Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-10
THE WIDOW OF SMITH.


boy. II rested on enormous leather
straos that allowed il TO swing with .
motion that is best described by saying
IL was diagonal, though in fact it was MOI
diagonal AZ all. One moment We found
ourselves sliding toward the foremost
corner on tho left. rs the wheel on that
side dropped heavily into some almost
bottomless hole; the next instant we
were flying with pleasant unanimity
through the rear window on the right,
and again seeking to force or outlet
through the roof or floor. But the re-
sultant OF these motions put together
added, and divided is most nearly de.
scribed by the word Diagonal, and So
diagonal is.
All five of the passengers we're riding
Inside, for IL was day in November
cold and cloudy, and light snow was
spasmodically falling, as If really uncer'
tain whether to stop or 60 on, but, on
the whole, rather in favor OF going on,
it being a characteristics OF western
babitsnever to give up anything for any
cause whatever once il is begun. SO.
while seat outside Just at that time was
better than no seat at all. IL was by no
means 50 desirable as seat inside.
The road we were TO traverse led
through the mountains of Colorado
from the mining camp OF Greenwood
Though why Greenwood, none can say
IL was far above timber line) to Lead
vile. 1t was fairly good wheeling, as
that word is understood in the Rockies,
but six stout mules had all they could do
to manage the coach. One moment
they we're grooming and straining up
some steep incline the rext fairly lifted
from their feet rs we dashed furiously
e down a hill, our speed only partially
checked by the brake, which Tommy,
the driver, would frantically apply.
Every one in the West has a title OF
some sort, no matter whether he has a
right TO il or not. end the five men in the
coach were known as the colonel, the ma
jor, the Judge, the doctor, and the profess
sor. II is surprising how soon one be-
comes acquainted with bis companions IN
such place. Whether this is due to the
community Of sensations that govern the
passengers, as the vehicle lurches to the
right or left, Or the sociability of the
men themselves, cannot say. The fact
remains, however, and in less than half
Gn hour after we had started / was on ia
miliar terms with the past history. present
occupation, size Of pile, and name of
each of my fellow-travellers.
On the coach was an express-box, said
to contain thirty thousand dollars in
bullion, the product of the Greenwood
mines. In rack near the drivers feet
hung two Colts revolvers and Win
chester rifle. The road was considered
safe enough, for no robbery had oc-
CURED there since the camp had been in
existence still the stage company pre-
ferred to take reasonable precautions.
Hence the weapons.
After we had exchanged our names
and such parts of our personal history
as we felt free 10 give we relapsed into 81
lence. The westerner although sociable
is not talkative animal. He converses in
heats. For time our quiet was I'M
broken save by the grooming and creak-
ing of the coach. the cracking of the
drivers whip, and his rapidly uttered
oaths.
Perhaps it is well that justice can
never be done-in print-to the profani-
" of the western mule driver. 1t is as
impossible TO describe as the singing Of
some beautiful aria by some sweet-voiced
singer. Not that the two can be COM
pared in any way; merely wished to
illustrate the utter inadequacy of words
in type TO represent the sounds.
1t was at the end of one of Tommy's
howery periods (which came to our res
cue when the coach, stuck fast at the
foot of a veritable hill of difficulty, had
at last been dragged up by the mules,
inspired by the outpouringl that the
gentleman occupying the middle seat
tleft) broke the silence. We knew him
as Professor Blood "the hull owner OF
the Blackeye mine of Greenwood, and
several others" 1t was at the close of
Tommy's exhortation, say, which be-
gan softly and slowly, then gradually in
creased in volume, speed, and power,
until the flow was simply overwhelming,
that the professor remarked plea
sanity:
Tommy seems to swear tol'ably easy,
I'm thinkin'. It's a great gift ; wonder
full what twill do sometimes. When
was a-teanin' it up to Leadville l would
bet willin' | could cuss dead mule up
six-hundred-foot grade, with a load,
and all by the parts o speech. It's just
like anything else. though-takes prac-
tice.
"Those was great DAYS." he went on
with retrospective sigh, "great days
We was gettin' twenty and thirty cents a
pound for stuff, and maxim slathers O.
money and losin' il, too" he added
with laugh. 81 member comm down
over the divide one night alone with
three thousand dollars in my pocket
when id road agent held me up an
cleaned me out. | was pretty blame
mad, but had to ante.
"I'd like to know" said the Doctor,
show one or two men can stop and rob
dozen, all well armed. 1t looks as if
they had no nerve. l don't think I'd
stand it."
The Judge whistled softly at this re-
mark the Major smiled and made pre-
tence OF wiping the window with his
coat-sleeve and looking out /; the Colonel
expectorated mournfully. The Professor
alone was calm.
"Pardner," said he. looking the Doc
tor in the eye, and tapping him gently
on the knee as he spoke, "was you ever
held up?"
The Doctor shook his head.
II thought likely" said the Professor
significantly. "Just look here. When
you are stopped you ante quietly
and perlitely. It's runnin' too much
of risk TO object. If any man
is lookin' fur q chance to climb
the golden stairs through barin' OF. his
buzzum for his fellow creatures-with-
out compassionate him. 1t amt in
my line. I'm pretty sure an so say if
ever you're held up you jest fork over
without any back talk--its really the
cheapest, and long way the safest"
These sentiments seemed to meet with
universal approval from the other occu-
pants OF the coach, and the Doctor, quite
crushed by the weight Of opinion against
him, relapsed into silence.
After this conversation became desul-
tory. Now and then q passenger would
volunteer. q remark, which sometimes
elected q reply and sometimes did not.
Often, as the road led up some steep in
cline we would get cut and walk to re-
-. -. =. Il. = Il.