The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-08-09

Ing, Will awaken me. with the cold per
splration flowing from my body, and
say, Dreaming again of your stage
coach fright, aren't your And yet |
1atter myself that 1 am not more cow
ardly than most men,"
The company insisted on the story.
1t was given, as follows:
"As most Of you know, my fathers
death followed close on the heels Of his
failure In business, leaving me, his son
and only surviving member of his fam
lily, without penny. | left college; but,
wholly untitled for any work, ! found
myself on the verge Of starvation, SO |
left Philadelphia and started west,
turned up finally In Virginia City. |
was pretty desperate 10y this time and
glad enough TO accept nm offer made
me to drive the stage to Sacramento.
Ii was not II long drive nor an unpleas-
ant one, though In parts rather danger
Gus or at least requiring careful driv-
ing and steady horses.
IL had made several trips very sue
ceSsfully. when one morning left Nir-
ginia City with single passenger.
This was man OF slight delicate
build. rather understood, too; dressed
I'm heavy clothes, which struck me at
once as peculiar. for the day was n
lovely June one. Another thing i'm
pressed me disagreoably I'm my passcn-
ger-hs eyes were n bright. unnatural
blue. with something in their furtive
glance that spoke i'll for his conscience
or his wits. though did not think OF
the latter then.
at was a very unusual thing for the
stage to carry so light load, and |
found myself lingering few minutes
behind time 10 see IL more were not
coming. for | had vague dislike
which must have been prcsentiment
against setting Off alone with my queer
passenger. There was nothing for IL.
though. but TO go. so | started, hoping
TO pick up others on the road. | did
not, however. and gradually | lost my
depression, though II was lonely ride
without any one TO speak TO, for, unlike
most people who patronzed the line,
the man showed no disposition 20 talk
or 10 question the driver, SO after one
or two attempts TO draw him out let
my gentleman alone.
"~Ster awhile. however, he began 10
complain aloud. though to himself, at
my management OF the horses, but
took no notice OF his Crowlng, We had
10y that time reached the mountains
and entered on n narrow strip Of road
along the brow of canyon. at the bot
tom OF which cleaned n tiny thread
OF silver. which knew 10 be the river.
IL was sheer descent of 200 feet, and
usually checked the horses at that
part OF the Journey. | had done this,
when my passenger stuck his head ont
Of the window and demanded II
meant TO keep mp that funeral pace, but
did not give me time to answer, and
thrust out his hand with revolver
clasped In Il.
"'Get of that seat he yelled. I will
drive myself
81 saw no would not hesitate 20 shoot
me. So climbed down with alacrity,
when he advanced toward me and.
threatening me still with the pistol,
uldht lNt AtA llllo Allt NtuAts
"'Do you know who amp he asked
We'll I'm the devil. and I'm going 20
drive YOU to hell
"Thls speech and his looks, which
were those OF a lunatic. and danger
GUS one. too. In his excitement. told me
the truth. and can tell you | felt the
Icy sweat break over me. but climbed
mCckly into the coach and watched the
madman mount To my seat. could ON
ly hope that he would still retain wit
enough TO drive slowly. but the frSt
thing he did was To bring the lash down
upon the horses with viclousness that
made them start into frenzicd run.
and then the maddcst. most terrible
journey man ever undertook began.
"The stage spun along like crazy
top, the horses galloping wildly. spring
Ing wildly now and then 60 cut from
the shouting drivers whip. while. abso-
lutely sick with terrier. had not
strength TO leap into the road. as l
made up my mind 90 10 time andagaln.
would undoubtedly have been killed
at the rate at which we were going.
and IL was the bare shred Of hope,