The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-11-06

Bill" the driver, as TO have the box seat placed
at his disposal "But," said Thatcher In some
concern, "the box seat was purchased by that
other gentleman In Sacramento. He paid ex-
tra for it, and his names on your way bill |"
"That," said Yuba Bill, scornfully, 1dont
fetch me, even Of no chartered the whole shc-
bang. Look var, do you reckon I'm goin To
spile my temper by setting next TO man
with a game eyel And such an cyel Ge-
whillikins' Why, darn my skin, the other
day when We were watering Mt Webster's, he
got down and passed in front of the of leader
that yer pinto colt that's Tin accustomed to
lnjins, grizzlies and bufralo-and I'm bless Of,
when her eye tackled his ef she didn't jist git
| up and rar round that reckoned I'd hev to
| go down and take them binders Off from her
| eyes and clap on his.n "But be paid his
money, and is entitled to his seat" persisted
| Thatcher. "Mebbe he is-in the Office Of the
kemIeny,7 growled Yuba Bill; "but it's time
some folks knowed that out In the plains
l run this yer team myself" A fact which
was self-evident to most Of the passengers.
II suppose his authority is as absolute on this
dreary waste as ship captains in mid
ocean," exclaimed Thatcher to the baleful-
eyed stranger. Mr.. Wiles-whom the reader
has recognizetl-assented with the public side
Of his face, but looked vengeance at Yuba
Bill with the other, while Thatcher, innocent
of the presence Of one Of his worst enemies,
placated Bill so far as to restore Wilkes to his
rights. Wilcs thanked him "Shall | have
the pleasure Of your company fart" Wilcs
asked, insinuatingly. ITO Washington" no
Piled Thatcher, frankly. washington Is q
gay city during the session" again suggested
the stranger. "Im going on business, said
Thatcher, bluntly.
\ trining incident occurred at Pine Treo
Crossing which did not heighten Yuba Bill's
admiration of tho stranger As Bill opened
tho double locked box in the boot" of the
coach-sacred to Wells, Fargo {; Co. s express
and the Overland company's trcasurcs-hr.
Wiles perceived n small, black morocco porte
manteau among the parcels. "Ah, you carry
baggage there, too!7 he said, sweotly. "Not
often" responded Yuha Bill, shortly. "Ah,
this then contains valuabiest' at belongs to
that man whose seat you've got" said Yuba
Bill, who, for insulting purposes of his own,
preferred to establish the fiction that Wilcs
was an interlopor, and Of he reckons, in a
sorter mixed kempeny like this, to lock up
his Iortmantlc, | don't know who's business
it is WhoT continued Bill, lashing himself
into simulated rage, "whO in blank Is run
ming this yer taamt Heyi 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 a mile ahead"
But here Thatcher, who with something OF
Laucelot's concern for Modred, had a noble
pity for all infrmities, interfcred So stcrnly
that Euba Bill stopped.
On the fourth day they struck binding
snow storm while ascending the dreary pla-
team that hcncefolward for Gu0 miles was to
be their ruadbr1. The horses, after founder
ing through the drift gave out completely on
reaching the next station and the prospects
ahead, to AL bat the experienced eye, booked
doubtful. \ few passengers advised taking
to sles!ges, others a Icstponeneut 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 jist pcart
enough TO pacl. away over them cliffs every
inch of snow that falls III jist skirmish
round i'll and out o them drifts on these four
wheels whar We can't drag one o them fiat
bottoncd dry goods boxes through a drift
Bill had California whips contempt for a
sIcdge. But lie was warmly seconded By
Thatcher, who had the next best thing to ex-
perience, the instinct that taught him 20 read
character, and take advantage of another
mans experience. "Them that wants to stop
kin do so,n snid Bill authoritatively, cutting
the Gordiau knot; them us wants to take
sleslge can do so, thar's one in the barn.
Them as wants to go on with me and the
relay will come on" Mr. Wies sel@trd the
sleslge and driver, "A few remained for the
next stage, and Thatcher, with two Others,
decided to accompany Tuha Bill. These
changes took mp some valuable time; and the
storm continuing, the stage wa, run under
the shed. the passengers gathering AROUND the
station fire, and not until after midnight did
Nuba Bill put in the relays. Il wish you II
good journey" said WileS rs he drove from
the shed as Fill entered. Bill vouchsafed no
reply, but, addressing himself 10 the driver
said CURLY, as if giving an order for the de-
livery Of goods "ShoVe him out AT Raw Wings"
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 a. Guba
Bill once more took the rcins 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 Glenn and frozen
har,l Further on tongue Of snow, extend
ing from a bowder To the right, reached
across their path to the height of two or three
feet. But Yuba Bill dashed through part
Of it, and by skilful maneuvcring circum-
vented the rest. But even as the obstacle
was passed, the coach dropped with an