The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-12
The WIDOW OF SMITH.
AN ADVENTURE IN CALIFORNIA.


it to swing with motion that is best described
by saying it was diagonal though in fact it was
not diagonal at all. One moment we found
ourselves sliding toward the foremost corner
on the left, as the wheel on that side cropped
heavily into some almost bottomless hole; the
next instant we would be flying with pleasant
unanimity through the rear window on the
right, and again, seeking to force an outlet
through the roof or floor. But the resultant of
these motions, put together, added, and di-
vided, is most nearly described by the word
diagonal, and so-diagonal it is.
All five of the passengers were riding inside,
for it was day i'll November-cold and cloudy,
and light snow was spaSmodically falling, as
if really uncertain whether to stop or go on,
but on the whole, rather in favor of going on,
it being a characteristic of western habits
never to give up anything for any cause what
ever. once it is begun. So, while seat out
side just at that time was better than no seat
at all, it was by no means so desirable as q 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, 1t was far above the timber line)
to Leadvllle. 1t was fairly good wheeling, as
that word is understood in the Rockies, but
six stout mules had all they could do to man
age the coach. One moment they were groan-
ing and straining up some steep incline; the
next fairly lifted from their feet as we dashed
furiously down hill, our speed only partially
checked ,by the brake, which Tommy the
driver would franticaly apply
Every one i'll the west has title of some
sort, no matter whether he has right to- or
not, and the five men in the coach were
known as the colonel, the major the judge,
the doctor. and the professor. 1t is surprising
how soon one becomes acquainted with his
companions IN such place. Whether this is
due to the community of sensations that gov
ern 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 an hour after
we had started was on familiar 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 a rack
near the drivers feet hung two Colts revolvers
and Winchester rifle. The road was con-
sidered safe enough, for no robbery had oc-
CURED since the camp had been in existence,
stll the stage company preferred to take
reasonable precautions. Hence the weapons.
After we had exchanged our names and such
parts of our personal history as we felt free to
give, we relapsed into silence. The westerner,
although sociable, is not a talkative animal;
he converses in heats. For time our quiet
was unbroken, save by the groaning 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 profanity 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
compared in any way; merely wished to il
! lustratc the utter inadequacy Of words in type
| to represent the sound.
1t was at the end of one of Tommy's f1owery
| periods (Which came to our rescue when the
coach, stuck fast at the foot of veritable hill
| of difficulty, had at last been dragged up by
| the mules, inspired by the outpouring) that
fGae Fry
| 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
began softly and slowly, then gradually in-
| creased i'll volume, speed and power, until the
| flow was simply overwhelming, that the pro
fessor" remarked pleasantly:
| Tommy seems to swear tolably easy, I'm
thinkin. It's great gift; wonderful what
| twill do sometimes When l was a-teamin'
| it up to Leadville, 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 anythin' else though-takes practice.
| ''Those was great days." he went on with
retrospective sigh, "great days. We was
| gettin' twenty and thirty cents pound for
| stuff, and maxim slashers o. money; an loSin'
| it, too" he added, with laugh. II member
| comm down over the divide one night alone,
| with three thousan' dollars in my pocket,
| when id road agent held me up an cleaned
me out. was pretty blamed mad, but had
| to ante"
"I'd like to know" said the doctor, Show
| one or two men can stop and rob a dozen, all
well armed. 1t looks as if they had no nerve.
1 don't think I'd stand it,
The judge whistled softly at this remark !;
the major smiled and made a pretense of WHIP
ing the window with his coat-sleeve and look
ing out; the colonel expectorated mournfully.
| The professor alone was calm.
"Pardner, said he, looking the doctor in
| the eye, and tapping him gently on the knee
as he spoke, "was you ever held up?"
The doctor shook his head
81 thought likely" said the professor, sig
nifcantly. "Just look here; when you are
stopped you ante quietly and perlitely. It's
running too much of risk to object If any
man is lookin' fur chance to climb tho golden
stairs, through BARN of his buzzum for his
fellow-creatures-witho compensation let
him. 1t amt in my line, I'm pretty sure, an
so say ii ever you're held up you jest fork
over without any back talk-it's really the
cheapest, and long way the safest"
These sentiments seemed to meet with uni
versal approval from the other occupants of
the coach, and the doctor, quite crushed by the
weight OF opinion against him, relapsed into
silence.
After this conversation became desultory.
Now and then passenger would volunteer
remark, which sometimes ELECTED a reply
and sometimes did not. Often, as the
road led up some steep incline, we
would get out and walk, TO re-
oIOiCy Ny tAOLGlSG, LH6 ClECuldLlOu III Ue-
numbed limbs. Twice the coach stopped at
relay stations, where fresh mules were har-
messed in the place of the tired-out animals.
The stations were nothing more than rough log
stables, with accommodation for the men who
fed and cared for the mules.
The snow had been falling all tho afternoon
in fine flakes, and had spread over the earth
thin white cover that partially hid the rough
ness OF the mountains and whitened
the light that came through the
clouds, into which we sometimes
drove. The road was becoming very heavy
| and our progress was slow, when to our relief,
the coach about O'Clock entered a small park
OF few hundred acres and pulled up in front
of ampson's-twelye miles from Lcadyille.
While fresh mules were being harnessed we
alighted and stepped into tho room that served
as bar, Office, parlor and readingroom, for
SIMPSONS was a hotel as well as relay sta
ton.
The establishment was owned and managed
by Mr.. Sampson and his wife Almiry, or 10 put
it another way, SIMPSONS and Sampson him
self were controlled by Almiry. A modern
Delilah she, who, when she married Sampson,
had speaking iguaratiyely, cippedIhis locks and
left him deprived Of all ambition. There was
a rumor current that Sampson drank, a rumor
not altogether without foundation, since no
one had ever seen him entirely sober. His
sole duty was to tend bar, and when not occu-
pied in ministerlng to tho liquid wants Of