The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-08-09

scngers all put out their heads with a
rapidity equaled only by that which
they withdrew them as they saw the
dominocs aud revolvors Of the road
agents.
Seems TO be something the matter,
gentlemen said the Colonel, blandly,
as he opened the door. Wont YOU
please get out? Don't trouble your
self to draw, cos my friend here got
his weapon cooked I'M his fingers is
rather nervous. Amt got handker-
chief, hey yer?' asked he of the first
passenger who descended from the
stage. Hey Well, now, that's lucky.
Just put ger hands behind you, please,
so that's it,. And the unfortunate
nan was securely bound in an instant.
lac remaining passengers were trea.
ted with similar courtesy, and the Col
ynel aud his friends examined the pock-
cts Of the captives. OldBlack remain
cd unmolested, for who ever heard of a
stagedriyer having money?
Boys said the Colonel, calling his
brother agents aside and comparing re-
ceipts, faint much of haul but
there's one woman,an' she's old enough
to be ieller's grandmother. Better let
her alone, ELI?
Like enough she'll plan out more n
the rest Of them put together; 'growled
Cranks, carefully testing the thickness:
Of the case of gold watch, Jest like
the low-lived deceiptfulness of some
folks, to hire an old woman to carry
their money so it'd be safer. Mabbe
what she's got amt nothin to some
folks that's got HOSES that kin win en-
money at races, but
The Colonel abruptly ended the con-
versaticn, and approached the stage.
He was very chivalrous but Crank
sarcastic reference to Tipsie needed
avenging, and as he could not consist
emily with business arrangements put
an end to Cranks, the old lady would
have to suffer.
Il beg your pardon, ma 'am, said the
Colonel, raising his hat politely with
one hand, while he opened the coach
door with the other, we're taking up
collection for some deserving object.
We wuZ a-goin' to make the gentlemen
fork over the hull amount, but ez they
haiu't got enough, we will hav to both
er you.
The old lady trembled, felt for her
pocketbook, and raised her veil. The
Colonel looked into her face, slammed
the stage door, and sitting down on
the hub of one OF the wheels, stared va
cantly into space.
Nothing queried Perkins in whis-
per, and with a face full of genuine
sympathy.
Noes, said the Colonel dreamily.
That is unite 'em, and let the stage
90 ahead he continued, springing to
his feet. I'll hurry back to the cabin.
And the Colonel dashed into the bush
es, and left his followers SO paralyzed
with astonishment, that Old Black
afterward remarked that EFF there ed
been anybody to hold the horses, he
could hev cleaned the hull crowd with
he whip
Tne passengers, now relieved Of
their weapons, were unbound, allowed
to enter the stage, and the door wa,
slammed upon which Old Black picked
up his reins us cody as if he had lain
them down at a station while the hor-
ses we're being changed, then he crack.
ed his whip and the stage rolled off
while the Colouel's party fastened back
to their hut, fondly inspecting as they
went certain TASKS they had obtained
while transacting their business with
the occupants of the stage.
Great was the surprise of the road
agents as they entered the hut, for there
soood the Colonel in clean white shirt
and in a suit of clothing made up from
the limited spare wardrobes of the
other members Of the gang.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily
suborbinated his wonder to his pru-
dence, as laying on the table watch
two pistols, a pocketbook and heavy
purse, he exclaimed:
Come, Colonel ,blzness before pleas
ure let's divide and scatter. Ef any
body should hear 'dout it, an find oul
traps IN our possession, they might
Divide yourselves = said the Col
onel, with abruptness and great oath
Il don't want none of it.
Colonel, said Perkins, removing his
own domino, and looking anxiously in
to the leaders. face, be you sick
Here's some bully brandy found in
one of the passengers pockets.
Il hain't nothin', replied the Col,
onel with averted eyes. I'm goin'
aud I'm a retirin' from the bizness for
ever.
'Aint a-goin' to turn evidence? criet
Cranks, grasping the pistol on th'
table.
| I'm a-goin to make lead mine Of
you eff you don't take tina. back roared
the Colonel, with. a bound, which
caused Cranks to drop the pistol ant
retire precipitately forward, apolizinl
as he went. Pm goin' to tent to m,
own bizness, an that's enough to keel
; any man bizzy. Somebody lend me so
till see him agin.'
Perkins pressed the money INTO tn
Colonels hand and within two minute
the Colonel was on Tipsies back an,
golloped on in the direction the stag
had takeu.
He overlook it, he passed it, and still