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

the double locked box in the abooty of the
coach-sacred to Wells, Fargo & Co. g express
and the Overland company's treasures-Mr.
Wiles perceived small black morocco porte
manteau among the parcels. "Ah, you carry
baggage there, tooln he said, sweetly. aNot
often, responded Yuba Bill, shortly. aAh.
this then contains valuablesF" at BELONGS IN
that man whose seat you've got,n said Yuba
Bill, who, for insulting purposes of his own.
preferred to establish the fiction that Wiles
was an interloper, land eff he reckons. in a
sorter mixed kempeny like this, to lock up
his portmantle, l don't know who's business
it is. Who!" continued Bill, flashing himself
into simulated rage, "who in blank is run
ming this yer teami Hey! Mebbe you think.
| sittin' up thar on the box seat, you are.
Mebbe you think you kin see round corners
with that thar eye and kin pull up for teams
round corners on down grades mile ahead,n
But here Thatcher, who, with something OF
Laucelots concern for Modred, had noble
pity for all infirmities, interfered so sternly
that Yuba Bill stopped.
On the fourth day they struck binding
snow storm while ascending the dreary pla-
teau that henceforward for 600 miles was to
be their roadbel. The horses, after founder
ing through the drift, gave out completely on
reaching the next station and the prosnects
ahead, TO all but the experienced eye, looked
doubtful A few passengers advised taking
to sledges, others postponement of the iour-
ney until the weather changed Yuba Bill
alone was for pressing forward as they were.
1.-TWO miles more and we're on the high
grade, whar the wind is strong enough to
blow you through the windy and list peart
| enough to pack away over them cliffs every
inch of snow that falls. I'll jist skirmisb
round in and out O. them drifts on these four
wheels whar ye CANT drag one o. them fiat
bottomed dry goods boxes through a drift
Bill had California whips contempt for a
sledge. But he was warmly seconded bv
Thatcher, who had the next best thing to ex
perience, the instinct that taught him to read
| character, and take advantage of another
mans experience. "Them that wants to ston
kin do So" said Bill authoritatively, cutting
| the Gordian knot; 'them as wants to take a
| sledge can do so, thar's one in the barn.
AhOih Go "0iieS W ~ ou Win me ana the
relay will come on Mr.. Wiles selected the
| sledge and a driver, a few remained for the
next stage, and Thatcher, with two others
decided to accompany Yuba Bill. These
changes took up some valuable time; and the
storm continuing, the stage was run under
the shed, the passengers gathering around the
station fire; and not until after midnight did
Yuba Bill put in the relays. II wish YOU a
good Journey" said Wiles, as he drove from
the shed as Bill entered. Bill vouchsafed no
reply, but, addressing himself to the driver.
said CURLY, as if giving an order for the de-
livery of goods, "Shove him out at Rawlings
and passed contemptuously around to the tail
board Of the sled, and returned to the harness.
ing of his relay.
The moon came out and shone high as Yuba
Bill once more took the reins in his hands
The wind, which instantly attacked them as
they reached the level, seemed to make the
drivers theory plausible, and for half mile
the road bed was swept clean, and frozen
hard. Further on tongue of snow, extend
ing from a bowlder to the right, reached
across their path to the height of two or three
feet But Yuba Bill dashed through a part
of it, and by skillful maneuvering circum-
vented the rest. But even as the obstacle
was passed, the coach dropped with an