The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-07-06
Alton Tanned
By r. W. KEENAN,
Copyright BY American Press Asso-
citation. 1914.

A good many years ago. when The
Union Pacific railroad was being built
one going across the continent was
obliged 70 travel BY stage q good part
Of the way. One day q coach loaded
with passengers Was going up and
down the uneven country formed By
the Rocky mountains. The drivers OF
those coaches were usually excellent
men and very expert IN driving six
horses over the kigzag roads. Indeed.
they were IKE the engineer OF q rail-
way train who holds the lives Of those
behind him In bis hand But IN this
case II the driver was expert be was
not careful Of the lives Of his passen-
gers. Rather. be was just the reverse
In going down q grade be would 80
licklfyapllt. turning curves over preei'
pices, slurring the coach 70 the very
edge. 70 the horror Of those for whom
be wal driving.
The women. AZ FIRST when passing
through one OF these dangers. would
bold on 70 what was nearest 70 them
for dear NE. but would nnaily cry out
with terror. Some Of the men expostu-
lated with the driver. but were told 90
nercely 10 shut up that none OF them
dared to enter further protest Be
sides. they saw that what they said
only melted him 20 new violence
Beside the driver sat q young man
IN a e~heckeEboand suit He did not
1oln the Others In endeavoring 20 stop
the mans ~recklessness. though be wa
nearest 20 him. he kept his arms
folded. balancing himself as the stage
eareened like q ship. both sideways
ana fore and aft. He was not over
ave feet six inches high and not espe-
cially thick in proportion 70 his height
The driver being six feet tai and
heavy 10 proportion. Il was not 70 be
wondered that the little man held bis
peace.
The coach had made q o. lis break
neck descenis and bad reached level
travelling. with q gradual ascent aheao,
when the nan IN a checkerboard suit
said to the driver IN q low tone:
Been drinkingr
Nav. Haven't taken . drink IN .
year"
-Reckon you're right. I could smell
II n you had Well. seein' ySl-re not
drunk. what you tryin' 70 spin as
forY
The driver turned and hooked down
on the little man contemptuoualy.
See here. young Teller" be thun-
dered. do you know what passengers
Rits for i~nterferin' with ribbon bold
esY-
-Ne. DO they get shoty-
cit shoti Do you suppose I'd
waste good lead on your little car
cnnnr
-weIl what would you DO n l were
10 Interfere with your drivin'r'
I'm tel you what I'd Odd just
bring my arm around and wipe you
on into the road
TIE outside passengers sitting behind
the two were Interested n their con
veruatlon. The little man asked the
questions In q childlike fashion. IS a
small boz would vi them. the big
man always responding VITA the growi
Of a hon. When the driver spoke the
last words the horses had come TO the
beginning Of the ascent and had
dropped into q walk. Suddenly the
man IN The checkerboard suit seemed
20 double up IKE a jackknife Bracing
hia back against the top Of the coach
behind him. be put his feet against the
driver. gave q shove. and the big man
landed ten or twelve feet below n the
road
T was not. all The little man
Jumped amer him and landed beside
him. The big man sot half way up
On MS feet when the little man plant
ed a blow on his Jaw ana relied him
over again. TIE big man made an
other attempt 20 rise. and the little man
BIT him another crack with the same
result Then. throwing OF bis check
erboard coat. the latter said;
-Cit upr'
This usse the driver was permitted
to rise and rushed for his tormentor
like q bull The tormeDtor vas not
IN the line OF rush. but as the driver
passed be received a blow under the
chin that leveled him again with the
road He was allowed 20 rise after
this when knocked down and every
time he arose was sent back where be
came from. ne was a strong man, but
his adversary played with him a a
cat would play with a mouse Finally
the drivers strength was all spent ana
be lay In the road like a los.
One OF the outside passengers had
caught the relns and brought the horses
to a stand. and the passengers had wit
messed the fray.
As soon as Il was evident that the
lion could neither bite nor roar any
more every passenger jumped from the
coach and surrounded the little man,
Every man grasped his hand and every
woman kissed him. He looked very
much disconnected. as though he were
getting credit for whipping q robellious
terrier.
.You don't understand" be said
understand what7' some one asked.
-Whv. this "a IN the line OF my bust.