The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-05-22

cOacn uOOr VIII ull0 OeA04, p"o w -
taking up collection fur some de-
object. We wuz a'goin' to
make the gentlemen fork over the hull |
amount, but ez they hain't got a-nutf,
we will hev to bother you.
The lady trembled, felt for her
and raised her veil, -
The Colonel looked up into her face.
slammed the door, and sitting down
on the hub Of one Of the wheels,
stared vacantly into space.
"Nothing?S queried Perkins in o
whisper, and with face full OF gen
uine sympathy.
dreamily. ''That is, unite 'em, and |
let the stage go ahead, he continued, !
springing to his feet, "I'll hurry
back to the cabin" And the Colonel
dashed into the bushes and left his
followers so pa-alyzed with astonish-
ment that Old Black afterward said
"ef ther'd been anybody to hold the
hosses he could hev cleaned the hull
crowd with his whip"
''The passengers, now relieved OF
their weapons, were unbound, al
lowed to enter the stage and the
hack>door was slammed, upon which
Old Black picked up his reins as
coolly as if he had laid them down at
Il station while horses were being
changed, then he cracked his whip
and the stage rolled of, while the
Colonel's party fastened back to
their hut, tondly 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 their hut, Tor
there stood the Colonel in clean
white shirt and in suit OF clothing
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-l
dence, as, laying on the table o
watch, two pistols, q pocket-book and
heavy purse, he exclaimed:
Come, Colonel, biziness before
pleasure; let's divide an scatter. Ef
anybody should hear bout it, an
find our trail, ketch the traps in our
possession, they might"
'sDivide yoursel9esP' replied the
Colonel, with abruptness'and a great
oath. II don't want any OF it.
"Colonel," said Perkins, removing
his own domino and looking anxious
ly into the leaders face, "be you
sick? Here's some bully brandy l
found in one OF the passengers pock-
cts"
81 hain't nothin', /" replied the Col
onel with averted eyes. I'm goin' ,
and Pm retirin from this biznesa
forever.
"Ain't a-going to turn eyidence?'
cried Cranks, grasping the pistol on
the table.
"I'm a-goin' to make q lead-mlne
of you eli you don't take that back!
roared the Colonel, with a bound
which caused Cranks, to drop the
pistol and retire precipitately for
ward, apologizing as he went. 'I'm
goin' to tend to my own bianess, an
that's enough to keep any man biz2y
Somebody lend me $50 till | see hin
agin'."
Perkins passed the money into thu
ColoneIs hand, and within two min
utes the Colonel was on Tipsie
back, and galloping on in The direc
ton the stage had taken.
He overlook it, he passed, and still
he galloped on.
The people at Mud Gulch kneV
| the Colonel well, and made it rul
never to be astonished at anything h
did; but they made an exception t
the rule when the Colonel canvasse
the principal bar-room for men VIII
wished to purchase a horse; and whe
a gambler who was flush obtaine
! Tipsie in exchange for twenty slug
2 only a thousand dolla1s-when tb
! Colonel had always said that thel
3 wasn't gold enough on the top of til
ground to buy her--Mud Gulch e:
. perienced decided sensation.
One or two enterprising persor
! speedily discovered that the Colon
. was not in communicative mood;- :
. so everyone retired to his favori
q saloon and bet according to his oN
l. opinions of the Cplonels mott,
's and actions
But when the Colonel, after r
! manning in barber-shop for half 9
= hour, emerged with his face clea
y shaved and hair neatly trimmed al
- parted, betting was 50 wild that
2 cool-headed sporting man speedi
\ made % fortune by betting again
., every theory that was advanced.
Then the Colonel made tour
- the stores and fitted himself with
', suit Of clothes, carefully eschewil
~ all Of the generous patterns and pr
nounced colors so dear to the avera,
VI miner. He bought new hat, al
put on a pair Of boots, and prun
= his fnger-nails, and, stranger thi
y all, he mildly declined all inyitatio
~ ~ to drink.
or @ As the Colonel stood in the door
70 70 the principal saloon, where the sta
. always stopped, the Challenge II
,o constable was seen to approach I
- Colonel and tap him on the should'
upon which all men who bet that t
~, Colonel was dodging somebo
- claimed the stakes. But those W
p stood near the Colonel heard I
constable say;
re Colonel, / take IL all back, an
o. own up fair an square. When ! Sc
.ly you git out Of Challenge Hill it col
to me all Of q sudden that you mil
ed be in the road agent business, so
ne follered you duty-you know. 4
W when Lseed you sell Tipsio l know
he / was on the wrong trail. bwould