New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-06
THE JOHNSTOWN STAGE.
THE STORY OF A woMAN,s COURAGE.

City Of Rocks was losing its sharp outlines in
the radiating heat OF July afternoon: The un,
broken, gray sage-brush plain surrounding 1t had
already lost its one outline, the horizon, and now
merged itself in the distance of its own dustiness
The void between glaring plain and glarlng SKY
filed with hot silence. 1t was the silence
of solitude undisturbed. by humanity for the
only human habitation in the City of Rocks was
the stage station and that in its
than the rough, but sometimes beautiful ana
always fantastic, stone formations around IT any
one could see why this place was called City OF
Rocks It's name fitted, as most frontier names
ct, until they subjected to the personal vanity
or nicer sense Of modesty Of refined map-makers
But any one could not why its unhewn granite
masses should rise SO abruptly and unreasonably
from the level. sage-brush desert To an 1magi-
native or cultivated mind there was something eerle
about these castle turrets and cathedral spires,
seen afar in an uninhabited land and 10 such,
an armed knight with lance IN rest charging across
the plain, would not have been out Of place Such
a person, necessarily passenger on the Johnstown
stage, with vague anticipations OF q romance,
would very likely question the stage-driver. The
reply, without doubt, would be that this was an
outcropping Of the same ledge in which they had
struck hSgh-grade ore t over a, In f she
like talking, the, additional fact might
be extracted that the Indians called it The
seven houses where the witches laugh" THIS
would sound promising, but the questioner would
find that this was all there was Of it. Indeed,
it is more than probable that the questions OF the
this have elected from the driver the sole but
pregnant fact that the Idaho and Northwestern
Stage Company paid him only TO drive
The Johnstoyyn stage was due at City Of Rocks
at o'clock About that hour man in a
flannel shirt dirty soldier-trousers tucked In his
boots and SLOUGH hat on the back of his bronzed'
security of the doorway of the station,house, and
shading his eyes with his hand, looked down the
road AS be stood there q cloud OF dust became became
visible in the distance. 1t foated and waVered
nearer and nearer, until the crealung and ing
ling of dry wood, leather, and metal, and the
pounding of hoofs were heard. Then, as the cloud
had III m str
and a stage-coach was seen within it. The cloud
stopped in front Of the house. the dust settled,
powder, was disclosed. The driver looking like
miller laid his whip on the roof and prepared
to descend. The station keeper who, meanwmIe'
had stepped out in the road and silently com
menced to unlock the traces, looked up for the
first time. The next moment be dropped the trace
with an exclamation of wonder, while his hand
slowly but instinctively sought the revolver which
hung in belt loosely about his hips For a
few seconds he scrutinized the face OF the man
who was swinging himself down IRON the DoAi
and then his look Of surprise changed TO one OF
recognition his hand relaxed Its Its, hold on tne pIstO
and he said heartily WS WHAT'S 1 5e came of
He was taken sick down by Shotgun Creek
and had to lay off at the milk ranch" SAID the
man addressed taking off his hat and beating OUT
shouldered, but slender, and was dressed In the
same manner as the station-kesper, even TO the
revolver which hung ABOUT hS hPs
unaffected by the dust betrayed dlnerence
between them: , l..
tone of disgust, taking cut the straw which ne
held between his teeth and throwing t. energet,
cally on the gronnd ihat teiow ,ns s sJH
Whisting Dick jumped his stage last month I!
he's yeard TINT the paymaster's sending his money
up by express this trip to nay on the boys at
Durn him That's watts the matter. II leaves
me in a purity ix!" he continued Franks
out after stock, and there's TO one yere but me-
Who's poin' IN take the stage on ?"
ri take it on as far as Pack City. if you
like" said the lieutenant. - The old man VIII
find some one there TO take Jlms place easy
enough
The station-keeper, without replying mechani-
cally resumed his duties of taking out the horses
slowly off to the stables Then finally turning
to the lieutenant, with the air of one whose mind
the only thing we kin do. | can't leave yere.
j wouldn't have q head of stock lett oy the
time / got back. Them damned lnjuns IS glttln
worse and worse not to mention the boss thieves
and road agents that's gittin thickern teas on a
dogs back. It's sort O. orowdin' you, though
lieutenant, and don't know what the old man
-" He won't say, thank you, at any rate said
the lieutenant -,
You kin gamble on that, sid the hostler,
approvingly. -" Who's this johnny -come-latelyp p
he added, as a passenger from the inside OF the
stage strolled toward them
jim said he was stockman, said the ueu-
tenant; &" he's billed for Pack City,
Jimi' growled the hostler, CONTEMPORARY.
"Jim's stranger himself in these parts. How
And when the traveller, an elderly man, joined
them with sociabe remark that II was purity
tol'able warm" the hoStler vented his scorn
for Jim by ignoring him altogether and continuing
his talk with the lieutenant about way-bills, eX-
press, mail and other stage matters But the
lack of cordialty. held his ground. and if he
did not join in the conversation listened to it
so persistently that the hostler finally turned to
him, and said rather sarcasucally, Stranger, Is
there ANYTHING Il do fer you n
WELL no, pard,' replied the traveller: good
but reckon yCa kin DO somsen het lady
inside, she's petered plumb out, and the KIDS
yelling like all possessed"
At this the amateur driver opened the stage
door and looked in. There was the usual litter
of mail-bags and small bundles, and smell OF dust
and leather. Addressing the woman, who. In
long linen dqster and with yeli over her face
reclined Imply in one corner, half holding cry
ing baby, the lieutenant said, Supper station,
madam"
peated il in a louderttone The only result was
an added force to the baby's cries
[" l reckon she's tainted" said the other passen-
ger appearing at his elbow with cup OF water
Tie irnt. nant got inside, followed by the I'D
man, to whom he unceremonlously handed the
baby Taking out his pocket-fask, he mixed
little whiskey and water, and pushing the veil up
from the unconscious mouth, he succeeded in par
then" he said in an authoritative tone, you
must come outside in the open air, and wash your
face and hands; that will brace you up quicker
than anything. Then when you have had some
dinner you will be oil right. We haven't much
time he added
The woman obediently arose, but cramped and
sisted TO the ground She succeeded in walking
over to the water-trough, and sitting down on its
edge, silently took her baby. The lieutenant
brought her basin and towel. and left her 10
toilet, Presently he returned and said, Supper
is ready"
Thank you, don't want any supper was
the reply.
As he heard her speak for the first time the
lieutenant looked at the shrouded form in sur
prise The voice was low and trained the voice
OF a gentlewoman. II startled him with swift
suggestion of perfumed lace and six-bntton kid
gloves of waltz music, yachting and low mur.
INJURED words In dim conservatories. The rscol-
ieefinn of the fried pork and beans axnitina them