Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1874-06-11
WASHINGTON c. H. O., THURSDAY, JUNE II, 1874

made up from the limited spare ward
robes of the other members Of the
gang.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily
subordinated his wonder to his pru-
dence. as laying on the table a watch,
tive pistols, a pocket book and heavy
purse, he exclaimed:
"Come, Colonel, business before
pleasure let's divide an scatter. Eff
anybody should hear bout it, and find
our trail, and ketch the traps in our
possession, they might
s'Divide yourselves - said the Colo
mel, with abruptness and a great oath.
81 don't want none of it."
Colonel" said Perkins, removing
his own domino and looking anxiously
into the leaders face, "be you sick ?
Here's some bully brandy found in
one of the passengers pockets
''I hain't nothin'," replied the Colo
mel, with averted eyes. ''I am goin'
and I'm retirin' from this bizness, for
ever"
"Ain't going to turn evidence ?"
cried Cranks, grasping the pistol on
the table.
"I'm a-going to make a lead mine
of you eff you don't take that back p'
roared the Colonel, with a bound,
which caused Cranks to drop the pis-
tol and retire precipitately backward,
apologizing as he went. "I'm going
to tend to my own bizness, and that's
enough to keep any man busy. Some
body lend me fifty dollars till I see
him again"
Perkins pressed the money into the
Colonel's hand, and within two min
utes the Colonel was on Tipsie's back
and galloped in the direction the stage
had taken.
He overlook, he passed it, and still
he galloped on.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the
Colonel well, and made it rule new
er to be as tonished at anything he did
when the Colonel canvassed the prin-
cipal bar-roOms for men who wished
to purchase a horse; and when gam
bler,. who was flush, obtained Tipsie
in exchange for twenty slugs-only 8
thousand dollars, when the Colonel
had always said that there wasn't gold
on top of the ground to buy her-Mud
Gulch experienced decided sensa
ton.
| One or two enterprising persons
speedily discovered that the Colone
was not in a communicative mood, sc
every one retired to his favorite saloon
and bet according to his own opinion
of the ColonePs motives and actions
But when the Colonel, after remain
ing in barber shop for half an hour
emerged with his face clean shaved
and his hair neatly trimmed and part
ed, betting was so wild that a cool
headed sporting man soon made for
tune by betting against every theory
that was advanced.
Then the Colonel made tour o
the stores and fitted himself with
new suit of clothes, carefully escheW
ing all of the generous patrons anC
pronounced colors so dear to the aV
erage miner. He bought new hat
and put on pair of boots, and prunei
his finger nails, and stranger than all
he declined all invitations to drink.
AS the Colonel stood in the door o
the principal saloon, where the stag
always stopped, the Challenge Hill
constable was seen to approached tn
Colonel and tap him upon the shoulde
upon which all men who bet that tn
Colonel was dodging somebody claim
ed the stakes. But those who stooC
, near heard the constable say:
Colonel, 1 take it all back, an
; own up fair and square. When I see
you get out of Challenge Hill it com
to me all at once that you might be i
the road agent business, so followe
you-duty, you know. But when
seed you sell Tipsie, I knowed I wa
on the wrong trail. wouldn't sus
pect you now if all the stages in tn
country was robbed; and I'll give yo
satisfaction any way you want it
''It's all right said the Oolone
} with smile.
) The constable afterward said tbs
( nobody had any idea how curiousl
r the Colonel smiled when his beard wa
of,
: "Give this fifty to Jim Perkins til
first time you see him. I'm leaving th
, State"
5 Suddenly the stage pulled up to th
door with a crash, and the male pas
sengers hurried into the saloon in
state of utter indignation and impecr
, mostly. s-.... -.
: The story of the robbery attracte
: everybody, and during the excitemer
$ the Colohel slipped out quietly an
l opened the door of the stage. Th
. old lady started and cried: -
George -.z
1 And the Colonel jumped into th
stage and put his arms tenderly abor
the trembling form of the old lady