The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-07-31


saloon of the place, and asked if thu
colonel had passed.
Had the gallant colonel known that b.
was followed, and by whom, there woulc
have been an extra election held at thu
place very shortly after, for the pursuel
was the constable of Challenge FILL anG
! for constables and all officers Of the Law
the colonel possessed hatred of unspeak
able intensity.
On galloped the colonel, following thu
stage road, which threaded the old min
ing camps in Duck Creek; but suddenly
| he turned abruptly out of the road anc
urged his horse through the young pines
and bushes, which grew thickly by thu
road, while the constable galloped rapid
~ on to the next camp.
There seemed to be no path through
the thicket into which the colonel haG
turned, but Tipsie walked between the
trees and shrubs as If they were the fam
iliar objects of her own stable yard.
Suddenly voice from the bushes
shouted:
"What's up?"
"Business--that's what" replied The
colonel.
"It's time, replied the voice, and its
owner-a bearded -six-footer- emerged
from the bushes, and stroked Tlpsie's
nose with freedom of an old acquaintance
'sWe amt had nip since last right, and
| thar amt cracker or handful of flour in
the shanty. The old gal go back on
yer2"
eyes," replied the colonel ruefully
"lost every blasted race. Twasn't he1
fault-bless her she done her level best
Evrybody to home2"
"You bet" said the man. ''All been a
prayin' for yer to turn up with the rocks,
an somethin' with more color than
spring water. Come on"
The man led the way and Tipsie and
the colonel followed, and the trio sud-
denly found themselves before a small
log hut, but in front of which sat three
solemn, disconsolate individuals, who
looked appealingly to the colonel. -
MAC u tell yer how twas, tellars. y
said the colonel, meekly, "while I picket
the mare"
The colonel was absent but very few
moments, but when he returned each of
the tour was attired in pistols and knife,
while Mac was distributing some domi-
noes, made from rather dirty flour bag.
''Tain't so late ez all that, is it," in
quired the colonel.
"Better be an hour head than miss in
this 'ere night" and one OF the four.
Il amt been so thirsty since T come
round the Horn in 80, an we run short
OF water. Somebody'll get hurt if Their
amt any bitters on the old concern
they will, or my name amt Perkins,"
don't count on your chickens fore
they're Matched, Perky" said one of the
party, as he adjusted the domino under
the rim of his hat. "S'posin' Their shud
be too many for us?"
"Stidy, stidy, Cranks!" demonstrated
the colonel. "Nobody ever gets along ct
they low 'emse]ves to be skeered."
"Fact," chimed in the smallest and
thlnnest man in the party. 1.-THE Bible
says somethin' mighty hot bout that. 1
dlsremember dzckly how it goes; but I've
heerd Parson Buzzy, down in Maine.
preach rlppln old sermon many time.
The old man never thort what comfort
them sermons wus agoin' to be to a road
agent, though. That time we stopped
Sim Mikes stage, and he didn't hev no
more manners than to draw on me, them
sermons wuz perfect blessing to me-
the thought of em cleared my head as
quick as cocktail. An"
~ don't want TO dispute Logroller's
pious strain," interrupted the colonel;
"but ez it's Old Black that's adriven' to-
day instead of Slim Mike, an ez Old
Black alters makes his time, hedrt we
better vamose?"
The door of the shanty was hastily
closed, and the men filed through the
thicket until near the road, when thew
marched rapidly on in parallel lines with
1t. After about half all hour, Perkins,
who was leading, halted and wiped his
perspirating brow with his shirt sleeve.
EUR enough from home, now" said he,
"'Tain't no use bein' a gentleman eff YER
ter work too hard.''
"Safe enough, I reckon" replied the
colonel. "We'll do the usual; III halt
'em, Longroller tend to the driver
Cranks takes the boot, an Mac an Perk
takes right an left. AMI know it's
tough--but censiderin', how everlastin'
eternally hard up we are, reckon we'll
hev to ssk contributions from the ladies'
too, ct thar's anv aboard eli, boys?"
s'Reckon So" replied Logroller, with a
chuckle that seemed to inspire even his
black domino with merry wrinkle or
two. 'What's the use. ov women's rights
eff they don't ever hev chance ov exer-
cjsin' 'em? Hevin' their purses borrowed
lud show them the hull doctrine in q hran
new Light"
1'Come, come, boys" interposed the
colonel, .''thar's the crack old Blacks
whip: Pick yer bushes-qu1ck! All
jump when I whistler
Each man secreted himself near the
roadside. The stage came swinging
along handsomely, the inside were
laughing heartily at something, and Old
Black wasjust giving delicate touch to
the flank Of the eff leader, when the
colonel gave shrill, quick whistle, and
live men snrang into the road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as if
It were matter of common occurrence.
Old Black dropped the reins, crossed his
Eggs and stared into the sky, and the
all put out their heads with a
.apidity equalled only by that which
hey saw the dominoes and revolyers of
he road agents.