Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-08-08

devils! And don't take eternity fo' it.
eitheh," the driver answered grimly,
and spent the short moment exanlin-
ing each poor animal that would that
day be martyred to the race.
.Yo' posy's brought one piece of
luck, Stella" he said as he mounted
again. It's raining oveh there on
them Placervflle feilehs."
Stella looked south to the black
clouds overhanging high SUBMITS, and
hoped that Uncle Billy himself could
outdrive the storm that was roaring
northward. They flashed by a toll
gate, the driver sending flying greet
ing to the gatekeeper.
Stella drew a breath of relief for
the horses as they looked into fair
Summit valley, a green gem set in the
midst of barren rock and perpetual
snow, its smooth level the only re-
minder of the lake it had supplanted.
Fresh horses at Tinker's, and on
sgain.
Ever seen Mr.. Holidays palace
travelling coach?" Mr.. Montague asked
Uncle Billy a little later.
No, sab; but I've heard of it. What
does it look like?"
It's luxury on wheels; bullet-proof,
with kitchen, dining room and bed
room; all furnished gilt edged and
sporting a chef"
A long whistle was the only answer,
for they had rounded a point and were
looking out upon Bonner lake, 5000
feet below.
To-day no luxurious passenger
speeding fast asleep through 40 miles
of snow sheds may know the mag
nificence of that vision, the splendor
of that morning fight down the zig
tagging sleeps mile and a half
as the crow flies, and but three miles
over the crooked wagon road, to the
beautiful blue lake that mirrors alike
heaven and tragedy. The way was too
steep and tortuous for speed; yet the
horses kept their steady gallop, the
coach pressing hard upon them; and
now and again the wheels on one side
or the other whirled high in air as
they swung around some sharp point
or into clasping gorge.
Past tremendous reaches of dark
| forest. Over long stretches of rock
yet unclothed by nature. Rafting
| across torrent-cut gorges, over earth
fills" through narrow cuts. Ever
| down, down! At last one more plunge
| and out upon the haunted shore of the
| cerulean lake, the smooth, secret
lake, that carries within its soundless
| bosom remembered horrors that named
| it.
| Along its level shores the road
| stretched in straight or winding
| spaces, a fine track for racing. The
| horses 1eaped forward to a dead run,
| that never slackened till, at Coburn s.
| beside the swift, tortuous Truckee, the
| relief team met them
| On again. Out from fir forests and
| rocky. barriers, and into the desert
| boundaries.
Chamberlain's and breakfast
| How glad they were to stretch them
| selves On earth once more! Yet no
| time for dallying.
Made the last three miles in nine
| minutes!" Mr.. Montague announced as
he walked into the dining room.
But no one replied. Hurrytng
| walters, steaming dishes, silent, busy
| passengers the scant halt passed like
a gust; and again they were flying.
Again upward, past the spouting,
| Tartarus-smelling Steamboat springs
over the. smooth Geiger grade, and at
last into the gray, struggling city hung
against the bare breast of Mount Dav-
idson-Virginia, golden goal of their
| flight
Superintendent Crocker, watch in
| hand, stood on the hotel steps to wei
come them, as Uncle Billy swung in
with a grand finishing flourish.
"One O'Clock! Twenty-one hours and
five minutes from San Francisco Hur-
rah for you, Billy Dodge!' Mr.. Croker
cried; and rousing cheers echoed from
the waiting crowd.
From Colfax our driver has aver
aged mile in four and a third min
utes,'' Mr.. Montague called, looking
up from quick calculation.
by George, Montaguei That al
most beats engine and steamer! Hur-
rah again, boysI"
But where's the Piacehville stage?"
Uncle Billy asked as he came stiff1y up
the steps, Stella by his side.
This came an hour ago. Mr.. Crock
er said, putting a dispatch in the
drivers hand. Read that" he ex-
claimed exultingly.
strawberry Valley, noon Heavy
rains, heavy roads, heavy loads"
Uncle Billy read.
Were in time, them" Stella whis-
pered softly.
Uncle Billy. nodded. Wilder cheers
made speech impossible.
Strawberry Valley was SO miles
away!