Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-29

"Stlddy, Study, Cranks," remon
strated the Colonel. Nobody ever git
along eff they low 'emselyes to b
skeered."
Fact" chimed in the smallest ant
thinnest man of the party. 18Th,
Bible says somethin' mighty hot 'bou
that. 1 disremember zscly how it goes
but I've heerd Parson Buzzy, down il
Maine, preach a rippin' old sermon
from that text many a time. The ole
man never thort what a comfort then
sermons wus a goin' to be to a road
agent, though. That time we stopped
Slim Mixes stage, an he didn't hev Nc
more manners than to draw on me
them sermons wuz a perfect blessin' tt
me-the thought of 'em cleared my
head as quick as a cocktail. An
81 don't want to disturb Logroller's
pious strain" interrupted the Colonel
"but as it's old Black that's a drivin
to-day Instid of Slim Mike, an as ole
Black alters makes his time, hedn't W.
better vamose?"
The door of the shanty was hastily
closed and the men filed through the
thicket until near the road when they
marched rapidly on in parallel lines
with it. After about half an hour, Per
kins, who was leading, halted, and
wiped his perspiring brow with his
shirt sleeve.
EUR enough from home now," said
he. "Tain't no use bein' a gentleman
ef yer have to work too hard"
Safe enough, 1 reckon" replied
the Colonel. "WeU do the usual; I'll
halt 'em. Logroller tend to the driver,
Cranks takes the boot, and Mac an
Perk takes right an left. AM
know it's tough-but consid'rin' how
e~verlastin' eternally hard up we are, /
reckon well hev to ask contributions
from the ladies, too, eff there's any
abord-eh, boys?"
Reckon So" replied Logroller with
a chuckle that seemed to inspire ever
his blank domino with a merry twinkle
or two. What's the use ov women's
rights eff they don't ever hev a chance
ov exercisin' 'em? Hevin' ther purses
borrowed nd show 'em the hull doc
trim IN a bran new light"
They're treacherous critters, women
is" remarked Cranks; "some of 'em
might put a knife into a teller while
he wuz 'pologizin'."
EFF you're afeard ov en-" said Per.
kins, ''you kin go back an clean I'D
the shanty."
Reminds me ov whatthe Bible sez."
said Logroller; there's a lion on the
trail; I'll be chawed up, SEE the lazy
galoot,' or words to that effect"
Come, come boys" interposed the
Colonel, "don't mix religion an biz
ness. They don't mix no more than
Hello, thar's the crack of old Blacks
whipl Pick yer bushes-quickl All
jump when 1 whistle
Each man secreted himself near the
roadside. The stage came swinging
along handsomely; the inside passen-
gers were laughing heartily about
something, and old Black was Just
giving a delicate touch to the flank of
the Off-leader, when the Colonel gave a
shrill, quick whistle, and five men
sprang into the road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as if
it were a matter of common occurrence.
Old Black dropped the rains, crossed
his legs, and stared into the sky, and
the passengers all put out their heads
with a rapidity equalled only by that
with which they withdrew them as they
saw the dominoes and reYolvers of the
road agents.
Seems to be something the matter,
gentlemen" said the Colonel, blandly,
rs he opened the door. Wont you
please get out? Don't trouble your
self to draw, COS my friend here's got
his weapon cooked an his fingers is
rather nervous. Amt got a banker
chef, hev yer?"asked the Colonel of the
first passenger who descended from the
stage. "Hev? Well, now that's lucky.
Just put yer hands behind yer, please
sO-that's it." And the unfortunate
man was securely bound in an instant.
The remaining passengers were treat
ed with similar courtesy, and the
Colonel and his friends examined the
pockets of the captives. Old Black re-
manned unmolested, for who ever heard
of a stage-driver having money?
Boys" says the Colonel, calling his
brother agents aside. and comparing
receipts, "'taint much of a haul; but
Tiers only one woman, an she's old
enough to be a feller's grandmother.
Better let her alone, eh?"
Like enough she'll pan out more'n
all the rest ov the stage put together
growled Cranks, carefully testing the
thickness of the case of a gold watch.
Jest ike the low-lved deceitfulness
Of some folks, to hire an old woman to
kerry their money, so it'd 60 safe.
Mabbe what sizes got hain't nothin' to
some folks thet's got bosses that ken
win EN- money at races, but"
The Colonel abruptly ended the con-
v%ersation, and approached the stage.
The Colonel was very chivalrous, but
Cranks' sarcastic reference to Tipsie
needed avenging, and as he could not,
consistently with business arrangements,
put an end to Cranks, the old lady
have to suffer.
Il beg yer parding, ma'am," said the
Colonel, raising his hat politely with
one hand while he opened the coach
door with the other, "but we're takin'
up a collection fur some deservin' OBJ
ject. We 1Cuz a-goin' to make the gen.
tlemen fork we the hull amount, but
ez they hain't got enough, Wen hev to
you."
The old lady trembled, felt for her
pOcket-book, and raised her veil. The
Colonel looked in her face, slammed
the stage door, and sitting down on the
hub of n of the wheels, stared va
into space.
"Nothin'?" queried Perkins, in a
whisper and witha face full of genuine
sympathy.
Moves" said the Colonel, dream
lily. that is, unite 'em, and let the
stage go ahead" he continued, spring
to his feet "IH hurry back to
the cabin" And the Colonel dashed
into the bushes and left his followers
paralyzed with establishment that
Old Black afterwards remarked that
'ef ther'd been anybody to hold the
bosses he could hev cleaned out the
hull crowd with his whip"
The passengers, now relieved of their
weapons, were unbound, allowed to
the stage, upon which Old Black
up his reins as coolly as if he
had lain them down at a station while
horSac vUara bo;no alo-. A.