American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-07-20

hiiiiinS cahPs on Dutch Greek; but
suddenly he turned abruptly out of tlo
road and urged his horse thro,en the
young pines and bushes. -nich grew
thickly by the road, u-aiie the Consta-
bic galloped rapidly on to the next camp.
There seemed 20 be no path through
the thicleo into which the Colonel had
turpcd, but 7Ypsie 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 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 TpSie'S
nose with the freedom of an old ac-
quaintance. We amt had a nap since
last night, and thar amt cracker or a
handful of flour in the shanty. The old
gal go back on yer?''
Yes" replied the Colonel ruefully,
"lost every blasted race. 'Twasn't her
fault-bless her-she done her level best.
Every body to home?''-
=" You bet," said the man. "All been
prayin' for yer to turn with the rocks,
an somethin' with more color than
spring water. Come on"
The man led the way, and 7Ypsie 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'll tell yer how twas, fellers,' -
said the Colonel, meekly, "while l
picket the mare"
The Colonel was absent but a very
few moments, but when he returned,
each of the four was attired in pistols
and knife, while Mac was distributing
some dominoes, made from a rather
dirty four-bag.
"'Tain't so late ez all that, is ?" in
quired the Colonel.
" Better be an hour ahead than miss
in this ere night" said one of the four.
"I amt been SO thirsty since came
round the Horn in so, 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?'
Study, stiddy, CranksP" remon-
strated the Colonel. Nobody ever
gets along eff they low 'emselves to be
skeered.'
Fact" chimed in the smallest and
thinest man in the party. "The Bible
says som ethin' mighty hot bout that.
disrem ember dzackly how it goes /;
but I've heard Parson Buzzy, down in
Maine, preach a rippin' old sermon many
a time. The old man never thort what
comfort them sermons was agoin' to
be to a road agent, though. That time
we stopped Slim Mixes stage, and he
didn't hev no more manners than to
draw on me, the m sermons was per-
feet blessing to m e-the thought of 'em
cleared my head as quick as cocktail
AM
al don't want to dispute Logroller's
pious STRAIN" interrupted the Colonel ;
''but ez it's Old Black that's adrivin' to-
day instead of Slim Mike, an ez Old
Black alters makes his time, hedn't we
better vamoseP'
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 Per-
kins, vino was leading, halted and wiped
his perspiring brow with his shirt sleeve.
"Fur enough from home, now," said
he. "'Tain't no use being gentleman
eff yer have to work too hard.''
"Safe enough, reckon" replied the
Colonel. 'We'll do the usual; I'll
hat 'em, Logroller tend to the driver,
Cranks takes the boot, an Mac an
Park takes right an left. AMI know
it's tough-bu considerin' how ever
lastin' eternally hard up we are, /
reckon we'll hev to ask contributions
from the ladies, too, eff thar's any
aboard-eh, boys?"
Reckon so," replied Logroller, with
a chuckle that seemed to inspire even
his black domino with a merry wrinkle
or two. "What's the use of women's
rights eff they don't ever have chance
ov exercisin' 'em? Hevin' their purses
borrowed md show 'em the hull doctrine
in bran new light"
"Come, come, boys,' interposed the
Cononel, ''thar's the crack of Old
Black whip! Pick yer bushes-quick
All jump when 1 whistler
Each man secreted himself near the
roadside. The stage came swinging
along handsomely; the inside were
laughing heartily about something, and
Old Black was just giving a delicate
touch to the flank of the off leader, when
the Colonel gave shrill, quick whistle,
and five men sprang into the road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as il
it were a matter of common occurrence.
Old Black dropped the reins, crossed
his legs, and stared into the sky, and
the passengers all put out their heads
with a rapidity equaled only by that
with which they withdrew them as they
saw the dominoes and revolvers of the
road agents.
"Seems to be something the matter,
gentlemen said the Colonel blandly,
as he opened the door. "Won't you
please get out? Don't trouble yourself
n