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

that Samppon drank, o rumor not sito-
gethcr without foundation, since no one
had ever seen him entirely sober. His
sole duty was TO tend bar, and when not
occupied in ministering to the liquid
wants of Others he was looking after him
sell. There was but one beverage sold
at Sampson 's--whiskey there
hung upon the wall, back, of the rough
bar, an illuminated cardf citing forth
in ay-speckod characters, the superior
merits OF Halls Jamaica Ginger. But
as for the ginger. that was not to be bad.
Nor were there any indications, beyond
dusty autographs nailed askew to the
wooden partitions, that Soda Water, Self
ger. and Mumm's Extra Dry were procu-
rable on demand. And so it was fortunate
that the systems OF those passengers
who needed stimulation craved whlskey
only. for that was positively all there
was.
We had not noticed at first, in tho dim
light of the room, the figure OF woman
clad in deep black and wearing n heavy
veil drawn over her face. She sat in a
dark corner and seemed to shrink from
observation. But when Tommy entered,
after looking to bis cattle, and had for
tilted his nerves with four fingers OF the
"reglar thing" swallowed without q
murmur, Almiry took him aside and en-
gagged him in earnest conversation and
her gestures then for the first time di-
rected our attention to the woman.
Our halt was necessarily short and we
we're soon back in the coach the mules
had been changed, and we were ready
to start. But Tommy fingered, and
when at length he appeared at the door,
seemed in no hurry. He stood there,
slowly drawing on his gloves and survey.
ing the scene with carelessly critical
eve and an expression of countenance
that seemed to indicate that as for him,
if he were to be given the chance. he
would make a good deal better world
than this one-easy. In his mouth was
cigar, tipped up at such an angle that
the glowing end nearly touched the wide
brim of his sombrero. The Major,
irreverently inspired, voiced the sentl-
ments of the party when he remarked,
in drawing tone:
81 reckon I'd ruther be driver to
coach than most snythin'l"
Just then there appeared in the door
way the lady in black, to whom Thomas
CALAMITY offered bis arm, and thus es-
corted to the coach. AS they approached
the Colonel gave little groan. "We're
goin' to have a lovely woman along with
u.s., he said plaintively. CONSERVATION
was depicted on each face when the
coach door was opened, and Tommy,
looking in, remarked authoritively:
Sorry, gentlemen, but l shall bev to
trouble you. Here's lady goin' to
Leadville, an she's goin' inside. Jump
in, marin /" and in the young woman
jumped with remarkable lightness, aud
took the vacant seat in the forward
corner.
"Cunnel, you'll look after her." said
Tommy at the door "she's in my charge.
Wilder of Smith, she is-him that was
killed down to the Walker mine last
month; but she don't savy word OF
English, bein' French. You Lnow'd
Smith, didn't We, Cunnel ?"
Eyes, know'd him we'll enough, but
l never knowd he had a wilder. I'll
look after her-in English, growled the
Colonel, and the door slammed and the
stage rolled ahead.
As we pulled out the clouds parted for
an instant, and bright ray of sunlight
lit up the coach, striking full upon the
dark veil of our new companion. ltmade
briefly visible the outlines of her face,
and those of us who we're fortunate
enough to catch glimpse OF it were
convinced that the lady had great beauty.
Indeed, the Judge, who had happy ia
cility OF expression, acquired from
long though not lucrative practice at the
bar, leaned over to the Doctor and whis-
pered in tones Of fervent admiration
"She's as pretty as Cle-op-e-try, by
Jove !" to which the Doctor responded
with an asserting nod of much vigor.
Nowhere in the world is n lady more
certain of respectful consideration than
in the wild West. She is invariably
treated with chivalrous gallantry that is
really magnificent men hasten to do her
homage and are proud TO be commanded
by her. Still, the presence of Mrs.
Smith in the coach acted on the party as
little restraint, which the Judge and the
Colonel vainly endeavored to dispel.
POND of travelin', ma'am ?" said the
latter, in his best off-hand style, rs he
leaned toward her and smiled handsome
ly. The lady made no reply, and the
Judge knocked the Colonel's elbow.
"Sh Colonel !" he said, "you don't
s'pose she understands you, when it's as
much as / can do to untangle your ideas
from your words. She speaks French "
The Colonel accepted the rebuke meek
" and made no further conversational
effort. The road became more and more
difficult as we advanced, and the fresh
mules were unruly and drove very hard.
Several times in bad places they had
baked and the coach had swung around
in way that would have upset lighter
vehicle, yet no exclamation of alarm es
capped from the lady, who sat motionless
in the corner.
"Turrible bad place to be held up
long here" said the Major, after an I'M
usually long silence, during which the
coach had slowly pounded over huge
rock and then slid off with an unplea-
SAINT scrunch. 81 should hate to be
stopped here, for have a little matter
of twelve hundred dollars about me
which / don't care to lose. OF course
we're all friends here ?" he hastily asked.
We were, and then 1t came ont that
each man was carrying various sums OF
money, ranging from five hundred to
four thousand dollars, the last amount
being the property Of the Colonel, who
described accurately how he had con-
cealed it in a package, sewed in his
clothing next to his body, where it was
quite inaccessible to dishonest persons.
81 reckon it'll take pretty smart
chap to find that" he remarked compla-
Gently, as he slapped his hand on the
spot where the treasure was concealed.
We could not deny this, and murmurs of
admiration were heard at his shrewd-
ness. All this time-in fact, since we
left Sampson's-the mysterious Mrs.
Smith had not moved or changed her
position. She still kept her veil down,
and in the slowly waning light her black
dress seemed to emphasize the shadows
in the coach.
"Judge," said the Major at length,
cit must be lonesome for her. You're
considable OF a linguist couldn't you
give her little touch in the native, just
IN Ia fnarlita %