Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-10-28

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ominous lurch on one side, and the off TO.
wheel flew off in the darkness. Bill threw
the horses back on their Launches; but before
their momentum could be checked, the near
hind wheel slipped away, the vehicle rocked
Violently, plunged backwards and forwards,
and stopped.
Yuba Bill was on the road in an instant
with his lantern. Then followed an outbreak
of profanity which regret, for artistic pur,
poses, exceeds that generous limit which o
sympathizing public has already extended to
me in the exploitation of character. Let me
state, therefore, that in q very few moments
he succeeded in disparaging the characters Of
his employers, their male and female relatives,
the coach builder, the station keeper, the road
on which he Travelled, and the travellers them
selves, with occasional broad expletives adj
dressed to himself and his own relatives For
the spirit of this and more cultivated poetry
of expression, | beg to refer the temperate
reader to the Third chapter of Job.
The passengers knew Bill, and sat, conser-
vative, patient, and expectant. As yet the
cause of the catastrophe was not known. At
last Thatcher's voice came from the box seat:
whats up, Bill!"
"Not blank lynch pin in the whole blank
coach" was the answer.
There was dead silence Yuba Bill exc
cuted wild war dance of helpless rage.
"Blank the blank enchanted thing to
blank"
Il beg here to refer the fastidious and culti-
waited reader to the only adjective I have
dared transcribe of this actual oath which I
once had the honor of hearing. He will, /
trust, not fail to recognize the old classic de-
mon in this wild western abjurgation.)
aWho did it," asked Thatcher.
Yuba Bill did not reply, but dashed up
again to the box, unlocked the "boot" and
screamed out:
"The man that stole your portmantle-
Wilesl"
Thatcher laughed.
@Don't worry about that, Bill. A "biledn
shirt, an extra collar and few papers.
Nothing more.'
Yuba Bill slowly descended. When he
reached the ground he plucked Thatcher
aside by his coat sleeve:
aye don't mean to say We had nothing In
that bag We was trying to get away withlo
"No," said the laughing Thatcher frankly.
"And that Wiles warn't one O them detec-
tivesin
mot to my knowledge, certainly"
Yuba Bill sighed sadly, and returned to as
sist in the replacing of the coach on its wheels
again.
"Never mind, Bill, said one of the passen-
gers sympathizingly, "we'll catch that man
Wiles at Rawlings sure" and he looked
around at the inchoate vigilance committee,
already rounding into form" about him.
"Ketch himl' returned Yuba Bill, derisive-
ly; "why we've got to go back to the station;
and afore we're off agin he's pinted fur Clar-
mont on the relay we lose. Ketch himi
HIS full of such ketches."
There was clearly nothing to do but to go
back to the station to await the repairing Of
the coach. While this was being done Yuba
Bill again drew Thatcher aside:
II alters suspected that chaps game eye,
but didn't somehow allow for anything like
this. reckoned it was only the square thing
to look arter things centrally, and specially
your traps So to puryent troubil, and keep
things about ekal, ez he was goin' away,
sorter lifted this yer bag Of hiz outer the tail
board of his sleigh. don't know as it is any
exchange or compensation, but itmay give We
chance to spot him agin, or him you. 1t
strikes me as bein' far-minded and square,
and with these words he deposited at the feet
of the astonished Thatcher the black travelling
bag of Mr.. Wiles.
"But, Bill-see herel can't take this!, in
terrupted Thatcher hastily. You can't swear
that he's taken my -and-and-blan 1t
all--this won't do, you know. I've no right
to this mans things, even if
Hold your hosses,n said Bill gravely; Il
undertook to take charge O. your traps /
didnt-at least that DID wall-eyed--Th ar's
a portmantle. don't know who's 1t is. Take