Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-29
CilApTEN [.

bulk of the vehicle, sWaying noisclossly on its
straps, glided onward and upward as ii obey
ing some mysterious impulse from behind, 80
faint and indefinite appeared its relations, to
the vicwlcsS an1 silent l-rs,s ahead. The
shadowy trunks OF tall trees, that seemed to
rppfuarh the coach windows, look in, and
tim move hurricUy away, were the only
uiStincuishaUlc objects. Y ct oven these were
so vague and unreal that they might have
been the mere phantoms of some dream of
the half sleeping passengers. lor the thichlN.
srcWu needles OF the pine, that chokod the
way and dcadoncd all sound, yielded under
the silently crushing wheel, a faint sopowlic
olor that seemed to hcnumb their sclscs,
already slipping back into mconsriou>rcss
during the long ascent. Suddenly the Stage
stopped.
Three of the -four passengers inside strug
glcd at once into upr- lat wakciuncsS. The
fourth passenger. john Hale, had not been
sleeping, and turned inpationtlv toward the
window. II seemed to him that two Of the
moving trcos had suddenly become mJtion-
los, outside. One of them moved again, and
the door opened quickly but quietly, as of it
self
cit down." said voice in the darkness
Al the passengers except Hale started.
TIL man next TO him moved his right hand
suddenly behind nm, but as quickly stopped.
Nn'"t the motlonIcSN trees had apparently
closed upon the vehicle, and what had seemed
tn b, a hou.h projecting from it ut right
angles chang q slowly mi" the iaih''N Nn'n-
M d""'' barrels 'l a gun III Inc W"l'""'
prop thi't' sald the N"lc'.
ll' llah VINO had moved uttered snort
laugh and returned his hand empty to his
har~. Ihe Two others pcrceptihIy shrugged
laeir shoulders as over game that was lost.
Inc remaining passenger '"hl llile' l'aiI'S7
lN nature inexperienced ny h"ht aWaklhs
suddenly to the TRUTH "onrrivcda desperate
resistance. But without his m%4'hlS Ecs-
tli' inns was lhs'h'uNcIS l't 10y Inc OFFERS
the mnzzle of the gun turned spontaneously
on HIM. and he was vaguely conscious OF
certain contempt and lmpatlenc' OF nm IN
In companions
"tit down. repeated the voice lmpela-
tio'iy.
Th" three passengers deN'enied liale'
furious, alert, hut helpless ot any opportu-
nit- followed. lie was surprised to ind the
stage driver and express messenger standing
beside hnn, hc had not heard them dlNhount.
ii" ln~thctNclN lo"Ncd toward the horses.
lie could see nothing.
Hold up your hands,
One Of the passengers had already lifted
his. in a weary lorfunctory way Tie others
d'd the Same reluctantly and awkWardly,
hui apparently more from the Consciousness
Of the righteousness Of their attitude than
from any sense Of danger Tho rays of Il
bull, eye lantern. DEITY managed 10y in
visible hands, while ii iclt the htruders in
shadow, completely illuminated the faces and
figures of the passengers. In spite of the
majestic obacurity and silence OF surround
ing nature the group OF humanity thus IL
Eliminated was more iarccai than dramatic
y scrap OF newspaper part OF "a sandwich,
all" an orange peer tha' mat 1aiieh from The
h'or of the 'oa'N' brought liito equal prom
lu'nce by the searching HSht' completed the
ab'urdlty
"Iherr Is man here with paok ase Of
greonhack', Fai' voice. "llh an Official
GOODNESS that lent certain suggestion Of
custom house inspection to the transaction;
soho IS IT." Tire passengers looked at each
o'Aor and their glance finally settled on
Hale.
III not him. continued Inc Vo!'"' Wlth
Slight tnl@e OF contempt on 'h' emphasis
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