The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-10-09
The Colonel's Business.
BY BRET HARTE.
AC0ntin0ed.l

iouno themselves before q small log hut
u in front Of which sat three solemn, dis
consulate individuals, who looked appeal
ingly to the Colonel
"Mac'l tell yer how twas, fellers.n said
the Colonel meekly, "while l picket tn,
The Colonel was absent but a very few
moments, but when he returned each Of
the four was attired in pistol and knife,
while Mac was distributing some dominos
made from a rather dirty flour bag. 4
Tain SO late ns all that. is it z" inquir
ed the Colonel. ~ s2t05 5seI'
Better be an hour ahead than miss in
this ere night" said one of the four. 81
amt been SO thirsty since 1 come round
the Horn in 80, an we run short Of water.
~Somebodym get hurtif ther amt any bit
ters on the old concern-they will, or my
name amt Perkins" :
Don't count your chickens fore they're
matched, Perky said one of the party,
Us he adjusted the domino under the rim Of
his hat. ''
"s'posin' there shud be to many for
us2"1 N agdtr7 st \ -
Nobody ever gets long If they low
themselves to be skeered," said the Colonel.
Fact chimed in the smallest and thin
nest man in the party. The Bible saws
somethin' mighty hot bout that. 1 disre-
member exactly how; hut I've heerd Par
son Bury, down in Maine, preach a rippin'
old sermon, many q time. The Oldham
never thought what q comfort them SER
mons was goin' to be to a road agent.
though. 4 That time we stopped Slim
Mixes stage, and he didn't hev no more
manners than to draw on me, them sermons
wuz n perfect blessing to me-the thought
OF EN- cleared my head as a cocktail.
AM" ,.Yr -
don't want to dispute Logrouer,s
pious strain " interrupted the Colonel: but
ez it's Old Black that's drivin' to-day in.
stead OF Slim Mike, n n ez Old Black alters
makes his time hadn't We better vamoose ?"
The door OF the shanty was hastily closed,
and the men filed through the thicket until
near the road, when they marched rapidly
on in parallel lines with it. After about
half an hour Perkins, who was leading.
halted and wiped his perspiring brow with
his shirt sleeve.
Fur enough from home now.'' said he
faint no use being a gentleman eff yer
have to work too hard" sf3n
Safe enough, I reckon replied the
Colonel.
Z" Wen do the usual: I'll halt 'em. Log
roller, tend to the driver, Cranks takes the
boot an Mac and Perk takes right and
left. AM know its tough-but consider
in how everlastin', ~eternally hard up we
are, III reckon we'll have to ask contribu-
tons from the Indies, too, Of theirs any
aboard-eh, boys" I'd NfIf lf'
,f.fii Reckon SO" replied Logroller, with a
chuckle that seemed to inspire even his
domino with a merry wrinkle or two,
: what's the use Of woman's rights Of they
don't AVE a chance of exercisin' en- !?
Hevin' their purses borrowed nd show 'em
tue whole doctrine in a bran, new light"
" Come, boys, come" interposed the
Colonel, : that's the crack of Old Blacks
whip ! pick your bushes quick All jump
l whistle"
Each man secreted himself by the road-
SIDE. The stage came swinging along
handsomely the passengers inside were
angling heartily about something, and
Did Black was just giving q delicate touch
to the hank of the off leader, when the
Colonel gave a sharp, shrill whistle and five
men sprnng into the road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as IL Il
were q matter of common occurrence. Old
Black dropped the reins, crossed his legs,
and stared into the sky, and the passen.
gers put out their heads with a rapidity
equalled only by that with which they
Withdrew them when :icy saw the domi-
and .rcvo.yen CT the road-agents.
"Seems 10 be something the matter,
gentlemen" paid the Colonel blandly, rs he
opened the door. pAi 1e1lFt
"Won't you please get out2 Don't trou-
BILE yourself TO draw, COS my friend here's
got his wcrpon cooked, an his fingers are
rather nervous. Amt got a handkerchief,
hev yer pp asked he of the first passenger
who descended from the stage. Hey?
Well, now, that's lucky. Just put yer
hands behind you, please-so-that's it."
And tho unfortunate man was securely
bound in an instant. iiN lHH.T
The remaining passengers were treated
with similar courtesy, and the captain and
his friends examined the pockets of the
captives. Old Black remained unmolested
for who ever heard Of a stage driver hav-
ing money! 9m oE
"Boys," said the Colonel, calling his
brother agents aside and comparing receipts,
Z" faint much of q haul, but there's only one
woman, an she's old enough to be a feller's
grandmother. Better let her alone, Ell ?"
Like enough she'll pan out more'n all
the rest of the stage put together" growled
Cranks, carefully testing the thickness Of
the case of q gold watch. Jest like the
low lived deceitfulness of some folks to
hire IN old woman to carry their money
it'd go safer. Mabbe what she's got Amt
nothin' to some folks that's got horses that
kin win 'em money at races, but" .
The Colonel abruptly ended the con.
versation and approached the stage. He
was very chivalrous, but -Crank's sarcastic
reference to Tipsie needed ~avenging and
as he could not consistently with bushes.
Arrangements put an end 10 Cranks, tn.
old lady would have to suffer. sm
'n5"I beg your pardin, ma'am, said Tia.
Colonel, raising his hat politely with one
hand and the stage door with tho othen,
but we're takin' up q collection for som,
deserving object. We wuz ngoin' to max.
the gentlemen fork over the hull amount
hut, ez they hain't got enough, we will he,
To bother you" ih
The old lady trembled, felt for her
pocket-book, raised her veil. The Colonel
looked at her face slammed tho stage door
and, sitting on the hub of ono Of the
wheels, stared vacantly into space.
"Nothin 2" queried Perkins in n whisper
and a face full of genuine sympathy. =
= Moves" said the Colonel, dreamily.
THAT is, unite 'em and let the stage 70
ahead" he continued, springing to his feet.
"Tl hurry back to the cabin" And the
Colonel dashed into the bushes and left his
followers SO paralyzed with astonishmeni
that Old Black afterward remarked thai
eff ther'd been anybody to mind the hor
ses he could hev cleaned the hull crowd
with his whip" The passengers now re-
lieved of the weapons, were unbound, nj.
lowed to enter the stage and the door WINS
slammed, upon which Old Black picked up
his reins as coolly as if he had laid them
down at a station while the horses were
being changed, Their he cracked his whir
and the stage rolled off, while the Colonel.
party hastened back to their hut, fondlyin-
specting as they went certain fasks they
had obtained while transacting their bust.