The Van Buren press., 1895-05-18

myself. Well be all right ! never
had IN accident in my life. Why, last
week l had twelve people on board
two women an kid here In front, an
ono Of the front wheels rolled OF right
on this down-grade, an rolled hum
dred yards down the road. an we just
settled down kind O. comfortable like,
an never spilled person or broke q
screw. Oh, I'll get You through safe,
you can rest easy on that"
We were trotting along ct lively
rate, and glanced nervously at the
heavy axles hoped devoutly that the
wheels were secure.
Tennessee continued his talk with
the most nonchalant air, as II brakes
and wheels and things of that kind
were of minor consideration. This
house we are coming to Is the only
post office between Murphys an
Angels" he said. Mice little woman
keeps it-mighty sweet on me-plucky.
too, can tell you"
We drew up at the door, and kind
ly faced woman came out with the
mail bag. She gave us little nod OF
greeting and retreated modestly into
the doorway. Two or three tow
headed children peered out from BE-
hind her skirts at the stage people.
1.-THE school ma'am's going down this
morning." said the postmistress.
"We're pretty we'll loaded said
Tennessee. thought so, too, and
wondered where we would put the
schoolmistress; but Tennessee seemed
equal to any emergency. He started
| the horses.
Good morning to you. ma'am," he
called to the woman, and waited Q
kiss from the tips OF his fingers-pre-
sumably TO the children, but l thought
with intention to show us how he
managed those things with the ladies.
A few rods beyond we stopped, and a
sun burned girl came out.
Good morning." she called In q
fresh. clear voice; ''have you room for
me?"
.Oh, yes" answered the obliging
Tennessee; always room for one more.
Got any trunks?"
'Yes, two," and she glanced apol-
ogetically ut two enormous Saratogas
which stood just by the door. We won
dered where they would be put, but
Tennessee never hesitated. The trunks
were placed somewhere on the back
and our driver sprang nimbly into his
seat again. We started off on brisk
trot, and Tennessee launched forth In
string Of thrilling narrative.
''See that hole over there?' he said.
IA friend Of mine dug out three
thousand dollars In one day there. He
wants to sell the mine now. I'm the
agent. l tell you that get more OF
that sort OF thing than l can attend to.
Why, make more than four times my
wages just selling out claims Don't
want to buy claim, now, do youi
No? Well, here's something more In
teresting than claims--for q paying
business beats claims all hollow-that's
where was held up last time-robber
didn't get anything, though. That's
onct when he miscalculated."
looked about quickly. We were
now in dusty wilderness Of pine and
chaparral. Not sign of human habit
alton near. Tennessee saw my nervous
glance.
mighty lonesome looking now,
amt 1t? See them bullet holes In my
stage cover9 Them was put in when
we were attacked by six robbers over
here by Joaquin Murietta's old home.
felt my blood run cold. l had not
seen the bullet holes before. The timid
man gave vent to an audible "Ah!" and
| the others preserved an awestruck d.
lence.
why" continued Tennessee, ~
guess every stone an tree has hid Its
robber some time or other long here.
I've had fifteen or twenty hold-ups, an
that's nothing compared to some Of the
old timers"
do you think there is any danger
at this particular timer" inquired the
| timid man.
"Why, that's hard to tell" said Ten.
nessee, obviously. "It's just here
where we had that last hold-up two
months ago, an one Of the passengers
an two OF the robbers was killed. The
papers never got the straight Of that
You see, it was that hold-up that
showed me that the little widder post.
mistress was stuck on me.
| II was coming along here that day
had on Wells-Fargo shotgun messen.
ger and a lot OF passengers There
1 was about one hundred thousand dol
lars In bullion under the seat. an the
messenger held loaded gun in his
hand all the time. When we got Just
bout here, coming up the hill saw the
bushes move right there, an said,
kinder under my breath: 'Robbersl'
whipped out my pistol an the mes.
senger aimed his gun; but, Lordyl who
do you think It was? Why, the little
postmistress back there. We came
nigh shooting her. She looked fright
ened nigh TO death an was white as a
ghost.
Wont shoot, she said, kinder soft
like. -Four men are going to rob the
stage. heard them planning 1t. They
want to stop you before you git TO the
top Of the grade, but il you hurry
you'll git there first, an maybe can git
away on the down grade. Good-by,
and be quick and she got out Of sight
In twinkling. Done that for me, you
see. We never waited to thank her.
That's one thing l object to in these
here mountains-you've got TO sacrifice
politeness sometimes
well, l just gave my horses a cut
an they jumped forward. That plucky
little woman got out Of sight pretty