Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-04-13
In the SachecO Pass.

ob viz - hOsSA VI 'Na' -
Jehu on the Visalia road.
Nothing of any account" was
the rather curt reply.
Nothing" echoed the other II
heard you were held up at the pass"
"Who told you anything about
it?"
"Why, heard one of the passen-
gers say that you saved great deal
of trouble and annoyance by your
quiet behavior and prompt surrender
of the strong box. Why didn't you
fght?"
"Look here, Edwards" exclaimed
Charley, with gleam i'll his eye
which BODIED no good to his inter
rogator, "did you ever look into three
rifle barrels at once, and know and
feel that a finger was on every triS-
ger, and that if you did not do as
requested Immediately your soul
would be travelling up the flume be-
fore you could rise to explain?"
well, no, never had as close
call as that in my life," was
Edwards reply.
"Then you don't comprehend the
position. You know | am no cow
ard, and I'll dare any one to insinu-
ate that | did not act for the best
interests of every one last night.
1t is not bravery to risk the lives of
women and babies in lost cause,
as mine was Just think, boys, il
any harm had come to those three
babies and two little fellows and
their mothers! | can't tell you how
many times ] boasted of what |
would do if the road agents ever got
after me. was going to wipe out
the whole gang and cover myself
with glory. But the affair did not
come off that way. was as meek
as kitten tapping new milk, and
just did nothing at all"
"Tell us all about it, Charley"
And group of half IA dozen or more
gathered around him.
"Well, boys, it was about two
o'clock this morning when was
coming along through the Sacheco
Pass, and had got around the Great
Bend and was beginning to climb
the heavy grade. The road is very
narrow, with steep rock on one side
and a deep gulch on the other
ticklish place in daytime; but my
horses are so used to it I'd trust them
alone on the darkest night-especi-
! ally with Bob and Set as leaders,
There were no outside passengers,
and only women and babies inside,
and they were all asleep, ! reckon,
for had not heard baby cry since
early in the evening.
"That place is where ] take my
forty winks of sleep, the only rest |
get on the trip. The leaders know
my habit, and they had begun to
sneak along, the lazy villains, leav-
ing the wheelers to do all the work.
I had forgotten myself, may be.
about a minute, when the coach
stopped short. | opened my eyes
and looked out over my collar.
"'Hello! Charley, don't move; it's
not at all necessary called out "A
voice from below, just as a rock was
set against the wheel to keep the
coach from running back. i am
full of remorse for having to trouble
you, my boy, but ] think you can
get up the grade better if | carry
the Wells Fargo box for you
"Imagine my feelings! Here
were the gentlemen of the road
whom ! had long expected, and
was not prepared to receive them
l looked into the muzzles of three
long rifles held by men who stood
on a rock nearly even with the tor
of the coach. The CHEEKY spokes.
man stood on the road below.
" well! gasped, as compre-
hended my situatian.
"'All's well, Charley, if you are
sensible and expeditions. I've often
heard you were jolly good fellow
and should be pleased to meet you
more openly and under less restric.
tive conditions; but time is short
and Ill be obliged to you if you
will give me the express box, ol
; you understand and the guns
seemed in the dim light to move
nearer to my hoad.
"'That MEANS ! said dryly, that
you will take it anyway
Exactly, and will not be re-
sponsible for what may happen,
was the reply.
! Boys, / lived u whole lifetime
i'm the half minute | took to reach
down after that ironbound box
) The case was hopeless; it was tina,
or instant death. The firing would
| n Al Il .Cl