CHAPTER I.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 15, 3 August 1888, Page 23

CHAPTER I.

The Johnstown stage was due at City of Rocks at fire o'clock About that hoar a man in a flannel shirt, dirty soldier trousers tacked io his boots, and a slouch hat on the back of bis bronzed, bearded unkempt head, materialised in the obscurity of the doorway of the Btation-boose, and shading his eye» with his hand looked down the road. As he stood there a cloud of dust became risible in the distance. It floated and wayered nearer and nearer, until the creaking and jiagling of dry wood, leather and metal, and the pounding of hoofs, were beard. Then, as the cloud approached the station, an apparition of two horses and a stage-coach was seen within it. The cloud stopped in front of the house, the dnst settled, and the coach, coated inside and oat with the white powder, was disclosed. The driver, looking like a miller, laid his whip on the roof and pre-* pared to descend. The station.keeper who, meanwhile, had stepped oat in the road and silently commenced to unhook the traces, looked up for the first time. The next moment he dropped the trace with an exclamation of wonder, while his haad slowly bat instinctively sought the revolver which hung in a b«lt loosely about his hips. For a few seconds he scrutinised the face of the man who was swinging himself down from the box, and then his look of surprise changed to one of recognition, his hand relaxed its hold on the pistol, and be said heartily, " Well, I'll be darned ! Lieutenant, it that you ? Why what's come of Jim T" " He was taken sick down by Shot-gun Creek and had to lay oft at the milk ranch," said the man addressed, taking off his hat and beating out the dust against his leg. He was tall and broad* shouldered, bat slender, and was dressed in the same manner as the station-keeper, even to the revolver which hong about his hipi. His voice and bearing, however, the only characteristics uuaffeoted by the dust, betrayed a difference between them. "It leaves me in a purty fix I" said the ostler. "Frank's oat after stock, and there's no oneyere but me. Who's goin' to take the stage on ?" " I'll take it on as far as Pack City, if you like," said the lieu* tenant. " The old man will find some one there to take Jim's place easy enough." The station-keeper, without replying, mechanically resumed bis duties of taking oat the horses, and watched them meditatively as they walked slowly off to the stables. Then finally taming to the lieutenant, witb tbe air of one whose mind is made up, he said : "By thunder, I guess that's the on y thing we kin do. I can't leave yere. I wouldn't have a head of stock left by the time I got back. Them damned Injuns is gettin' worse and worse, not to mention the hois thieves and road agents that's gettin' thicker'n fleas on a dog's back. It's sort o' crowdin'you, though, lieutenant, and I don't know what the old man'll say." 11 He won't say thank you at any rate," said the lieutenant. " You kia gamble on that." saiJ the ostler, approvingly. " Who's this Johnny come lately ?" he added, as » passenger from the inside of the stage strolled towards them. " Jim said he was a stockman," said the lieutenant ; " he's billed for Pack City." '• Jim ! ' growled the O9tler, contemptuously. " Jim's a stranger himself in these parts. How should he know.' Aud when the traveller, an elderly man, joined them with a sociable remark that "it was purty tol'sble warm," the ostler vented his ssom for Jim by ignoring bim altogether, and continuing bis t\lk with toe lieutenant about wty-bills, express, mail and other stage matters. Bat tho passenger appearing in nowise affected by this lack of cordiality, held his ground, and if he did not join in the conversation, listened to it bo persistently that the ostler riually turned to him, and sud, nther sarcastically, "Stranger, is theie any thing I can do for you ? " "Wel).no,pard," replied the traveller, good-bumouredlj, "there's no'vhin' yer kin do fer me, but I reckon you kin do some thin' fer that lady inside, she's petered plumb out, and the kid's yellin' like all possessed." At this the amateur driver opened the stage door and looked in. There was the usual litter of mail-bags, and small bundles, and Fmell of dust and leather. Addressing the woman, who, in a long linen duster, and with a veil over her face, reclined limply in one corner, half holding a crying baby, the lieutenant said " Supper station, madam." This announcement producing no "reply, he repeated it in a loudtr tone. Ihe only result was an added force to the baby's cries. " I reckon she's fainted," said the other pasaeager, appearing at his elbow with a cup of water ; " try this yere." The lieutenant, got mside, followed by the old man. to whom he unceremoniously handed the ba h ;y. Taking out his pocket-flask, he mixel a little brandy and water, and pushing tae veil up from the unconscious mouth, be succeeded in partially reviving the exhausted woman. " Now then," he said in an authoritative tone, " yeu must come outside in the open air, and wash your face and hands, that will brace you up quicker than anything. Then when you have some dinner you will oe all right. We haven't mucn time," he added. The woman obediently arose, but, cramped and worn out by the long day 'a ride, had to be assisted to th.3 ground. She succeeded in walking over to the water trough, and sitting down on its edge, silently took her baby. The lieutenant brought ncr a basin and towel, and left htr to toilet, Presently he returned and said, "Supper is ready." •' Thank you, I dont want any 9upper," was the reply As he benrd her epeak for the first time, the lieutenant looked at the sbrouded form in surprise. The voice was low aud trained, the voice of a gentlewoman, it startled bim with a swiittupg^stioa of perfumed lace, and six-button kid gloves, of waltz music, yachting

and low, murmured words in dim conservatories. The recollection of the fried pork and beans awaiting them in the station, however, brought his mind back to the subject. The stage, when it left City or Rocks, was twenty minutps late. Bmy-fhe jack-rabbits, which laid back their ears and scuddei at its apj&oach, found it no mean rival that afternoon. ' '• I'll bet ten dollars he makes it up afore he pits to Stoney Creek, and not turn a hair 1" eaid ihe station-keeper to himself. Then, after a further contemplation of the fast-rece'hng cloud of dust, he added in a more reckless tone. " I'll bet ten dollars he makes it up afore he gits to Dick Day's ranch, and not tur ia \ air !" As no one accepted either of these generous propositions, he shook bis head and remarked confidentially, "There ain't many kin copper the lieutenant, now, if you year me !" and, disappearing in the gloom of the interior of the house, City of Rocks was left once more to the hot silence of its fantastic Btones.