Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-05-08

were matter of common occurrence. Old
Black dropped the reins, crossed his legs,
and stared into the sky, and the passengers
all put out their heads with a rapidity equal
ed only by that with which they withdrew
them, as they saw the dOminoes and revol-
vers of the road agents.
Seems to be something the matter, gen.
tlemen,' said the Colonel, blandly, as he
opened the door. Wont you please get
out Don't trouble yourselves to draw, 'cOs
my friend here's got his weapon cooked an
his finger is rather nervous. Amt got a
handkerchief, hev yer ? asked the Colonel
of the first passenger who descended from
the stage. 'Hev? Well, now that's lucky.
Just put yer hand behind yer. please so
that's it, And the unfortunate man was
securely bound in an instant. The remain
ing passengers were treated with similar
courtesy, and the Colonel aud his friends
examined the pockets of the captives. Old
Black remained unmolested, for who ever
heard of stage driver having money
Boys the Colonel said, calling his
brother agents aside and comparing receipts
'taint much of haul but there's only
one woman, an she's old enough to be a
! f~unr'a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES let her alone,
eh p
Like enongh she'll pan out more'n all
the rest ov the stage put together growl-
ed Cranks, carefully testing the thickness
Of the case Of gold watch. Jest like
the low-lived deceitfulness of some folks to
hire an old woman to kerry their money,
80 it'd 60 safe.-Mabbe what she's got
hain't nothin' to some folks that's got hos
ses that kin win 'em money at races. but
The Colonel abruptly ended the CONVEX
sation and approached the stage.-The Co
lionel was very chivalrous, but Crank's sar-
castle reference to 'Tipsie' needed aveng-
ing, and as he could not, consistent with
business arrangements, put an end to
Cranks, the old lady would have to suffer.
Il beg yer pardin' ma 'am,' said the Co
lionel, raisin' his hat politely with one hand
while he opened the coach door with the
other, but we're takin' up collection fur
some deseryin' object. We wuz a-goin' to
make the gentlemen fork over the hull
amount, but ez they hain't got enough,
we'll hev 20 bother you p
The old lady trembled, felt for her pock-
et-book, and raised her veil. The Colonel
looked into her face, slammed the stage
door, and, sitting down on the hub of one
of the wheels, stared vacantly into space.
'Nothin'?' queried Perkins in whisper
and with face full of genuine sympathy.
'No-yes,' said the Colonel dreamily.
That is unite 'em and let the stage 90
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 paralyzed with astonishment
that Old Black afterwards remarked that
'ef ther'd been anybody to hold the hosses
he could hev cleaned out the hull crowd
with his whip
The passengers now relieved Of their
weapons, were unbound, allowed to enter
the stage, upon which Old Black picked up
his reins as cody as if he had lain them
down at station while horses were being
changed then he cracked his whip and
the stage rolled off while the Colonel's par
ty FASTENED back to thei. hut, fondly in
specting, as they went certain ilasts they
had obtained while transactins their busi-
xith the occupants of the stage.
oio"' "a' '..~ ---prise Of the road agents
as they entered their hut, ,,r there stood
the Colonel in clean white shit and in q
suit of clothing made up from the ,;mi,ad
spare wardrobes of the other memu.., .,
the gang.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily SUBJ
ordinated with wonder to his prudence, as
laying on the table watch, two pistols, a
pocket-bOok, and a heavy purse, he ex-
claimed:
Come Colonel, dizziness before pleasure
let's divide, an scatter. Efany body shud
hear 'about it, an find our trail, an ketch
US with the traps in our possession, they
might
Divide yerselves p said the Colonel with
abruptness and a great oath. Il 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 passen-
ner's pockets
Il hain't nothin',' replied the Colonel,
with averted eyes. I'm going, and Pm a
retirin' from the bizness forever
Amt goin' to turn evidence p cried
Cranks, grasping the pistol on the table
'I'm going to make head-mine of you
ef you don't take back y rOared the Colonel,
with bound, which caused Cranks to drop
the pistol and retire precipitately forward,
apologizing as he went. I'm goin' to
tend to my own bizness, an that's enough
to keep any man bizzy. Somebody lend
me fifty till see him again.
Perkins pressed the money into his Co.
lonel's hand, and within two minutes the
Colonel was on Tipsie's back, and gallop-
ing on in the direction the stage had taken.
He overlook it, passed it, and still he
galloped on.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the Colo
mel well, and made it rule never to be as
tonished at anything he did but they
made an exception to the rule when the
Colonel canvassed the principal bar-rooms
for men who wished to purchase a horse !;
and when gambler who was flush obtain
ed Tipsie in exchange for twenty slugs-
only thousand dollars, when the Colonel
had always said that there wasn't gold
enough on top of the ground to buy her
Mud Gulcb experienced a decided sensa-
ton.
One or two snterprisins persons speedily
discovered that the Colonel was not in a
communicative mood so every one retired
to- his favorite saloon and bet according to
his own opinions of the Colonel's motives
and action.
But when the Colonel, after remaining in
| n barber shop for half an hour emerged