Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-04-10

q prayin' fur yer to turn up with Il
rocks, an sOmethin' with more col
than spring water. Come on"
: The man led the way and Tipsic ar
the Colonel followed, and the trio su,
denly found themselves before a sma
log hut, in front of which sat thr,
solemn, discOnsolate looking individ1
ais, who looked appealingly at I'll
Colonel.
j "Mac IL tell yer how twas fellers
said the Colonel, meekly, "while
picket tile mare.n
Tho Colonel was absent but q Yer
few moments, but when he returne
each of the four was attired in pistol
and knife, while Mac was distributin
some dominces, made from a rathe
dirty -four bag.
"Taint so late ez all that, is it p il
quired the Colonel.
Better he an hour ahead than mis-
in this ere night" said one Of the fou1
II amt ben SO thirsty sence I cam
round the Horn, in 80, an we ru1
short of water. Somebody1l get hur
eff ther' amt no bitters on the old con
celn-they will, or my name amt Per
kins.0
"D0n't count yer chickens fore the,
are hatched, Perky" said one of tn
party, as he adjusted his domino un
der the rim Of his hat. "S'pos'n the1
should bo too MANY fur uSfn
"Stiddy, stiddy, Cranks!n remon
strated the Colonel. "NObody eve
gifts along if they low 'emselves to b,
skcered.n
"Fact," chimed in the smallest ant
thinnest man of theparty. Yhe Bibl.
says sOmethin' mighty hot bout that
I disremember ezackly bow it goes
but I've heerd Parson Buzzy, down in
Maine preach arippin' old sermon from
that text many a time. The old man
never thought what a comfort them
sermons wuz a-gOin' to be to 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' to
me-the thought of 'em cleared my
head ez quick ez cocktail. An
" l don't want to disturb L0gr0llers
pious yarn" interrupted the Colonel,
8 but ez it's Old Black that's a-drivin'
to-day Instad OF Slim Mike. am, ez old
Black oilers makes.his time, hetln't we
better vam0sefn g..s...
7 The door Of the slanty was hastily
closed and the men filed through the
thicket until near the road, when they
marched rapidly on parallel lines with
it. After about a half an hour Per
kins, who was leading, halted, and
wiped his perspiring brow with his
shirt-sleevs.
" Fur enough from home now,n said
he. '',Taint no use bein' a gentleman
eff yer have to work too hard.n
"Safe enough, 1 reckon" replied the
Colonel. "We1l do ez usual; I'll halt
'em, Log roller tend to the driver,
Cranks takes the boot, an Perk takes
right an left. An'-I know it's tough
but considerin' how everlastin' etern-
ally hard up we are, reckon we'll hev
to ask contributions from the ladies,
too, eff ther's any aboard-eh, boys -
"Reckon so," replied Logroller with
! chuckle that seemed to inspire even
his blank domino with a merry wrinkle
)r two. "What's the use ov womep's
lights ef they don't ever hev a chance
" exercisin' 'emi Hevin' ther purses
borrowed 'ud show 'em the hull doc
;rine in brM-new light"
"Theyre trepsherous critters, women
g." remarked Cranks; tssome 0v 'em
night put q knife into feller while
le wuz pol0gizin,."r
"Ef you're afeard ov'em,n said Per-
Zins, "you ken 60 back and clean up
he shanty:" f saHA4
Reminds me ov what the Bible
ez,n said Logroller; 1.thcre's q lion ON
he trail; I'll be chawed up sez the
azy galoot," or words to that effect.
"Oome, come, boys,0 interposed the
'Nd0n't mix religion an biz
less.. They don't mix no more than
Iello, thars the crack of Old Blacks |
v]ii,! Pick your bushes quick! All
i'm. " when / whistle n
Each man secreted himself near the{
oadside. The stage came swinging |
long handsomely; the inside paseen-
ers were laughing heartily about
and Old Black was just
living q delicate touch to the flank Of
he Qf leader, when the Colorel gave
elirill whistle, and Slhe i've men
pfang into the road. aa - "a
The horses stopped suddenly as if it
1as matter Of common occurrence.
I'D Black dropped the reins, crossed
is legs, and stared into the sky, and
he passengers all put out their heads
'ith q rapidity equalled only by that
'ith which they withdrew them Is
hey saw the d0min0es and rev0lvers
Z the r0ad-agents. eh
@Secms to be something the matter,
said the Colonel blandly, |,
) he opened the door. 3W0n't You
lease get QUIT Don't trouble your
lives tordraw, eos my friend here has
Ot his weapOn cOcked an his fingers
rather nervous. Amt got . banker |
lief hev yer I ? asked the Colonel Of
le first passenger who descended
ON the stare. "HevS Well, now
lat's lucky. just put yer hands b.
ind yer, please e-sO-that's it. And |
le unfortunate man was securely |
Dund in IN instant.
The remaining passengers were
eated with similar courtesy, and the |