Iron County register., 1888-04-19

sured her as she started
He hung about the stable of the
Rough-and-Tumble longer than usual
that noon. pretending to one of the
women who came out presently that
he had to ..fix'' something about his
harness before he started on the re-
turn "trip.
Every body's gone off crazy bout
the new placer up at Big Horn" they
had told him at the table. .'n' lef
nobody but ther women folks t the
Gulch"
In about an hour from the time he
had finished dinner. Gideon and his
coach were in waiting at the mouth of
Melcher's Gap. 1t was about half an
hour later when the woman. with her
child in arms, came hurrying breath
lessly down to him. She looked be-
hind her frequently, and he saw as
she approached that her face was
white with fear and suspense.
The baby. wretched little year-old
object, dressed. like it's mother, in
mere rags, turned its poor and pitful
little face upon the driver with a wan
smile that, as he said. fetched him
'clear to the boots.
''Ch, you must drive fast" cried the
poor woman. as she clambered into the
coach without waiting q for the proffered
help. 'for they We come back. as l was
afraid! Corson and two of the men. and
they re going to break camp and move
up to Big Horn this afternoon. They
daresn't trust me there alone, for
an, some good to 'em in cookin' and
keepin' camp. 1 knew this was the
last chance to git free. SO 1 took the
baby and started down TO the spring
for pail of water and when got out
of sight. 1 just run for here. and you
must go, go. for they'll sure be after
us!"
"TH go fast enough" answered
Gideon. cheerfly, IAN don't you be
afraid they'll ketch us neither on
them leetle mounting ponies"
But though he spoke with such as
surance and determination, he did
not feel at all sure of the outcome of
q race if the men at Corson's Camp
should soon discover the woman's
flight and follow. He felt that he
had undertaken an extremely hazard
Gus exploit. considering the danger
Gus route he had to drive over. and
the characters of the men, who, he
had not a doubt, would be upon his
trail within the next half hour
The spring at Corson's Camp he
knew was in n ravine at the head of
Melcher's Gap. and as this canyon
was the only outlet in that direction.
Corson could not long remain igno-
rant of his wife line of flight after he
had discovered, as he soon must, that
she was trulyCgone.
But the woman and her baby in
such evident and distressing need of
rescue had fetched him. and the
brave driver. looking TO his revolvers
to see that the chambers were all load
ed, drew in the lines and urged for
ward his horses at as great rate of
speed as the nature of the road would
warrant.
For half hour or more the coach
rattied forward at dangerous pace,
for these first few miles were the
toughest part of the road. Up and
down it went through deep gorges,
scaling precipitous hog backs" and
swaying far above the verge of
cavernous canyons. From the point
of every turn that commanded a view
of the trail behind, Gid cast anxious
glances backward. to note if any one
were yet in pursuit.
II
At the .half-way .stone." which was
supposed to mark a spot midway be-
tween Thunder Gulch and Squaw
Forks. was a height from which a
good portion of the road for two miles
| back could be seen, and here it was
that tho driver discovered. indeed, that
Corson and his men were following g
them. A single glance sufficed to re-
veal'them-three horsemen- riding at
a breakneck gall op over the crest of a
| long hog back. some mile and n half in
| the rear of the coach.
"A flight for life," thought Gideon.
and he cracked his long whip over the
ears of the already fretted stage team.
| The horses were not unwilling to go
faster. however, on the contrary they
seemed nervous and frightened at
such unusual driving, and sprang for
ward at pace which the driver soon
| found necessary 10 check by vigorous
pulling at their reins.
| .Are they coming, did you see
them," screamed the woman, fright
ened at the swaying and rocking OF
the stage as they rounded a curve.
"Oh, a0e're all right!' the driver
shouted back. evading direct an
swer. The road amt bad. hyar! An
L M a-tryin' ter make up fer whar tbs.
The coach tore along. pitching cra-
zily down into deep gullles. and sway
ing wildly above the cresis of abrupt
cliffs or the sides of gulf-like ravines.
1t was quite a number of minutes
before Gideon caught sight of the pur.
suing horsemen again, but when he
did, as they came around the point OF
a mountain spur. they had gained per
ceptibly upon the coach. and the qucs,
ton of being overtaken had narrowed
to one merely of time. And now the
driver began 10 canvass the chances
of making a successful defense when
he should be finally overtaken.
There was point nearly two miles
ahead. where, if he could only reach
it. the road ran along the foot of {
narrow ledge and above \ precipitous
gulch. and where he thought he nigh
halt the coach behind shelterine
point of rocks. and 'tstand off, their
pursuers with his reyolvels. He was