainder of that mountain ride,
its scenery and its memory, but it would
after all be only the sleeping of two old
| women and the rather commonplace
conversation carried ON between "A very
pretty young lady and a rather suscepti-
| bic young gentleman, a species of talk
as every one understands, In which
while the words may mean but little or
| they may mean great deal, and eyes
dare more than lips. A talk, in this
case at least, which left them feeling
wonderfully well acquainted with each
other and mode them obllViOus 10 the
fact that while one was a minister AT
the bottom of the ladder the other, in
spite of dark eyes and pleasant ways,
was the daughter of one of the most
desperate moonshiners in all the noun.
tainS of East Tennessee, and, rs she
had EXPRESSED it, "a little of AN OutlaIy