San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-07-27
Colonel stride out of the saloon, mount
Tjnaia and rallnn fur;oualv awav

considered an excellent sort of exercise
and fast riding is universally admitte
to be one of the most healthful and de
lightful means of exhilaration in tn
world. But when man is so absorb
:. ed in his exercise that he will not stol
to speak to friend, and when his ex
hilaration is so complete that he turn
his eyes from well-meaning thumb
-, pointing significantly into doorway
through which man has often passet
; while seeking bracing influences, 1T is bu
! natural that that people should expires!
some wonder.
The Colonel was we'll known at To-day
Flat, Come Hand, Blazers, Murderer's
Bar, and several other villages through
which he passed. As no one had been
seen to precede him, betting men were
soon offering odds that the Colonel was
running away from somebody. Strictly
speaking, they were wrong, but they
won all the money that had been staked
against them, for within half an hours
time there passed over the same road an
anxious-looking individual who refined
up in front of the principal saloon of
each place, and asked if the Colonel had
passed. Had the gallant Colonel known
that he was followed, and by whom,
there would have been an extra election
held at the latter place very shortly after,
for the pursuer was the Constable of
Challenge Hill, and for constables and
all officers Of the law the Colonel pos.
sessed hatred of unspeakable intensity.
On galloped the Colonel, following
the stage road, which threaded the old
mining camps on Dutch Creek; but
suddenly he turned abruptly out of the
road and urged his horse through the
young pines and bushes, which grew
thickly by the road, while the Consta-
BILE galloped rapidly on to the next camp.
There seemed to be no path through
the thicket into which the Colonel had
turned, but TIpSie walked between the
trees and shrubs as if they were the IA
miliar objects of her own stable-yard.
Suddenly voice from the bushes
shouted "What's upp"
that's what" replied the
Colonel.
"It's time" replied the voice, and its
owner-a bearded six-footer--em emerged
from the bushes, and stroked Hpsie's
nose with the freedom of an old ac-
quaintance. "We amt had nap since
last night, and thar amt cracker or q
handful of flour in the shanty. The old
gal 60 back on yerP"
Yes" replied the Colonel ruefully,
"lost every blasted race. 'Twasn't her
fault-bless her-she done her level best.
Every body to homer"
You bet," said the man. Gail been
a prayin' for yer to turn with the rocks,
an somethin' with more color than
spring water. Come on.''
The man led the way, and TSpsie and
the Colonel followed, and the trio sud-
denly found themselves before small !
log hut, but in front of which sat three
solemn, disconsolate individuals, who
looked appealingly to the Colonel.
"Mac'll tell yer how twas, fellers,"
said the Colonel, meekly, "while I '
picket the mare" !
The Colonel was absent but q very !
few moments, but when he returned,
each of the four was attired in pistols '
and knife, while Mac was distributing !
'ome dominoes, made from a rather S
lirty tlour-bag. q
"'Tain't so late ez all that, is itp" in s
luired the Colonel r
"Better be an hour ahead than miss v
n this ERE night" said one of the four.
1 amt been so thirsty since 1 came t
ound the Horn in 80, an we run short O
# water. Somebody'n get hurt if Their d
int any bitters on the old concern u
hey will, or my name amt Perkins," j,
"Don't count on your chickens fore t
hey're Matched, Perky" said one of e
he party, as he adjusted the domino t.
nder the rim of his hat. "S'posin'
ner' shud be too many for us?' p
"Stiddy, stiddy, CranksP" remon- n
Irated the Colonel. Nobody ever 81
cts along eff they low 'emselves to be O
Seered" 81
"Fact," chimed in the smallest and
,inest man in the party. "The Bible W
'ys som ethin' mighty hot bout that. sy
disrem ember dzackly how it goes;
ut I've heard Parson Buzzy, down in ly
Laine, preach rippin' old sermon many ST