The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-25


bottom. The latter was either quite
dry or in raging flood. Close under the
hill huddled two buildings, half logs
half mud. There the horses were
changed by strange men with steel
glints in their eyes, like those you see
under the bTOWs Of a north-country
tugboat captain. Passengers could
there eat f1apjacks INTELLECTUALLY war
ranted to hold together against the
most vigorous attack of the gastric
juices, and drink green tea that tasted
of tannin and really demanded for its
proper accommodation porcelain-lined
insides. 1t was not an inspiring trip.
once a tenderfoot came through in the
fall of the year. simply for love of
adventure. He got it.
Driver" said he to Billy, as the
brakes were set for another plunge,
were you ever held up2"
Billy had been deluged with ques-
tions like this for the last two hours.
IIsuaIly he looked straight in front of
him. spat accurately between the tail
OF the wheeI-horse and the whiffietree.
and answered in monosyIIabIes. The
teRderfOOt did not know that asking
questions was not the way to induce
Billy to talk.
Held up?" replied Billy, with scorn.
Young Teller, 1 was held UP thirty
seven times in the last year"
f'ThUnderationr exclaimed the ten
derfoot What do you do? Do you
have much trouble getting away?
Have YOU had much fighting?'
Fight nothin'. I amt hired to fight
I'm hired TO drive stage"
And you just let them go through
yCu?" cried the tenderfoOt
Billy was stung by the contempt in
the strangers tone
Go through nothin'." he explained
They isn't touchin' me none what
ever. Put her down fer argument that
I'm damn fool enough to sprinkle lead
round some and that / gets away.
What happens? Mex time I drives
sta &c some of these yere agents mas
sacTees me from behind a bush. Whar
do I come in? Nary bit! He's the fell
Ter hired TO fight" jerking his thumb
backward
The tenderfoot now understood the
silent, grim man who. unapproachabIe
and solitary. had alone occupied the
seat on top Of the stage. Looking with
more curiosity. tenderfoot observed a
shotgun with abnOrmdlly short barrels
slung in two brass clips along the back
Of the seat in front of the messenger
The usual .revOlveTs, too, were secured.
instead Of by the regulation holsters
IN brass clips riveted to the belt so
that in case of necessity they could be
SEaNGfLGu IfCC VIII OttG 1ti y al u sweep
of the arm. The man met his gaze
keenly.
Them Hills amt fur now" vouch-
safed Billy, as a cold breeze from the
west lifted the limp brim of his hat,
and film OF cloud drew with uncanny
and silent rapidity across the stars.
The tenderfoot had turned again TO
look at the messenger, when the stage
came to a stop so violently as almost
70 H4r., Ia E,5--
foot braced against the brake, was en-
gagged i'm leisurely winding the reins
around it.
Hands UP. I sayr' cried a sharp
voice from the darkness ahead.
'Meanin' you" observed Billy to the
tenderfoot, at the same time thrusting
mis- own over his head and settling
down comfortably on the small Of his
back 'Time." he called facetiously to
the darkness.
As though at the signal the night
split with the roar of buckshot. and
sDIintered with the answering cackIe
of Il six-shooter three times repeated
The screech of the brake had deceived
the messenger of the whereabouts Of
the voice. He had jumped to the
ground on the wrong side of the stage
thus finding himself without protection
against his opponent who firing at
the fash of the shotgun, had brought
him to the ground.
The road agent stepped confidently
forward. Billy" said he, pleasantly,
lest pitch me that box
Billy climbed over the seat and
dropped heavy iron bound case to
the ground. DANCED if 1 thinks any
body kin git Buck. thar" he remarked.
in thoughtful reference to the messen-
ger.
Nov. drive on" commanded the
road agent.
Three hours later Billy and the So
bsred tenderfoot pulled into Deadwood. /
Ten minutes taught the camp what
had occurred.
Now, it must be promised that Dead
wood had recently chosen a sheriff. I
He did not look much like q sheriff, /
for he was small and weak and bald
and most childlike as 20 expression of
countenance. But when I tell you that
his name was Alfred YOU VIII know
that il was all right.
How many is they?' he asked of /
Billy.