The Irish standard., 1908-05-09

Lake. From there on it's the Ola
Mans goose. Been running daily eveh
since SO"
Daily or otherwise" laughed the
other.
When it's othehwise, it's the Old
Mans end" the driver said with EN-.
phasis.
Keep yo' feet. you son of Posei-
dom" he called suddenly as one of the
"swing team" went down on his knees.
ooh, oh! He's bleeding. Uncle
Billy! His knees-his mouth"
Don't look, honey" he said sym
pathetically. 1T CANT be helped.
We've got to win if it kills the stock"
Yet he favored the poor stumbler
when possible till they came to the
changing station.
What in" Uncle Billy began an
grily as soon as his feet touched the
ground; but stopped, and sent a quick
look toward Stella. rs that all the
team you've got for me? That stocks
plumb done up"
II know it, Mr.. Dodge" hostler re-
piled. "Charley's team went over the
grade last might've killed soon as
they struck; and we had to give him
your outfit. This is Livermores stock.
just in. Will you wait for water?'
CANT do it. Hook 'em up, po'
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. Its raining oveh there on
them Placerville fellehs."
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 a 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 it had supplanted.
Fresh horses at Tinker's, and on
again!
Ever seen Mr.. Holidays palace
travelling coach?" Mr.. Montague asked
Uncle Billy 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 Donner 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. Rattling
across torrent-cut gorges, over earth
"fills," through narrow cuts. Ever
down, down! At last one more plunge
snd out upon the haunted shore of the
cerulean lake, the smooth, secret
lake, that carries within it's soundless
bosom remembered horrors that named
it.
Along it's level shores the road
stretched in straight or winding
spaces, a fine track for racing. The
horses leaped forward to a dead run.
that never slackened till, at Coburn' s,