St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-02-07
THE WIDOW SMITH.
A California Adventure in two Chapf,


| leather straps that allowed it to
| swing with a motion that is best de-
scribed 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
dropped heavily into some almost
bottomless hole; the next instant we
would be flying with pleasant unan-
unity 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 divided, is
most nearly described by the word
diagonal, and so-diagonal it is.
All five of the passengers were rid
ing inside, for it was a day in NOvem-
ber-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 charac-
teristic of Western habits never to
give up anything for any cause what
ever, once it is begun. So, while a
seat outside Just at that time was
better than no seat at all, it was by
no means SO 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-it was far above timber line) to
Leadville. 1t was fairly good wheel
ing, as that word is understood in the
Rockies, but six stout mules had all
| they could do to manage the coach.
| One moment they were grooming and
straining up some steep incline; the
next fairly lifted from their feet as we
dashed furiously down a hill, our
speed only partially checked by the
brake, which Tommy, the driver,
would frantically apply.
Everyone in the West has a title of
some sort, no matter whether he has
a right to it or not, and the five men
in the coach were known as the col
onel, the major, the judge, the doctor,
and the professor. 1t is surprising
how soon one becomes acquainted
with his companions in such a place.
Who Their this is due to the cOmmuni-
ty of sensations that govern the pas
sengers, as the vehicle lurches to the
right or left, or the sociability of the
men themselves, l cannot say. The
fact remains, however, and in less
than half an hour after we had start
ed | was on familiar terms with the
past history, present occupation, size
of pile and name of each of nv fellow
travellers.
On the coach was an eXpreSS-boX,
said to contain thirty thousand dol
lars in bullion, the product of the
Greenwood mines. In rack near
the drivers feet hung two Colts re-
volvers and a Winchester rifle. The
road was considered safe enough, for
no robbery had occurred there since
the camp had been in existence, still
the stage company preferred to take
reasonable precautions. Hence the
weapons.
After we had exchanged our names
and such parts of our personal histo-
~ as we felt free to give, we relapsed
a sociable is not a talkative animal;
he converses in heats. For a time
our quiet was unbroken, save by the
grooming and creaking 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 pro-
family 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; l
merely wished to illustrate the utter
inadequacy of words in type to rep
resent the sounds.
1t was at the end of one of TOmmy'S
flowery periods (Which came to our
rescue 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 outpouring)
that the gentleman occupying the
middle seat Qeft) 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 ex-
hortation, | say, which began softly
and slowly, then gradually increased
in volume, speed and power, until the
flow was simply overwhelming, that
the professor" remarked pleasantly:
Tommy seems to swear tOl'ab1y
easy, I'm thinkin' It's great gift
wonderful what twill do sometimes.
When l was a-teamin' it up to Lead
vile, | would bet willin' l could cuss
a dead mule up a six-hundred-foot
grade, with a load, and all by the
parts O. speech. It's just like any
thin else, thOugh-takes practice.
Those was great days." he went
on with a retrospective sigh, great
days. We was gettin' twenty and
thirty cents a pound for stuff, and
maxim slathers o money; an losin'
it, too" he added with a laugh. Il
member comm down over the divide
one night alone, with three thousan'
dollars in my pocket, when a 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,
'hOw one or two men can stop and
rob a dozen, all well armed. 1t looks
as if they had no nerve. Idon think
I'd stand it"
The Judge whistled softly at this re-
mark; the major smiled and made
pretence 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
doctor in the eye, and tapping him
gently on the knee as he spoke, was
you ever held up?'
The doctor shook his head
Il thought likely" said the pro-
lessor, significantly. Just look here;
when you. are stopped you ante
quietly and perlitely. It's runnin'
too much of a risk to object. If any