The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1908-07-24


"Yo' posy's brought one piece OF
luck, Stella" he said as he mounted
again. ITS raining oven there on
them Placerville fellehs."
Stella looked south to the black
clouds overhanging high SUBMITS, and
hoped that Uncle Billy himself could
outdrlve 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, green gem set In the
midst of barren rock and perpetual
snow, its smooth level the only re-
minder of the lake II had supplanted
Fresh horses at Tinker's, and on
again!
Ever seen Mr.. Holidays palace
travelling coach?" Mr.. Montague asked
Uncle Billy a little later.
mo, sab; but I've heard of it. What
does it look like?"
Its luxury on wheels; bullet-proof
with kitchen, dining room and bed
room; all furnished gilt edged and
sporting chef"
A long whistle was the only answer,
for they had rounded 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 flight down the zig
tagging sleeps. A 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 a clasping gorge.
Past tremendous reaches OF dark
forest. Over long stretches of rock
yet unclothed by nature. Rafting
across torrent-cut gorges, over earth
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
Il.
Along its level shores the road
stretched in straight or winding
Ann l. mi
horses leaped forward to 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 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. Hurrying
walters, steaming dishes, silent, busy
passengers-the scant halt passed like
a gust; and again they were flying.
Again upward, past the spouting,
Notwithstanding 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 Croker, watch In
hand, stood on the hotel steps to well
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 a quick calculation.
by George, Montague! That al
most beats engine and steamer! Hur-
rah again, boys!"
But where's the Placehville stage?"
Uncle Billy asked as he came stifiy 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
We're in time, them" Stella wills.
pered softly.
Uncle Billy nodded. Wilder cheers
made speech impossible.
Strawberry Valley was SO miles
away!
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)