San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-04-28

less on MS words until ne nad the
morsel well rolled into his cheek.
THE first glimpse they caught of us
they jumped behind trees an called
'Haltr but we were on the brow of the
hill, an / was prepared. I'd fastened
the rens round my waist, an guided
with one hand, while used the other
for my six-shooter. The messenger
shouted: Let her gor 1t was just
here, ladies-we left two men stretched
out. killed two robbers and wounded
another. The shooting scared the
horses, or think I'd have finished all
four. That burned messeDger-ex-cuse
ms-was SO scared that he shot one OF
my horses. Not used to the biz, you
see OF course the horses stampeded--
it's bad enough TO hear the firing with
out being peppered by an unrespon-
sible man who is frightened into next
week. Well, they started on the dead
run down the grade, and ! had to drop
my pistol and hang on to the lines.
tell you, we buzzed round them turns
sometimes two wheels standing of
the grade to onct.
when we reached the bottom Of the
hill down at the station, the old boss
dropped dead, an the people on the
stage just come up to me a-crying an
a-thanking me for saving their lives,
an took ON turruble. Looki-at that
rockr he calculated. We gazed with
startled eyes in the direction indicated.
'NOh, guess it's all right this time, but
I always expect to have man step out
from behind that rock-fnest place to
rob stage in the country. Two men
held me up there fifteen years ago,
when l finst began to drive here-didn't
get anything, though Now we're
past Guess that's sigh of relief,
amt it? This is a mighty dangerous
country bout here, but guess I'll git
you through, ladies. Don't you fear.
If we get attacked, just sit still-keep
perfectly cool and CAIN, an you prob
ably won't git more than two or three
scattering shots"
We were all well frightened by this
time. The little schoolmistress on the
back seat held her peace, but the rest
of us were looking about nervously and
trusting our lives to this wonderful
Tennessee. The pretty widow was no
longer naughty and distant, but at
every noise in the brush grasped the
arm of the brawny driver and looked
appealingly into his face.
Now, ladies, when we start down
this mountain we are on the home
stretch to Angels. 1 always feel glad
when pass this knoll. joaquin Mu-
rietta held me up right here the first
month was on the road l had five
miners on board, an they showed
fight, an they got the worst of it, too.
just held my horses an kept cool. In
discretion is no kind of valor, you
know. Well, Murietta strung up
every one of them five miners to tree
and told me to go into Angels an say
that Tennessee was the only man about
with any sense, an for other people to
take warning. That's the old tree
over there, an there's the ropes yet
See them right there?''
''Oh, do drive ON fast-do drive on"
we all exclaimed, shudderingly.
well, l guess we'll have to go on,
an pretty fast, too. The horses can't
hold back much on this down grade.
If we turn over, ladies, l guess it will
be on my side, SO just be prepared to
swing yourselves out"
Down we started. In few seconds
the horses were galloping, and few
seconds more they were running. Five
badly frightened people hung on in
desperation to the seats, and the pretty
widow hung to the arm of Tennessee
His feet were braced against the dash
board and his body was stiffened out
as he hung on the taut lines. Swing
ing, humping, pitching, we careened
down the long hill and went tearing
into the little mining camp of Angels
We drew up with flourish at the
door of the primitive hotel, and fairly
fell into the arms of Tennessee, who
had sprung to the ground to receive u.s.
Six thankful, admiring people stood
in the tiny hotel pa rlor awaiting the
next stage and driver. The little brown
schoolmistress was there too.
Why" said the little widow, Il
think l should have died of fright on
that dreadful road il It hadn't been for
Tennessee"
Eyes, indeed" cried number two
1.-The very thought Of that brave man
kept me calm, and I know if anyone
else had been driving, we would have
been killed surely. What a splendid
fellow he ISL
Just the kind OF a driver l have al
ways heard about cried plumber
three.
You could pick him out from q
thousand as regular old stager," said
number four
He's the bravest man I've ever
SEEM" said number five.
Hes great, big-hearted, fine fell
low, ~. said the timid man, and genu-
inc hero, TOO. I'm thankful we had
such competent man over that fear
full road"
Pardon me" said the little brown
schoolmistress, who had been a silent
listener, but think you are all mis-
taken. Tennessee isn't much of a
hero. He's only been in the state two
weeks, and to judge by his driving he
never saw a stage before, and-well-