Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-07-19
BRATTLEBORO VT. FRIDAY, 49, 1878

averted eyes. 'Tm goin', and I'm a-retirin
from this business forever!"
"Aint a-goin' to turn evidence Z" cried
Cranks, grasping the pistol ON the table.
I'm a-goin' to make lead mine of you ef
you don't take that back :" roared the colo
mel, with bound which caused Cranks to
drop the pistol and retire precipitately, apol-
Ogizing as he went. "Im goin' to tend to
my own business, an that's enough to keep
any man busy. Somebody lend me fifty dol
lars till see him agin."
Perkins pressed the money into the colo
nels hand and within two minutes the colo
mel was on Tipsic's back and galloped on in
the direction the stage had taken.
He overlook it, he passed it, and still he
galloped on.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the colonel
well, and made n rule never to be astonished
at anything he did but they made an excep-
ton to the rule when the colonel canvassed
the principal bar-rooms for men who wished
to purchase q horse and when q gambler
who was flush obtained Tipsie for twenty
slugs-only n thousand dollars, when the
colonel had always said that there wasn't gold
enough on top Of ground to buy her-bIud
Guch experienced decided sensation.
One or two enterprising persons speedily
discovered that the colonel was not in COM
municative mood so every one retired to
his favorite saloon TO bet according to his
own opinion of the colonels motives and ac-
tions
But when the colonel, after remaining in n
barber shop for half an hour, emerged with
his face clean shaved and hair neatly trim
med and parted, betting was so wild that a
cool-headed sporting man speedily made a
fortune 10y betting against every theory that
was advanced
Then the colonel made tour of the stores
and fitted himself with new suit of clothes,
carefully eschewing all the generous patterns
and pronounced colors so dear to the average
miner He bought a new hat and put on a
pair Of boots, and pruned his finger nails
and, stranger than all, he mildly declined all
invitations to drink.
As the colonel stood in the door of the
principal saloon, where the stage always
stopped, the Challenge Hill constable was
seen to approach the colonel, and tap him on
the shoulders upon which all men who bet
that the colonel was dodging somebody claim
ed the stakes But those who stood near the
colonel heard the constable say
Colonel take il all back. When | seed
you get out of Challenge Hill it come to me
that you might be in the road agent business,
so follered you-duty, you know. But
when / seed you sell Tipsie knew | was on
the wrong trail. l wouldn't suspect you now
II all the stages in the state wuz robbed and
I'll give you satisfaction any way you want
it,"
ITS all right" said the colonel. with a
smile. The constable afterwards said that
nobody had any idea of how curiously the
colonel smiled when his beard was of
Suddenly the stage pulled up at the door
with a crash, aud the male passengers hurried
into the saloon in a state of utter Indignation
and impecuniosity.
The story of the robbery attracted every
body, and, during the excitement, the colonel
slipped out quietly. and opened the door of
the stage. The old lady started and cried:
George !"
And the colonel jumped into the stage, and
put his arms tenderly about the trembling
form of the old lady, exclaimng:
Mother"