The Van Buren press., 1895-05-18

week. Well, they started on the dead
rnn down the grade, and had TO drop
my pistol and hang on to the lines. !
tell you, we buzsed round them turns
sometimes two wheels standing on
thc grade to onct
when we reached tho bottom OF tho
hill down at the station, the old hoss
dropped dead. an the people on the
stage Just come up TO me a-crying an,
s-thanking mo for saving their lives,
an took on turruble. Lookl-at THAI
rockr he calculated. We gazed with
startled eyes In the direction indicated.
"Oh, I guess it's all right this time, but
I always expect to have . man step OUT
from behind that rock-dnest place TO
rob stage In the country. Two men
held me up there fifteen years ago,
when first began to drive here-didn't
get anything, though. Now we're
past Guess that's sigh Of relief,
amt 1t? This Is . mighty dangerous
country bout here, but guess I'll git
you through. ladies. Don't you fear.
II we get attacked, just sit still-keep
perfectly cool and cam, an you prob
ably won't git moro 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 l always feel glad
when pass this knoll. Joaquin Mu'
rietta held me up right here the first
month l was on the road. had five
miners on board, an they showed
fight, an they got the worst Of it, too.
l 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 warming. 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 ell exclaimed, shudderingly.
"Well, / guess we'll have to go on.
an pretty fast, too. The horses can't
hold back much on this down grade.
If we tufn over, ladies, I guess 1t will
he on my side, SO just be prepared to
swing yourselves OUT
Down we started. In few seconds
the horses were galloping, and a 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 us
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, 81
think l should have died of fright or
that dreadful road II it hadn't been fol
Tennessee"
"Yes, indeed" cried number two
''The very thought Of that brave mar
kept me calm, and l know II anyone
else had been driving, we would have
been killed surely. What q splendid
fellow he Isl"
"Just the kind of driver have al.
ways heard about" cried Dumbel
three.
"You could pick him out from 9
Thousand as a regular old stager," said
number four.
"He's the bravest man I've evel
seen," said number five.
Hes great, big-hearted, fine fel
low" said the timid man, land genu
inc hero, too I'm thankful we haG
such a competent man over that fear
full road"
Pardon me-" said tho little brown
schoolmistress, who had been a silen'
listener, "but think you are all mis-
taken. Tennessee isn't much of {
hero. He's only been in the state two
weeks, and to judge by his driving he
never saw stage before, and-well-
the postmistress is engaged to the shot
gun messenger, and all those robbery
stories he told you happened to FREQ
Green, who drove you down to Muir
phys this morning. Evidently Tennes
see thought something was expected
OF him, and proved himself equal Il
the occasion. San Francisco Argo
naut.