The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-05-09


Riding on horseback has always Dceh con
sidered an excellent sort of exercise, ana /"
riding is universally admitted TO- De one
thp most healthful and delightful! means
cxhiarution in the world ,:.o,.o
But when a man is so absorbed IN ms exc
else that he will not stop to speak 70 lrich'
and when mis- cyhiaratOn is so complete una
he turns his eyes from well meaning ihuiiiV
pointing Significantly into doorwayS lhr0ug
which a man has often passed while seeKih
bracing influences, it is but natural 'hat PCT
ME should express some wonder. 80
The colonel was we'll known at Teddy Fla
Lone Hand, Blazers, Murderers Bar, ant
several other villages Though which lie ha'
Ito PASS. and us no one had been seen 10 pre-
Icedc him. betting men were soon offering oud
that the colonel was running away IRON
somebody.
Strictly speaking, they were wrong, .bu
they won all the money that had been staket
against them, tor within half an hours tim'
there passed over the same road an anxious
looking individual, who refined up in from
of the principal saloons Of each place, ant
asked if the colonel had passed.
Had the gallant colonel known that he was
followed and by whom, there would have
been an extra election held at the latter place
very shortly after, for the purSuer was the
constable OF Challenge Hill, and for c0nsta
bes and all officers of the law the colonel
possessed hatred of unspeakable intensity.
On galoped the colonel, following the stage
road, which threaded the old mining camp on
Duck creek but suddenly he turned abruptly
out of the road, and urged his horse through
the pines and bushes which grew thickly by
the road. while the constable galloped rapid
| ly on to the next camp.
There seemed to be no path through the
A.; ,l-, ;,,,, oh Jo nolnpol had pal
but Tipsie walked between the trees and
shrubs rs if they were the familiar objects OF
her own stable.yard.
Suddenly, u voice from among the bushes
shouted
Whats up
"Busness--thats what" replied the colon
lei, hurriediy.
Its time" replied the voice, and It's own
era bearded xfooter-emerged from the
bushes and stroked TIpsie's nose with the
freedom of an old acquaintance. "We amt
had nip since last night, and thar amt q
cracker or handful OF -four in the shanty
The old gal go back on yer?'
Yes" replied the colonel rueiuly, Cost
every blasted race 'Twasnt her fault, bless
her, she done her level best Ev'ry body to
homeE'
you be-" said the man. All been pray.
in for yer to turn up with the rocks an
somethiu with more color than spring water
Come on
The man led the way and TipSie and the
colonel followed, and the trio suddenly found
themselves before a small log hut, in front OF
which sat three solemn, disconsolate individ
uals, who looked most appealingly at the
colonel.
"Mac'll tell yer how twas, fellers," SAID
the colonel meekly, while | go and picket
the mare"
The colonel was absent but very few
minutes, but when he returned each of the
four were attired in pistols and knife, while
Mac was distributing some dominoes, made
from rather dirty flour bag.
"'Tant so laGe ez ali tnat Is t." inquired
the colonel
Better be an hour ahead than miss it this
ere night" said one of the four. 81 amt
been so thirsty since came round the Horn,
in 80, an we run short of water. Somebody
will git hurt, If there amt any bitters on the
old conccrn-they will, or my name amt
Perkins"
Don't count on your chickens fore they're
hatched, Perky" said one Of the party as he
adjusted the domino under the rim of his hat.
'Supposin' Their shud happento be too many
for us ?"
"Stiddy, stiddy, Cranks!" demonstrated the
colonel Nobody ever gifts along eff they
low 'emselves to be skeered'
Fact" chimed in the smallest and thinnest
man ofthc party. "The Bible says somethin;
mighty hot bout that. disremember dzact.
ly how 1t goes; but I've heerd Parson Buzzy,
down in Maine, preach rippin' old sermon
many time The old man never thort what
/, comfort them sermons was a going to be to
road agent, though. That time we stopped
Slim Mikes stage, an he didn't have no more
manners than to draw on me, them sermons
suz perfect blessin' to me-the thought of
EN- cleared my head as quick as a cocktail.
All"
II don't want to dispute Logrollcr's pious
STRAIN" interrupted the colonel; but ez it's
Did Black that's IA drivin' to-day instid of
Slim Mike, an ez Black oilers make his
mc hldu't we better vamose?"
The door Of the shanty was hastily closed
md the men filed through the thicket until
near the road, when they marched rapidly on
il parallel lines with it, Ate: about a half
N hour, Perkins, who WAS leading, halted ,
md wiped his perspiring brow with his shirt
ecve
Fur enough from home now" said he.
: 'laint 10 use bcE' gentleman &c yer have !
0 work too hard
safe enough, reckon sand the colonel.
Wen do the usual; I'll halt 'cm, Logruller
cna to the driver, Crank takes the boots an
Mack and Perli takes the right and left, An
L know it's tough--but considcrin' how
'verlastin Cternally hard up we are, reckon
well hcv to ask contributions from the ladies,
90, eff Tiers any aboard-ch, boys"
Reckon sO,' replied Logrollcr, with 4
,hucklc that seemed to inspire even his black
domino with merry twinkle or two. Whats
the use Ov women's rights eff they don't ever
have chance of cXcrcisn' EN-? lIavin'
their purses borrowed 'ud show 'cm The hull
doctrine IN y bran new light"
They're treaChCrous critters, women is"
CrankS; "somc OF 'cm might put
a knife into a irllcr while he was polgizin
10 EN-"
OFF you're afraid ov en-" said Perkins.
you ken go back an clear up the shamty"
"Rcmnds me OF what the Bible seq" said .
Logrolcr; "ther's lion on the trail; I'll be
chawcd up sen the lazy galool,' or words To
that effect"
Uf',n,, ,,,,,n b,V. - iDtprDpsnl 4