Arizona republican., 1891-11-21
ON THE DRIVERS SEAT.

A party of gentlemen, composed of half a dozen prominent citizens, were assembled recently in the smoking room of the Art club when the conversation drifted to modern travelling conven- fences, and one of the number observed that, while we had gained most marvel. lously in point of rapidity and luxury, we had lost the poetry of travel as ex. emplfied by the old fashioned coach, with its belled and caparisohed horses, its flourish of tasseled whip and the merry winding horn. The speaker was stopped by another of the party, whose face had signifed his uneasiness at the description.
 Don't, my dear sir!" said this gentle man, who is a power in the financial cir. cles of Philadelphia. "Your reminis- cence is very pretty, but your mention of the antebellum stage coach revived a memory which is even yet a horror to me, though it is over thirty-ive years old. had an experience in one of your landed vehicles once that afterward made me walk nearly hundred. miles to keep from entering another, and to this day, whenever 1 am unwell or troubled in any way, am sure to dream of the oc- currence, and my wife, hearing me grooming, will awaken me with the cold precipitation flowing from my body, and say, Dreaming again of your stage coach fright, aren't youT And yet I fatter myself that am not more cowardly than most men,"
 The company insisted on the story, it was given, as follows:
 "As most of you know, my fathers death followed close on the heels of his failure in business, leaving me, his son and only surviving member of his fam fly, without a penny. left college, but wholly unftted for any work l found myself on the verge of starvation, so left Philadelphia and started west, turn ing up finally in Virginia City. l was pretty desperate by this time, and glad enough to accept an offer made me to drive the stage to Sacramento. It was not long drive nor an unpleasant one, though in parts rather dangerous, or at least requiring careful driving and steady horses.
 Thad made several trips very success fully, when one morning 1 left Nir- ginia City with a single passenger. This was a man of slight, delicate build, rather undersized, too, dressed in heavy clothes, which struck me at once as pecu- liar, for the day was lovely June one. Another thing impressed me disagree ably in my passenger-his eyes were a bright, unnatural blue, with something in their furtive glance that spoke ill for his conscience or his wits, though l did not think of the latter then.
 ''It was a very unusual thing for the stage to carry so light load, and found myself lingering few minutes behind time to see if more were not coming, for had vague dislike, which must have been a presentment, against setting of alone with my queer passen- ger. There was nothing for it, though, but to go, so l started, hoping to pick up others on the road. did not, however, and gradually l lost my depression, though it was a lonely ride without any 
 who patronized the line, the man showed no disposition to talk or to ques- tion the driver, so after one or two at- tempts to draw him out let my gentle man alone.
 After awhile, however, he began to complain aloud, though to himself, at my management of the horses, but took no notice of his growling. We had by that time reached the mountains and entered on narrow strip of road along the brow of canyon, at the bottom of which gleamed tiny thread of silver, which knew to be the river. It was sheer descent of 700 feet, and usually checked the horses at that part of the journey. had done this, when my passenger stuck his head out of the window and demand ed if l meant to keep up that funeral pace, but did not give me time to an swer, and thrust out his hand with Q re- volver clasped in it.
 "Get off that seatr he yelled. Twill drive myselfr
 "I saw he would not hesitate to shoot me, SO climbed down with alacrity when he advanced toward me, and, threaten ing me still with the pistol, made me get into the stage.
 "Do you know who amY he asked. Well, I'm the devil, and I'm going to drive you to he'll
 This speech and his looks, which were those of a lunatic, and dangerous one, too, in his excitement, told me the truth, and can tell you felt the icy sweat break over me, but l climbed meekly into the coach and watched the madman mount to my seat. l could only hope that he would still retain wit enough to drive slowly, but the first thing he did was to bring the lash down upon the horses with viciousness that made them start into frenzied run, and then the maddest, most terrible journey a man ever undertook began.
 "The stage spun along like a crazy top, the horses galloping wildly, spring ing wildly now and then to a cut from the shouting drivers whip, while, abso- lutely sick with terror, l had not strength to leap into the road, as l made up my mind to do time and again. would un' dnubtadlv hava heen killed at the rate at