New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20
THE CHRISTMAS STAGE.
AN EXPERIENCE WITH ROAD AGENTS.

haated houses not quite so overwarm as Is their
,.o,t Bu. such cold as the Northwest encoun-
,ers on the prairie. when the Thermometer mas
frozen at forty degrees below zero. ana men
cease TO reckon the increased iciness OF the at
mosphere.
The Bismarck stage. during the winter
season that long-ago year. mace nut one
weekly tourney to Zenith CITY, ana was
due az It's destination on Christmas Eve 'oh-
nor. the driver, possessed an endurance adnlreo
,,rouch al, the frontier and a reverence for cer-
tain ancient customs unsupported by MS closest
,nt;mates. Among the dugouts Of the yeariing
town and the infant Fort Fletcher It's neighoor'
10 knew that his arrival was anticipated with
,,a s,ck longing that exiles feel for tokens from
the distant homes where they fam would be-
And he intended TO arrive promptly for the sake
q. n package tucked into his safest pocket.
package on which an old lady down in Vermont
had written shakily. ITO be opened on Christ
mas morning
But 20 the ranchman. his host Of the previous
night who prophesied blizzard, ne uttered this
Intention. minus sentiment:
There will be no blizzard unless the wind
changes" he said decisvely. We've got TO
passengers to kick about freezing their noses.
Ne and Morris have contracted to deliver our
.o,ss tonight, and IL we don't do 1t you may
,,,s f,r us in a drift somewhere between here
- the town when the job takes your fancy"
Norris the express messenger, who was new to
me frontier grinned enthusiastic assent The
-anchman declared grufiiy that Conner trusted
TOO much in his luck, and pressed upon them the
loan OF an extra buffalo robe each.
They set forth The road was not bad. judged
nv prairie rnidwnter standards. The sky was a
eawless sapphire and the icy air. which whit
gv,,, haye
was forbidden access 20 any feature Of these
professional voyagers except their well-trained
eyes They had journey OF six hours before
then, without change of horses. but Common
opned that with his cattle feeling as prime as
they did. he might cut the record down TO five.
Upon which Morris exclaimed that il would
be pity shorten such a glorious sieieh-ride'
Conner. however. vouchsafed no reply to TINS
ignorant hardiho)d except glance. when !"
was fortunate that his fur collar intercepted
as It conveyed a rebuke yet more scathing to
youthful high spirits than Talleyrands famous
point de zele
They had been three hours on the way when
about noon, the messenger suggested that ne
would walk half mile TO warm himself plt.
Waste time. and the wind IS changing, Con-
nor answered briefly. and Morris was aware OF
q sudden tbunp at his heart. But he sought
nutely TO disregard il by humping MS emil
hands.
An hour later Morris produced whiskey-
flask. which his companion briskly snatched
from his grasp
Not II know IT," he said grimly
II am near frozen"
You would be past thawing when we get to
me town II let you swallow this stuff now.
lad Conner added with a gigantic slap on the
messengers bowed shoulders; Il amt a tenn
perance teacher. I'll share more drinks with
you than you can stand up for within two
hours"
But
But don. propose To drive into Zenith City
sitting beside corpse-it would kind of spoil
my Christmas dinner" Common asserted, and
Morris was silent.
silence which the other ended by shaking
him roughly.
Wake up he exclaimed. You are forget
ting my last remark"
There was only an indistinct murmur
Conner drew in his horses.
Cit down. you young fool" he roared. You
are bound 10 have that tramp anyhow.
Then as Morris scrambled to his feet half
ss.eep he ordered him again to descend.
''Rur hundred yards or So If you
sprinting." Re commanded
Stumblinsly Morris obeyed at first. but as the
stagnant blood atirred in his veins with the en-
forced motion his pace increased. A quarter Of
mile further on ne overlook the stage al
ing speed.
That is better Connor said cheerily. Nor
ris prepared climb back to his place. NO.
you don't come up here. I'm tired keeping one
eye on you when I want both for the scenery.
Just take these robes OF yours. and crawl in
side among them mabags. You will need more
eff nd r
reckon on getting 10 town within that limit"
stage driver is as absolute sovereign
ships captain. and travel was resumed upon
these prescribed conditions
Some time elapsed. a mass OF clouds had
risen in the west. through which the sun
cleaned fiery ball that Knocked the cold. while
a ftful wind promised fulilment Of the ranch
mans prophesied blizzard.
The ponderous sleigh scraped and creaked 10
the TOP OF slight ascent. which dipped into a
"coole" whose further side higher and
sleeper Down the first declivity the horses
rushed. and midway Common set his teeth with
a mighty oath.
There. in the narrow bottom Of the "coolie"
on either side Of a space worn between snow
drifts and called the road. stood two tall fig
ures holding levelled pistols.
The stage was trapped. and Conner pulled up
his horses promptly.
You chose your day luckier than seemed
probable from the weather" he said. gazing
keeny at what little was visible OF his much
muffled assailants as they drew nearer. I'm
rather prejudiced against killing a fellow-creat-
ure Christmas Eve II can anyways avoid
IT,"
Something that sounded like derisive laugh
issued from the fur collar Of one OF the high
waynen.
You planned the killing to be on your side.
eh?'
Conner continued slowly: well. I'm a dead