Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-06-12
OLD DRIVERS STORY.

Yes, / can tell some strange stories
and they are true ones, too. A goot
many OF the tales to which you lister
are made up expressly for the occa
sion, and originate from the imagin
alton alone. But mine are facts, ano
DOT overdrawn IN the least
A man who Is constantly carrying
money, and often large sums, gener
orally has some adventures in the
space OF score OF years-Just the
time ! drove the stage from New
Brunswick to Mountain Creek, a dis
tance Of fifteen miles 1t was ther
as wild and lonely road as Is OTTER
found, though since that time 1t ha:
been wonderfully improved; the wood
lands have been cleared. and substan
tial farmhouses erected along the
\ ghway.
But suppose you want me to get
down to the story, instead Of giving
general descriptions Of tho old stage
route. do not like to tell il, for II
may seem 10 some like Casting unjust
susI iclons upon man against whom
nothing deflnite was ever proven.
Yet l am convinced in my own mind
of his intentions, although he did not
succeed In carrying them out
There came stranger to the vii.
lage OF New Brunswick by the name
of Edward Marston, very slick ap-
pearing fellow who made frienas with
nearly everybody. 1t was never quite
Just known where he came from. and
no one seemed to know where h
went to when he left; for he dsap
peared as suddenly as he came. He
had wife and one child, as sweet a
little gi as ever lived, and whom
everybody loved. His wife was a
Iale, sad looking woman, who seldom
was Sc n outside her home; she
seemed to love nothing In the world
save little Netta. the child.
Just how Marston obtained his l.v.
ing was mystery, for he had 20 visi-
bic means of support He claimed
to be doing business for some insur-
ance firm, yet 1t was quite certain
that he did not receive SUFFICIENT
compensation from this alone to OBJ
tain livelihood. He sometimes Ief,
town for few days at a time and
sometimes received letters from other
localities: but these facts were not
sufficient to prove that his statements
were true, although but few doubted
shem At the time.
His glib tongue and familiar way OF
addressing people gained him many
admirers while they repelled few
who were more discerning and eau.
tious. I was among the latter class,
and this fact alone, I believe, saved
me from being robbed and perhap;
murdered.
The fellow lived very near to INV
own residence-so near that he could
keep watch OF all my movements;
while In turn kept my eyes upon
him. / think he mistrusted how
matters stood. and so tried in a
variety OF ways to win my confidence.
But he never succee led, for l had
come In contact too much with hu
manity to be easily deceived. Yet
treated my ne e'ghbor as kindly as J
lid any one else.
Thus matters went on for some
time He occasionally rode tU Mount.
ain Creek with me, although fol
what purpose I never knew posi-.
lively.
There was a bank IN both New
brunswick and Mountain Creek, and
1t frequently happened that large
sums OF moasy were sent from one to
the other in my care I did not
hesitate to take these packages being
generally well paid for IL; was then
young aud strong. with an unlimited
amount OF confidence IN my own
streng tn and shrewdness in emersen.
cieS 1t was well that did have
this egotism. II IL may be thus called,
for 1t saved me vast amount OF fret
and worry.
1 drove two strong horses that i
had under perfect control: / could
govern them by words alone when
necessary. 1t did not need the touch
OF whip to increase their pace or j
pull at the rcins to stop them OF
check their speed; word from me
would do this at all times ! could
start them into lively trot bT merely
stamping my feet upon the step of
the wagon seat / believe those
hoses understood ue and my moods
as well as human beings understand
each other
About tho village of Mountain
Geek there We large tracts Of fine
woodland covered with p.ne, hem.
look, and chestnut; and as railroad
was to be built up the valley, many
farmers and Others who mad money
10 spa e bought up the land, expect
Ing to double their money In the near
futu c. There were q few wealthy
men In New b un wick, as 1t was an
older town than Mountain Creek,
aud several OF these purchased lots
In the 'other valley" as 1t was often
called. This Of Use necessitxted a
transfer Of large sums Of money from
my own town to Mountain Creek, aud
I nearly always did this responsible
business
1 have forgotten to mention that
,wned large bull dog that often &C!
sompanied me upon my trips over the
mountains and he too was under per-
feet control He never molested peo-
pie unless they were upon forbidden
Zrourd, and then he was terror.
lie did not like Marston; / am Of the
opinion that the fellow often sneaked
lbout my premises when he should
have been somewhere else. Ofcourss
yhis Is only guess W Jrk; but for some
reason old Bruce disliked our smooth
tonsucd neiRhbor although Marsto1 I
tried repeatedly 10 make friends With
him.
When I was carrying more mono,
shan usual took old Bruce with me
avery trip, and he generally rode BY
my side upon the outside Of the
coach.
II Yas toward the end af QeQaR