The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-08
A Reckless
Driver
By THOMAS r. DEAN

over uu tltNuttu poftlnu Oh tue Iouu III
the Rocky mountains. The passenger
We're all looking out through the ca
windows at the awful heights ant
depths. Far below my eye caught {
macadamized road that did not seen
to be much used and was falling out OF
repair.
The old stage road" said a gentle
man beside me who noticed me looking
n: 1t. He was a very old man with
hair as white as snow. There was
something In the confident way he
spoke of the road, a dreamy. far away
look. as he gazed mt II himself that
arrested my attention.
How do you known asked.
Because when l was n very young
man." he replied, II went over 1t. and
an episode that occurred caused me to
remember It, That's the Powder Horn
bend over there Pretty soon We'll
pass Dead Mans turn.
''The ride | refer to was when the
stagecoach was the only method OF
travel in these parts. and the driver
was as important man then as the
captain Of an ocean liner Is now. Usu-
ally the man at the reins was splen-
did specimen. He had full control of
his horses and always kept his head no
matter what happened. But on this
occasion-just about fifty years ago it
is now-the person driving US was
different kind of fellow. l was on
top, and several other passengers, east
ern tourists, who were anxious TO see
the scenery were outside too. There
was one man who didn't seem TO be-
long among the rest of us. but rather
TO the country. He was very quiet
man. who minded his own business,
didn't bother the driver with questions
about the peaks and the canyons and
the cuts around the mountain sides. but
sat chewing on quid of tobacco as
though the heights and the depths were
nothing compared to it.
I'VE were taking one of those turns
where the road is cut around noun
tain side when, looking down at the |
wheels on the outside. we all saw that |
the hind one had gone within a foot |
of the edge. One of the gentlemen re-
monstrated with the driver. and it
made him very ugly. He said it wasn't /
customary for passengers to interfere
with stage drivers. He knew his
business and would listen to no sug-
gestions from no man.
After this, instead of driving care
f,.Il - 40 /
parts of the road. he would whip up
his horses and go round in hurry.
Every time he did this the rest of us
would hold on to our seats like grim
death. expecting to be dashed over
the precipice On one occasion the
outside hind wheel did go over, but
the driver dashed his horses and pulled
It up on the road again.
There was but one man who didn't
seem to be rufIled at this kind Of driv-
ing-that was the silent man l was
speaking of. He sat silent In his seat !
and 'chawed on. Some Of the passen- !
gers noticing that he appeared to be a i
man of the west asked him If nothing {
could be done to induce the driver to t
mend his ways.
"'Y' needn't do no more skylarkin.'
the westerner said to the driver. han
lie them ribbons more keerful.'
THE driver looked around to see
who was again interfering. and seeing
! quiet looking man flushed angrily
Ind asked him If he was afraid.
No said the other: I know what
stage drivers can do ON the road. but
hese ladies and gents amt used to it,
t skeers EN-
We'll, I'm responsible to the line
or my driyin' and not to you or any
me else. I'll handle the team as I
lease
The westerner made no reply to
his, and we. who had gathered hope |
hat he might put a stop to the reck-
assness, felt a disappointment. He
idn't seem to be offended or irritated &
nth the driver. He just 'chawed on /
nd seemed inclined to let the driver do !
$ he liked. But presently we APP (
reached Dead Mans turn. called so
rom coach having gone down over
ne precipice-there ii is across the can
on. The driver whipped up his horses
nd was getting on big squirt when he p
slt something cold pressing against D
he back of his neck He must have G
nown that it was the muzzle Of re- u
Diver, for he didn't turn his head to (
e. p
. Slow up said the westerner, who b
as holding the pistol. =
The driver slowed up: then at the "a
esterner's further command came to n
full stop. &C
+" Hitch the reins on TO the brake u
as the next order. and the driver III
Keyed. Do you see that tree growing ~
Ter the precipice on this side Of the ~
md? Well. the westerner forced the
liver at the point of his revolver TO
imb out on TO the farthest branch
that tree. He was white as a sheet u
ID chung to the branch with the clutch ~
a cat. At one time surely thought u
would go down. had to look w
vay. and the rest of the party did the %
me- ~
= DO you think you kin drive keerful a.
e rest o. the wayT asked the tor lei
entor. IN
You bet WI
We'll. come in and try it, To-
We had no more trouble after that.
N xrs u-era eurpriSod 70 learn altar