The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-09
AN
(NGeNUe
OF TIC
SleRRAS

We're care
lily ttinguished and Yuba Bill had just
,litel removed from the lips of an out
de Issenger even the cigar with which
e ha been ostentatiously exhibiting his
oolnss. For it had been rumored that
he Rnon Martinez gang of road agents
-ere&aying" for us on the second grade,
nd yuld time the passage OF our hghts
crof Gallopers in order to intercept us IN
he rush beyond. If we could cross the
idsyithout being seen, and so get through
he ush before they reached it, we We're
safelf they followed, it would only be "a
sterhase with the odds in our favor.
Tihuge vehicle swayed from side to
side, led, dipped and plunged, but Bill
kept track, as if, in the whispered words
OF expreSsman, he could feel and
smelae road he could no longer see. We
kne"at at times we hung perilously
over edge of slopes that eventually
Cropp 900 feet sheer to the tops OF the
susares below, but we knew that Bill
knew 50. The half visible heads of the
horsesiwn wedge-wise together by the
ughte,.eins, appeared to cleave the dark
hess !. ploughShare, held between his
rSld s. Even the hoof-beats OF the
SIN hohad fallen into Il vague, nonot-
onous'an roll. Then the ridge was
crossed we plunged into the still
black security of the brush.
halhefe no longer seemed TO
moves only the phantom night that
rushed us The horses might have
been s"ged in some swift Lethean
stream; ing but the top of the coach
ana the bulk of Yuba Bill arose above
Ihem. wen in that awful moment
our spees unSlackened; it was as If
blll car. longer to guide but only to
orl's, OFF the direction of this huge
machine determined by other hands
tndl MS incautious whisperer haz-
ardea .hNalyZing suggestion of our
netIils or team" TO our greas as
aoliSnlheh i'll overheard it; TO our
fIe"tgI dslment he replied: 1T nd
oe ohi1 uhnd neck race which would
get 10 iii ne said quietly. But we
Mert .IeneNar he had spoken. Almost
sllnuIi!taheoule wider turnpike began
~ KAY ~! the.y rs visible track be-
opened up ;dc rrees fell out of line,
another; we wropped off one after
out of danger,l the broader lakeland.
and unpursued. apparently unpercciyed
Nevertheless
broke out againhe conversation that
lamps and the the relighting of the
changed, Iuba Bat We're freely eX-
he'd and even reseIeserved IA dissatis-
generous praise orilence. The most
aWoke no response skill and courage
was just spin for exon the old man
disappointed. said 1t. and is feeiin
those who knew that)asSenger. But
hEhtcrS Scorn for any had the true
conflict We're more or Fly purDoselcss
Watchful OF him. He wtoncerncd and
or flN-n sl-iN- ct
KNITTED broWs. but eyes st. thou9htfully
ant under his slouched hAPn'y. observ-
'aXlng his strained attitu0 then, re-
way to moment of impa0uld give
amt uneasy about anytime. You
you! asked the eXprcSsman ctill, are
Bill lifted his eyes with santially.
tenptuouS surprise. Not ally con-
thing ter come. It's what hes any,
that l don exactly sabe. | dolpcned
signs of Ramon's gang ever ha,oe no
out at al, and es they were ont been
see why they didn't 90 for us. " 'on't
The simple fact is thar our rus,
lncce~sfu,' said att outside pa>s,as
hey waited To see our lights on the II.
snd. not seeing thom. missed us until
bad passed. That's Hly opinion"
Aou amt putin any price on that opl
on: ar YOU! inquired Bill, politely.
Cos thar's comic paper in Frisco M
or them things, and I've seen worse thin
Ii it. ''''''
Come off! Bill" retorted the nasscng,
lightly nettled By the tittering Of his ca,
,anions- Then what did You put out t
ighS fDr?'
Well" returned Bill, grimly 'ft mo
ave been because | didn't llcer TO rs
.ou chaps bIazin away at the first bush We Y,
hought you saw move in Your Skoer. \,
ringin down their fire on us.
The explanation, though unsatis tor
vas by no means an improbable one. m
We thought it better to accept il with
lugh. Bill. however. resumed his abstract,
manner.
Who got in at the Summit?" he at Ia
shed abruptly of the eXpressman.
Derrick and Simpson, of Cold Snrin
nd one of the Excelsior boys" respond,
De expreSSman.
And that Pike county girl from Dow
lat. with ire bundles. Don't forget her
dded the outside passenger. ironically.
Does anybody here know herr COZ
nued Bill. ignoring the irony
You'd better ask Judge Thompson: /
as mighty attentive 10 her; gettin' her
Eat by the off window, and lookin' after hi
indies and things
''Gettin' her Il seat by the window" r,
lated Bill.
Yes. she wanted to see everything. an
ASH afraid of the shooting"
Yes" broke in Il third passenger IAN
g was so ID civil that when she droppc
er ring i'll the straw, he struck a mate
gin all your rules, you know, and held
,r her to find il. And it was Just as w
ere crossin though the brush, too. | SAY
lie hull thing through the window, for
as hanging over the wheels with nv glu
lady t0i action. And it wasn't no faul
Judge Thompson's if his id foolIshnes
idnt shown us I'D. and got US a shot from
q caug'
By gave q short grunt-but drove stead
: @n without further comment or ever
rning his eyes 20 the speaker.
We We're now not more than Il mile from
e station at the cross roads. where W.
ere TO change horses. The lights already
IN the distance. and there was \
int suggestion Of the coming dawn on the
minits of the ridge to the west. We had
lnged into a belt of timber, when sud
My n horseman emerged at Il sharp can.
from a trail that seemed to be parallel
tn our own. We were all slightly started
Iba Bill alone preserving his moody calm
Hullo?' he said.
The stranger wheeled TO our side as Bill
ckened his speed. He seemed to be a
acker'' or freight muletecr
'Te didn't get held up on the Divide 2"
ltinued Bill. cheerf,!lly.
No." returned the packer. with laugh: