The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-05-13
A Lion AIMED
BY r. W. KEENAN,
Copyright by American Press Asso-
sciation. 1911.
BY r. W. KEENAN,

| Union Pacific railroad was being built.
| one going across the continent was
obliged TO travel by stage a good part
of the way. One day a 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 zigzag roads. Indeed,
they were like the engineer of a rail
| way train who holds the lives of those
| behind him In his hand. But in this
case If the driver was expert he was
not careful of the lives of his passen-
gers. Rather, he was Just the reverse.
In going down a grade he would so
lickity-split, turning curves over preci-
pieces. slurring the coach to the very
he was driving.
The women. at first. when passing
through one of these dangers, would
hold on to what was nearest to them
for dear life. but would finally cry out
| with terror. Some of the men expostu-
! lated with the driver. but were told SO
| fiercely to shut up that none of them
dared to enter further protest Be
sides. they saw that what they said
only melted him to new violence.
Beside the driver sat a young man
in a checkerboard suit. He did not
| join the others in endeavoring to stop
the mans recklessness, though he was
nearest to him. He kept his arms
folded. balancing himself as the stage
| careened like a ship. both sideways
and fore and aft. He was not over
FIVE feet six inches high and not espe
cially thick In proportion to his height
The driver being six feet tall and
heavy in proportion. 1T was not to be
wondered that the little man held his
peace.
The coach had made one of its break
neck descents and had reached level
travelling, with n gradual ascent ahead,
when the man In n checkerboard suit
said to the driver in low tone:
"Been drinking?"
"Naw. Haven't taken a drink in a
year"
Reckon you're right. could smell
it If you had. Well. SEEM you're not
drunk, what you tryin' to spill US
for?"
The driver turned and looked down
on the little man contemptuously.
"See here, young Teller" he thun-
dered. do you know what passengers
gifts for interferin' with ribbon hold
ersp"
mo, Do they get shot?"
"Git shot! Do you suppose I'd
waste good lead on your little car
cass?"
"Well, what would you do If I were
to interfere with your drivin'"
an tell you what I'd do-Td just
bring my arm around and wipe you
off into the road"
The outside passengers sitting behind
the two were interested in their con-
versation. The little man asked the
questions in a chidlike fashion, as u
small boy would ask them, the big
man always responding with the growl
of a lion. When the driver spoke the
last words the horses had come to the
beginning of the ascent and had
dropped into a walk. Suddenly the
man In the checkerboard suit seemed
to double up like jackknife. Bracing
his back against the top of the coach
behind him, he put his feet against the
driver, gave shove, and the big man
landed ten or twelve feet below In the
road
This was not all. The little man
jumped after him and landed beside
him. The big man got half way up
on his feet when the little man plant
ed blow on his jaw and rolled him
over again The big man made an
, other attempt to rise. and the little man
hit him another crack, with the same
result. Then, throwing off his check.
erboard coat. the latter said:
"Git up"
This time the driver was permitted
to rise and rushed for his tormentor
like a bull. The tormentor was not
in the line OF rush, but as the driver
passed he received a blow under the
chin that leveled him again with the
]. road He was allowed TO rise after
! this when knocked down and every
time he arose was sent back where he
SuiAit ilOiis ne WIS II SiTOuB man, Out
his adversary played with him as a
= cat would play with mouse. Finally
!, the drivers strength was all spent, and
he lay In the road like log.
One of the outside passengers had
caught the reins and brought the horses
TO stand, and the passengers had wit
messed the fray.
AS soon as 1t 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 a rebellious
terrier.
"You don't understand" he said.
Understand whatY some one asked
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