| Show gi glaub FIT MADE IV HORSES U L BEAT LEAT B A RUNAWAY COACH back in the good old days when nerves and railroads were little known an old stage road can ran from lake champlain to ogdensburg N Y pass ing through the little town of sodom this village nestled in a valley between two great hills over which the white hite ribbon of the road wound steep ay 1 upon one of the trips of the stage the regular driver who had been at borne home tor for some weeks recovering from an illness was riding inside while the red haired mild featured big boned irishman acting as his substitute mccu pied the driver s seat upon the box the day was a beautiful one and the passengers were enjoying their drive keenly their appetites increasing as the distance lessened between them ana the town of sodom with its promised pause for refreshment suddenly as the heavy stage jum bared over the brow of the hill down which the road pi hinged at a sharp an gle running through the little town at its foot and ascending the bill hill beyond the passengers became conscious that their pace had been recklessly in faster raster and faster they went dashing down the hill at a rate rap idly eming a fuyi oil one trees and aules tug es at last became but a diz dying bl ar al aling ng the road all clung to the reeling stae and held heir breath in terror while on the stage raced down the hill with ever increasing speed into the town past tho bps delry with the waiting host left stand ing in amaze at t the dior past the pos post office without pause and out upon the road leading up the face of the hill be yond there the pace slackened and as the inel ne no grew more sleep steep at last the smoking horses came cam e to a stand still with one accord the dazed pas tumbled out and surrounded the driver who now stood at the head of his reeking leaders what Is it pat what Is it did they get away from you youa came the breathless questions nope replied pat with a set face it wor that pointing grimly before him there lay the stage tongue drag ging uselessly on the ground at the heels of the horses and compi completely tely severed from the coach at a glanc i the regular driver comprehended compre herded the meaning of the danger to 0 ch the passengers of that stage deprived 0 its sole means ot guidance had been exposed and realizing the miracle ot of their escape ae 1 turned sick and faint ed where he stood later back at the inn when the ex cit ement had somewhat subsided an I 1 fresh horses were being put to the repa pared red coach someone turned to pat and asked pat what wag your first thought chen the pole dropped 7 well sor he answered settling the quid more comfortably in his cheek me furst thought wor lord ha mercy on 0 ir thin thinks I 1 tc to damn a horse that cant can t outrun a wagon and I 1 licked the poor divins all th way down the hill lippincott lippincotts Lippin cotts B magazine |
