The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-12-06
TOM
DRYSON'S crime.
BY 1.-THE. MAJOE."
CHAPTER l.

Near five o'clock in the afternoon of
August ii, 1870, stage coach with
full complement of both inside and
outside passengers was slowly pro-
ceeding along the highway toward the
village of Avlcsworth, and within
three miles of it.
The lay had been most sultry and
uncomfortable oEc. The horses pant
ed and laborcd heavily along. Every
thing in and about the conveyance tol |
Of suffering and discomfort; it had
been hou since any Of the veXed and
wearicd passengers had attempted any
thing like conversation. The last ef-
fort ut social intercourse -harf been
hude by a Stout. stern featured man Of
middle age, whose iron-gray hair
matched the suit of mixed Scotch
goods that he wore. During all this
day, as well as the day before, he had
manifested tie utmost impatience Mt
the slowneEs OF the vehicle, and his
bitter complaints and grumblings had
made him disliked by bis. fellow rus
sengers.
Don't Ia to me of horse lesh, or
the heat of tine day" lie angrily said
to the driver. II engaged my passage
by this route and paid for it, after en-
amininG the company's printed schcd-
ule of time. How has it's engagement
been kept, so far? We ere at this mo-
ment nine hours behind the advertised
time. IL this rate of loss is to con-
tinue, j shall lose twenty-four hours
on my journey, ami will be too late for
the business that brings me that way
A large pecuniary loss will be the con.
sequence. Damn you, Sir if you don't
~ fhic oil lnn,lfrincy oIn
faster l'll sue the company for dam
ages l will. sure as my name is Mason
Belmont and l don't care who knows
it,"
A few such outbursts as this made
every other passenger feel that the
man in gray was n coarse, selfish per-
son, whose further acquaintance was
not desirable. But these explosions
also served another purpose, which
afterward lccamc n matter of impor-
tance. They fully advertised the name
of the grumhlcr.
The accident that now occurred came
withont the slightest warming. The
fore axle paltrd in the middle and tho
coach lurchcd forward. For moment
there was n scene of alright and on
ctemont. Tho horses plunged and
reared madiy; the driver jumped for
the leaders heads, and shouted to
southc and steady the four; the passen-
gers on the outside were promiscu-
Ously pitched into the road or forced
TO jump; those on the inside were
thrown into heap tCrcther. Womcn's
screams and cXclamatinns from the
men were mingled. The man in gray
tuggca at one Of the doors, and, being
unable TO move it, put his broad
shoulders to it, burst it open, and
jumped into Tho road. 1t was after
ward remembered that he cried out,
with an oath. that he had torn his
X 4 cyu,t.,riy of frignel~-Ah. soon over.
lie driver succeeded i'll Quleting his
horses, and the outsiders fastened to
help the insiders from their uncOmfort
able position. When all had reached
the roadside, it was disco, cred that no
one had sustained any serious injury.
There had been rude shaking. up );
there were n few bruises and some torn
garments; but there was no need Of
medical help. and general sense of
tlankfulncss was expressed that it was
no worse.
The driver examined the break.
It'll take an hour or two to fix it, and
Ill have to go quarter of mile for
n blacksmith" he said. "You folks
ii have 10 make the best of it, Aylcs-
wortl's lcss'n three miles of nov, and
YOU that fec! Ike it might walk in
fore ] can bc ready. Wouldn't advise
you to, though; there's storm com.
lug up. l'ettcr got the ladies into tho
coach, some wa, for shelter, till it's
over, and YOU gents can stay under the
trees
is thcro no house near?" was the
GnX ous inquiry.
matter OF half q mile.
The indications of n heavy rain were
now quite evident to all, and the
drivers advice was taken.
We must make Nh exception.
The man in gray stool snllcnly aloof
from the others after the accident
hearing the report of tho driver. He
was too inpatient to wait, and too
su,ky to in orm the others OF his inten-
tions. He 81 emily withdrew, unob
served by any one, in the confus on
and excitement, and started afoot and
alone toward the village.
Although about live o'clock in the