Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-07-19


! The old gal go back on yery'
Yes replied the colonel ruefully, lost
every blasted race. 'Twasn't her fault, bless
her She done her level best Ev'rybody
to home 2"
"You bet" said the man. IAN been
/ 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 suddenly found
themselves before n small log hut, but in
front of which sat three solemn, disconsolate
individuals, who looked appealingly to the
! colonel.
Mac II tell yer how twas fellers," said
the colonel meekly, "while l picket the
mare"
The colonel was absent but very few mo-
! ments. but when he returned each of the four
was attired in pistols and knife, while Mac
was distributing some dominoes, made from
n rather dirty -four bag.
"'Tan't so late ez all that, is ity' inquired
the colonel.
Better be an hour ahead than miss in this
| ere night" said one of the four. Il amt
been SO thirsty since come round the Horn
in 80, an we run short Of water. Some
body II get hurt if ther' amt any bitters on
the old concern-they will, or my name amt
! Perkins"
Don't count on your chickens fore they
are Matched, Perky said one Of the party as
he adjusted the domino under the rim of his
hat "S'posin' ther' shud be too many for
us?"
Stiddy, stiddy, Crnnks!' demonstrated
the colonel. Nobody ever gets along ef
they low 'emselves to be skeercd"
Fact" chimed in the smallest and thin
nest man in the party. The Bible says
somethin mighty hot bout that. disre-
member dzackly how it goes; but I've heerd
Parson Buzzy, down in Maine, preach rip
| PIN old sermon many time. The old man
never thort what comfort them sermons
wus goin' to he to a road agent, though. The
time We stopped Slim Mikes stage, and he
didn't have no more manners than to draw on
me, them sermons wuz perfect blessing to
me-the thought of em cleared my head ms
quick as a cocktail. An"
II don't want to dispute Logroller's pious
strain" interrupted the colonel but ez it's
Old Black that's a-drivin' to-day instead of
Slim Mike and ez Old Black alters makes his
time, hednt we better vamosey"
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 perspring brow with his shirt
sleeve.
Fur enough from home now" said he.
"'Taint do use bein' gentleman ef yer have
ter work too hard"
safe enough, l reckon" replied the colo
mel Wen do the usual III halt EN-, Log
rollerll tend to the driver. Cranks takes the
boot, an Mac and Perk takes right an left.
AM know its tough-but considerin how
everlastin eternally hard up we are, reckon
we'l hey to ask contributions from the ladies'
too. ef thars 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 womens rights ef they
don't ever have "a chance of exercisin 'em :
Hevin' their purses borrowed nd show EN-
the hull doctrine in n new light"
Come, come, boys" interposed the colo
mel. "thar's the crack of Old Blacks whip !
Pick yer bushes-quick. All jump when l
| whistler"
Each man secreted himself near the road
side. The stage came swinging along hand
somely the inside were laughing heartily
about something, and Old Black was Just
giving delicate touch to the flank of the off
leader. when the colonel gave "A shrill, quick
whistle and five men sprang into the road.
The horses stopped as suddenly rs If 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 equalled
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, gem
tlcmen," said the colonel, blandly, as he
opened the door Wont you please get
out ? Don't trouble yourself to draw. COS
my friend here's got his weapon cooked, an
his fingers is rather nervous Amt got a
handkerchief, hev yer:" asked he Of the first
passenger who descended from the stage.
Hey: Well, now, that's lucky. Just put
your hands behind you-so-thats it." And
the unfortunate man was securely bound in
an instant.
The remaining passengers were treated
with similar courtesy, and the colonel and his
friends examined the pockets of the captives.
Old Black remained unmolested, for who ev-
er heard of a stage driver having money;
Boys" said the colonel, calling his broth
er agents aside and comparing receipts,
faint much of haul but there's only
one woman, an she's old enough to be fell
lers grandmother. Better let her alone, eh =
Like enough she'll pan out more'n all the
rest of the stage put together growled
Crnnks, carefully testing the thickness of the
case of n gold watch Jest like the low
lived decetfulness of some folks TO hire an
old woman to carry their money, so it'd go
safer. Mebbe what she's got amt nothin' to
some folks thets got hosses, thet kin win em
money at races, but"
The colonel abruptly ended the conversa-
ton and approached the stage. He was very
chivalrOus, but Cranks's sarcastic reference to
Tipsie needed avenging, and as he could not
consistently with business arrangements put
an end to Cranks, the old lady would have ia
suffer
Il beg your pardon, maam," said the col.
onel, raising his hat politely with one hand
while he opened the coach door with the
other, but we're taking up collection fur
some deserving object. We wuz a-gOin' ia
make the gentlemen fork over the hull a.
mount. but ez they hain't got enough, we
will hev to bother you"
The old lady trembled, felt for her pocket
book raised her veil. The colonel looked
into her face, slammed the stage door, and,
sitting on the hub of one Of the wheels, stared
yacantly into space.
"Nothin' Z" queried Perkins in a.whisper,
and with face full of genuine sympathy.
"No-yes," said the colonel dreamily
"That is, unite 'em and let the stage go a.
head" he continued, springing to his feet.
I'm hurry back to the cabin"
And the colonel dashed into the bushes and
left his followers so paralyzed with astonish.
ment that Old Black afterwards remarked
that 'ef there'd been anybody to the hosses
he could hev cleaned the hull crowd with his
whip"
The passengers, now relieved of their
weapons, We're unbound, allowed to enter the
stage, and the door was slammed; upon
which Old Black picked up his reins as cool
ly as if he had lain them down at a station
while the horses were being changed then
he cracked his whip and the stage rolled of,
while the coloners party hastened back to
their hut, fondly inspecting as they went Ger.
tain TASKS they had obtained while transact.
ing their business with the occupants of the
stage.
Great was the surprise of the road agents
AS they entered their hut, for there stood the
colonel in clean white shirt, and in a suit OF
clothing made from the limited spare ward
robes of the other members of the gang.
Rni thn ensnicinns HrnnLs rnaadilu rnhnr