San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-07-27

hut, fondly inspecting as they went Ger
tain TASKS they had obtained Will
transacting their business with the oc
cupants of the stage.
Great was the surprise of the roa,
agents as they entered their hut, TO
there stood the Colonel in clean whit
shirt and in suit of clothing made from
the limited spare wardrobes of the 9th
er members Of the gang. But the sus
picious Cranks speedily subordinatet
his prudence, as, laying on the table I
watch, two pistols pocket-book and .
heavy purse, he exclaimed:
"Come, Colonel, business before
pleasure; let's divide, an scatter. E
any body should hear about it, an
find our trail, an ketch the traps in oul
possession, they might"
"Divide yerselves!" said the Colo
mel, with abruptness and great oath,
81 don't want none of it,"
"Colonel, {" said Perkins, removing his
own domino and looking anxiously in
to the leaders, face, "be you sickp
Here's some bully brandy found in
one of the passengers pockets.
81 hain't nothin," replied the Colo
mel, with averted eyes. " I'm goin', and
I'm retirin from this business, forever"
"Ain't agoin' to turn evidencep"
cried Cranks, grasping the pistol on the
table. -'@t
"I'm agoin' to make lead mine of
you eff you don't take that back! !" roar
ed the Colonel, with a bound which
caused Cranks to drop the pistol and
retire precipitately, apologizing as he
went. "I'm goin' to tend to my own
business, an that's enough to keep any
man bizzy. Somebody lend me fifty
dollars till I see him agin.''
Perkins pressed the money into the
Colonel's hand, and within two minutes
the Colonel was on 1ypsie's back and
galloped on in the direction the stage
had taken. He overlook it, he passed
it, and still he galloped on. -lH .'r.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the
Colonel we'll, and made rule never
20 be astonished at any thing he did;
out they made an exception to the rule
when the Colonel canvassed the princi-
pal bar-rooms for men who wished to
purchase ahorse. And when gambler
Who was flush obtained TSps;e for twen-
y slugs-onlya thousand dollars-when
he Colonel had always said that there
wasn't gold enough on top of ground
o buy her, Mud Gulch experienced a
lecided sensation.
One or two enterprising persons
peedily discovered that the Colonel
vas not in very communicative mood;
o every one retired to his favorite sa-
DON to bet according to his own opin-
on of the Colonel's motives and actions.
SUIT when the Colonel, after remaining
n barber-shop for half an hour,
with his face clean-shaved and
air neatly trimmed and parted, betting
vas so wild that a cool-headed sporting
ian speedily made fortune by betting
gainst every theory that was adj
anced. ..
Then the Colonel made tour of the
5ores and fitted himself with new
nit of clothes, carefully eschewing all
ne generous patterns and pronounced
olors so dear to the average miner. He
ought new hat and put on a pair
boots, and pruned his finger-nails,
nd, what is stranger than all, he mildly
eclined all invitations to drink.
AS the Colonel stood in the door of
le principal saloon, where the stage
ways stopped, the Challenge Hill
Unstable was Seen to approach the
olonel and tap him on the shoulder,
pom which all men who bet that the
olonel had been lodging somebody
aimed the stakes. But those who I
God near the Colonel heard the Con-
able say:
Colonel, take it all back. When I
seed you git out of Challenge Hill it |
'me to me that you might be in the (
ADJACENT business, so 1 followed you s
duty, you know. But when 1 seen t
u sell 1ipsie 1 knew was on the {
rong trail. 1 wouldn't suspect you {
w if all the stages in the State wuz i
bbed; and I'll give you satisfaction t
y way you want it, i
cts all right" said the Colonel, t
tn smile. The Constable afterwards v
id that nobody had any idea of how