The Cairo bulletin., 1906-08-12
Over the Crescent Bend


Jake the driver, seemed bent on scar
ing the little man.
Were comm to the most dangerous
part of the road said Jake. 'Many's
the coach that's gone ovc ana down
into the creek fifty ieet below. The
road turns sharp around, and 1t slants
off little SOS the coach is sure to
swing to the edge unless YOU go slow.
Here we arc'
There was the turn, sure enough, but
instead OF slowing up che driver crack
ed his whip about his horses ears and
Went around at good speed. we on
the back seat gripped at what we
! could and held our breaths. The little
| man folded his arms ami bore the or
| deal without finching, After making
I the descent on the other side Of the bend
| Jake looked back at us and winked,
as much as to say. I'm scare him yet"
! We would have protested against any
/ more such attempts, t,ut feared that IL
( we showed fear the driver would be
4 melted TO still greater recklessness.
| We therefore held our pace.
| The driver persisted in taking the
| outer wheels of the coaeh within foot
! of the edge at every abyss and would
4 look back at us. winking Mt the little
/ man, who, however terrified he might
have been. managed TO keep from show
4 ing his terror once when one of us--a
! woman squeale1 at n lurch on the
very verge of hundred feet of sheer
4 precipice he looked back inquiringly.
/ The woman asked Jake to be more
careful, but Jake assured her that he
was driving his best and was not re-
/ sponsible for the condition of the road.
lie did not mend his ways and when
driving rapidly over a place where one
~hee was several feet above the other
he nearly upset the coach we all joined
/ IN a request that he W ould cease his
pranl,s.
1t may be that Jake rad little liz
uGT In him At any rate. his failure to
scare the little man and the effect of
his close shaves" on us irritated him.
lie grew Sulky and kept on driving
without respect to our comfort or safe
ty. Stones or ruts or mclineS only
seemed to move him to shake us to the
utmost. We men held orr pence, fear
ing that If we lrritated him further he
would upset the couch on purpose. An
inside passenger poked HIS head out
OF the window ana snapped
"What's the matter with the driver?
Is he drunk"
"Ill show you that he's sober
enough" Jake snarled, when we come
to the Crescent bend. where there's
straight fall Of 1000 feet.
Jake made the threat in such ma
icious tone that we were all in terror
at the prospect The little man beside
the driver. though he showed no sign
Of fear. we bel.eVd was more frlghten-
Cd than any Of US. for he made no pro
test Presently we came TO pitch in
the road requiring all drivers skill
and caution. down which Jake plunged
withos even applying the brake The
wsmen both outside and inside kept
up a continued shrleklng, and by the
time we reached the bottom Of the de,
cllvity one of those outside tainted.
: The little man looked around and ask
ed what was the matter There was
a babel Of voices. some swearing Mt
the driver. some beseechng him, all in
n tumult OF Indignation.
p DO l understand" said the little
man. that you object to this kind OF
drivmgT"
There was a universal shout that we
2 did.
why didn't You apply to ne? Driy-
er. you needn't do any more funny
business"
What kind Of a tenderfoot are You.
growled Jake, Ito interfere with the
driver Of this coach; CIT up
The next thing TO arrest our atten-
ton was the little man holding q re-
; volver nearly as biz as himself press
et. against Jake's left ear. Jake felt
the cold steel and made no movement
except To draw rein.
"Is this the Crescent bend were
coming to-" asked the little man.
Jake muttered that II was When
we reached point near the center oil
the bend coming TO a tree growing on
: the very verge Of the precipice. the ht
n tle man in the same soft voice he had
" used from the first directed Jake q
g come q full stop. 10 tie the reins "a
y the brake handle and 10 get down from
Z the box. The little msn got down AMER
d him. keeping the revolver in position
q and c-a reaching the road relieved JAKE
r Of revolver He then drove the rui
fan to the boot Of the coach ana or
dered him TO take out a rope.
o What Y goin' TO dog asked the Ter
rifed Jake.
d I'm going 20 show you how u leei'
r 10 dan4le over the cliff"
While the little man covered IN
driver he ordered one Of the passenger
70 fix the rope TO an overhangini
% branch. aud. tying the other end t.
t lakes belt. he drove him at the poin
Of the gun over the abyss. There III
srupr with 1000 feet OF atmosphere
befveen him and the creek below.
y How does it feelY" asked the llt'l'
n man.
- 1T makes me feel sick" said Jaie
- his face white as Chalk.
= Does it make you feel rerent1ntf'
= YES