The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-01-09
Around Snake
Corner
A Stagecoach
Story
By cLARIssA MAcKIE

tain ROAD, Lne Dlack hofSeS hll3lhlhS
against the heavy load Of passengers,
"Whoo-upr shouted Ike Williams
as he guided the team around a sharp
corner where jutted a great split rock.
Are there any snakes around here|
asked n timid passenger.
Ike Williams turned a ruddy face
toward the passengers, and as his light
brown eyes met those Of plump little
woman in the corner he winked signih.
cantly.
The plump little woman looked very
severe and turned her eyes away,
yes sir; this is called snake corner,
and it's a funny thing that every time
l reach this particular rock every
stranger aboard wants to know If there
are snakes hereabouts,"
"Well, are there any snakesY de-
manded the thin woman sharply.
There are snakes sometimes, ma'nm.
Once l was coming up from Cherry
Brook with load Of folks, and just as
we reached snake corner one Of the
wimmen screamed and tainted, and
the others all hollered to beat the
band. or course / stopped and looked
to see what was the matter"
"What was ity demanded the pas
sengers breathlessly.
Trash" shifted Debby Bovine
"It was a whole passel of black
snakes assuming themselves on the
big rock
II was some dustered. because l
knew, all my passengers being vim
men, I'd have trouble between the win.
men and the snakes and the hosses
here. who amt got no use for reptiles,
I'm a quick thinker and Mr..
Williams paused and cast a suspicious
glance among his passengers. 81
thought somebody laffed," he said ag-
gressively.
No one made reply. Debby Bovine
was staring through the open doorway,
and the little dark man appeared to be
asleep.
The other six passengers were hang
ing breathlessly on the words Of the
stage driver.
"Go on" they cried impatiently.
"What did you do then|
81 got down from my seat and, TAX
ing my whip. I went up to the rock
and laid it on to them snakes till there
wasn't one to be seen. Then l clumb
back to the stage and drove on.
"The wimmcn all cried with joy over
getting rid Of the snakes. and when we
reached the top Of the hill-this one
we're climbing now-I happened to
look back. and what do you suppose I
see?" Ike paused dramatically.
"What did you see?' they asked in
chorus.
"Snakesw said Ike frowning at the
recollection. about fifty blacksnakes,
assorted sizes. all humping themselves
along the roa /. trying to catch up with
me. ! reckon they would have clumb
up over the wheels and right into the
stage if I hadn't done some quick
thinking.
"Fm something of a reader pur-
sued Ike modostly. land, being inter-
ested i'm the critters, Ia read consider
able about snakes. So | took my har- |
monica out Of my pocket and, getting
out of the stage. went back and |
played Yankee Doodle to them pur-
suing reptiles. and III be blamed If
the hull lot didn't stand still like they |
was charmed. and then ! played a |
march called The Retreat And you'll |
hardly believe me when | say that the
hull regiment Of blacksnakes turned |
tail and bumped themselves back down |
tbe road
"Wboa, Here you are. Willow |
Houser'
With the words Ike halted his horses |
with a flourish before the door of the |
little mountain inn.
With the single exception of Debby |
BOVINE the occupants of the stage dis
at the inn While some Of
them were paving the driver. the
FOREIGNER leaned toward Dolby Bovine. |
Does he speak of a TRUTH" he in
ouired nodding toward Ike Williams.
Two red spots glowpd in Debby's |
cheeks.
"The truth is not in him." she said
"You know him Of certainty, that
he lies ?" asked the man sharply.
az was engaged TO marry him" said
Debbv with drv bitterness.
"Was?" repoated the man doubtfully.
.cWas." empbasized Debby. until
fifteen minutes ago"
"Ab. with many thanks for the CON
fdenca," smiled the stranger. bowing