The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-07

anu brushes, which grew bnlnhiy by the
road, while the constable galloped rap
idly 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 1g Ii they were the
familiar objects OF her own stable yard.
Suddenly q voice from the bushes
shouted:
whats up?"
Business that's what" replied the
colonel.
tits time" replied the voice, and its
owner-a bearded six-footer-e
from the bushes and strolsed Tipsie's
nose with the freedom of an old &C.
duaintance' eve ain't had nip since
last night, and thar amt d cracker or o.
handful OF -four In the shanty. The old
gal 20 back on yer2"
YES" replied the colonel ruefully,
''lost every blasted race. 'Twasn't her
fault-bless her-she done her level
best. Everybody to homer
"You bet," said the man. "All been
q 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 sud
denly found themselves before small
solemn disconsolate individuals, who
looked appealingly to the colonel.
"Mae'll tell yer how twas, fellers, !"
said the colonel, meekly. while /
picket the mare"
The colonel was absent but 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 rather dirty
flour bag,
"'Tain't 80 late ez all that, Ia it7" in
duired the colonel.
"Better be an hour ahead than miss
in this ere night" said one OF the four.
Ell amt been 30 thirsty since come
round the Horn in 80, an we run short
of water. Somebody'll get hurt IL Their
amt any bitters on the old concern
they will, or my name ain I 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 fol-
"5tiddy, stiddy, Cranks :" remon.
strated the colonel. Nobody ever gets
along Of. they low 'emselves to be
skeered."
"Fact." chimed in the smallest and
thinest man IN the party. "The Bible
say somethin mighty hot bout that. |
disremember dzackly how IL goes; but
I've heerd ParBon Buzzy, down In
Maine, preach rippin' old sermon
many time. The old man never thort
what comfort them sermons wus agoin
to be to road agent, though. That
time we stopped Slim Mikes stage, and
he didn't hev no more manners than to
draw on me, them sermons wuz u per-
gs,slA tX.s ha fhatirrhf ~ IAN
cleared my head as quick as O cocktail.
| An '------~"
II don'b 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 vamose ?"
The door of the shanty was hastily
closed, and the men filed through the
ticket until near the road, when they
marched rapidly on In parallel lines
with 1t. After about half an hour,
Perkins, who was leading, halted and
wiped his perspiring brow with his shirt
sleeve.
eur enough from home, now," said
he. "iraint no use bein' q gentleman
of yer have to work too hard"
"safe enough, / reckon" replied the
colonel "We'1l do the usual; I'll halt
'em, Logroller tend TO the driver,
Cranks takes the boot, an Mac and
Perk takes right an left. AM know
it's tough--but considerin' how ever
lastin' hard up we are, | reckon Well
hev to ask contributions from the ladies'.
too, OF thar's any aboard-eh, boys"
"Reckon So" replied Logroller, with
q chuckle that seemed to inspire even
his black domino with a merry wrinkle
M N "a
rights eli they don't ever have chance
OF exercisin 'em? Hevin' them purses
borrowed 'ud show 'em the full doctrine
in bran new light. y
"Come, come. boy" interposed the
colonel, "thar's the crack OF Old Black Q
whip Pick yer bushes -quickl ALI
jump when / 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 delicate
touch to the flank OF the off leader,
when the colonel gave a shrill quick
whistle, and i've men sprang into the
road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as IL
Old Black dropped the reins, crossed
his legs, and stared into the sky, and
the passengers all put out their heads
with 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. 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 handkerchief, hev
yer?" asked he of the first passenger
who descended from the stage. ''Hev?
Well, now, that's lucky. just put yer
hands behind you, please that's
it," And the unfortunate man was Sc
curely bound in an instant.
The remaining passengers were treat
ed with similar courtesy, and the COL
onel and his friends examined the peck
cts of the captives. Old Black remained
unmoiested, for who ever heard of a
stage driver having money?
Boys" said the colonel, calling his
brother agents aside, and comparing re-