The state herald., 1890-07-04
"A LIVELY ADVENTURE.

Cbmpssien. took the coa,1 which
lett Custer City--or Custer village,
Ter The town consisted Of twenty or
thirty log structures-to 60 to Sidney,
Neh. A coach suppose 1t should 30
called. though on the plains this vehi-
hlc, which has the drivers seat on tho
,same level - tho passengers seat, Is
called . shack"
I had gone TO the "hills" to engage
10 mining. but after four months Of
prospecting had decided to open gen.
eral-supply store at the new town Of
Oeadwood and was on my way TO
Onaha to purchase goods for the vea-
mre.
A tin lamp fastened to one corner
II tho "hack," discovered to me two
passengers within Is l entered and
took my seat. One was an old gentle
man, apparently weak and i'll, for al
though 1t was not cold night, he was
muf1ed Ia coarse. hcAyy ulster over
coat. Moreover, such OF his face as /
could SEQ between a gray beard which
almost covered It and the rim Of a
slouch hat was pale and thin, the eyes
hooked sunken and unnatural. At least
20 they struck mo at cursory glance.
Tho other passenger was ayonng fell
low Of % Or IS years. Judged, decided
" dandified in his dress for that region.
He wore = stiff hat and staud-up col
lar encirclcd by u neat tic. and had on
= dark suit, evidently custom made.
which was mn unusual .'get-up" for
chat region, and one which Mt once
aroused my suspicious, for the only
persons l hud seen about the mining
towns dressed In anything like that
fashion were gamblers. a class Of men
I had made 1t point to avoid.
Just bcforO setting out the driver
came to tho side of the vehicle. thrust
In light Winchester carbinc, and
placed It between my knees.
n see you didn't have no gum" said
he. AN ! keep couple Of extra ones
for sech."
That was ALL No further esplana-
tion was necessary in those days.
took charge of the weapon. al
though was US little expert in its use
rs I was Ia handling the Smith 1; Wes-
son IN my hip-pocket, which indeed I
had never yet discharged.
knew enough of life in the mines to
know that the "bad man with gun"
Is usually the man who gets into Diff
Guilty rather than the peaceful and un-
armed citizcn; but n stage ride from
Custer to Sidney at that time was a
trip not altogether likely to he without
Its adventures, and for once regret
Ted my unfamiliarity with shooting
It occurred to me that II we were
Bumped by road agents" as the phrase
went the frccboOlers of the route
would have little to fear from the oc-
cupants Of the hack. whether they get
much money or not There were
usually valuables Of some sort in the
Iron box under the drivers seat.
The young man who sat opposite me
had carbine across his lap. but I
fancied he knew even less of its use
than did. As we started he sat. with
out noticing me. twirling slight mus
tache and humming a tune. "A fresh
gamester, il one at ALL said to my
self upon second look at him.
The old man had no arms in sight.
Tho driver no doubt regarded him as
out Of the fight in any event.
As we rolled on up into Buffalo gap
had q few words Of conversation
with my companions. learned that
the elder was an old farmer, who had
como oat to SEQ what he could do in
the new mines, but he had been i'll
with mountain fever, and aftcrward at
tackled by rheumatism. SO that he had
been forced to abandon his projects
and return to the cast. lilo spoke
freely and In the English Of the west
ern mon,
The young fellow said he was from
Now York. ''Nch Yawk," he pro-
nounccd II. lie was. he said. student
OF mtntng engineering. but he did not
mention what his business had been In
that region; but that was not strange,
for he could not talk much. A iolting
stage Sswling over rough country ii
eight miles an hour does not give the
best opportunity for conversation.
soon became sleepy, and leaning
back In my corner took such mo-
mentary cat-naps as the nature Of the
road permitted. At II O'Clock we
made brief halt at temporary stage
station. where tho drivers four-in-
hand team was exchanged for fresh
horses.
peeped out and Tot n glimpse Of
the team. Of two men with lanterns.
Of low structure Of sod or adobe faint
ty outliaed, and OF the black side Of
plne-covered mountain beyond. The
nigat was quite dark. with floating
clouds and no moon. 1t became some
what lighter rs we passed out of the
gap little later. AS | noted through
crack Ia tho flap" opposite.
The road was now smoother and l
settled back In my corner. as nv COM
panions had done. to get little solid
sleep II possible. l doxed oil for u
time, but was awakened by the groan.
Ing Of tho old man beside me. He
seemed to be In great pain aud writhei
about nervously. asked him what
was the trouble. lie replied that his
rheumatism WAS nearly killing him.
Il wish tho driver'd 10. me aout
when We git Z tn mex crick. He'll
water likely. N I've Jest got 4 stretch
my legs or die. ie see I'm troubled
with cramp rheumatism. an tn ant
no room In bycr to Git the cramp out
y mo legs"
] told him I would speak to the
driver whom we halted. a few moments
later. at the bank Of u stream-Whitc
river believe. I thrust my head out OF
tho side and asked that the old gentle.
man might be let cut for moment to
stretch his legs.
"All rightw said the driver. MS no
clsmbered down from his seat. I'm
Golu' ter let tho hosscs take pull a,
the drink"
then helped the old man TO dis.
Misunderstanding him by the arm ms