Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-08-27
CHAPTER XXIII.

| to reach Charleston before the boat IN
| which Rosa was to sail should leave the
| landing. Suddenly he remembered that
| the express train left Augusta about four
o'clock p. IN. 1t was now ten, and he
could easily reach it in time for the cars,
provided there had been no change in
the time table. To ascertain this, there
| fore, he fastened to the depot, where,
| to his dsmay, he learned that the train
left Augusta at two.
But with him to will was to do. Fly
ing rather than walking back to his
house, he called out Bill, his coachman,
startling him with the inquiry as to
whether it would be possible, with his
best horses-a span of beautiful dappled
yrays, which were valued at a thousand
dollars--to drive to Augusta in less than
four hours.
Besides being naturally lazy and I'M
willing for exertion of any kind, Bill was
also remarkably tender Of said grays,
who were his pride, and whom he had
named Fred and Ferd. On hearing his
masters inquiry, therefore, he looked
perfectly aghast, and diving both hands
into his matted wool, by way of illustra-
ton undoubtedly, replied, Mighty tough
scratchin' l can tell you mars'r. Them
ponies hain't been driv, only what I've
ex'cissd 'em for health, for better'n
month, and to run EN- as I'd hev to run
EN-, would kill 'em stone dead. No,
mars'r, can't think ont for q mint" and
rs If this were conclusive, and his word
the law, Bill stuffed his hands into his
bagging trousers, and was walking quiet
| ly away, when Mr.. Delafeld stopped
him, saying, II shall try 1t at all events.
SO get out the carriage Immediately, and
mind you are not over five minutes do
ing it. Ask some one to help you if nee
essary. Ho Jackr' he called to rag
ged mulatto boy who was doing nothing,
and babe him assist Bill in Harvesting
the horses.
Rolling his white eyes in utter aston
ishment at what seemed to him the folly
of his master, Bill began to expostulate,
Marsh, you kill" .tu al..
"Silence, and do as l bid your said
Mr.. Delafield in tone which Bill
thought best to obey, and saurtering off
to the stables, he brought out the ponies,
who pranced and paved the ground,
while he admired their te-Ass uanes
and smooth, shining coats.
Mr.. Delafield hastily packed a few
articles in his portmsnteau. wrote IA line
to his sister, and came out to superin-
tend in person the movements of his SER
want, whose peculiarities he perfectly
understood. He ordered him to start up,
and entered the carriage, while Bill
mounted the box, where he spent quite
awhile in comfortably disposing of his
long, lank limbs and In adjusting his
palm-leaf lat.
go on, you rascal" shouted Mr.. Della
field, beginning to lose his temper; and
gathering up the reins, Bill whis;led to
the spirited animals, who dashed off at
far greater speed than their driver
thought was at all conducive to their
well being.
Hold on dar, Ferd! Stop dat foolin',
will you, Fred! Easy dar, both on you,
: for you come mighty nigh histin' me off
de box"
: This last was said quite loud for the
benefit of Mr. Delaheld, who, perceiv;ng
that their speed had slackened, for they
7 were well trained and readily Obeyed
4. Bills voice, called out, "prive faster,
] tell you. Give them the ribbons, and
let them run"
5 The horses started forward as IL g
+ voley of artillery had been fired Mt theil
: heels, while mingled with the roll of the
e wheels Mr.. DelaGeld heard the distress
ed Bill saying, whoa, dar, Ferdinand
, can't you whoa when tell you? Come
T. Frederic, you set him Example. That''
e n good boy; no 'casion for all dis hurry
g If we misses one train we catches an
$ other. All de same thing, We aim
: chasn' a runaway gal, as knows Of"
| After little he succeeded in stopping
d them, and for the next ten or fifteen min
e utes they proceeded ON rather leisurely
It and Bill was beginning to think his mas
/ ter had come tn his senses, when he wa
h startled with the stern command, lie
e, them run now as fast as they will. Don
check them AT all until we reach III
depot"
he Accordingly, for a mile or so the horse
l rushed on at headlons speed, Bill syn
s pathizng with them deeply, and menta
s. ly promising himself TO tend 'em might
ID keerful to pay for this."
IS, At last. when he thought il safe to d
Of so, he held them in, taking the prccar
II ton, however, to Soy aloud, Get allen
Id dar, Ferd your lazy tricks her
"a when mars'r'S IN sich hurry. Can