San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-07-27

thicket until near the road, when they
marched rapidly on in parallel line
with it. After about half an hour Per
kins, who was leading, halted and wiped
his perspiring brow with his shirt sleeve
eur enough from home, now," said
he. "'Tain't no use being gentleman
Of yer have to work too hard"
"Safe enough, I reckon, >" replied the
Colonel. Gwen do the usual; I'll
halt 'em, Logroller tend to the driver,
Cranks takes the boot, an Mac an
Park takes right an left. An'-Iknow
it's tough but considerin' how ever
lastin' eternally hard up we are, l
reckon We'll hev to ask contributions
from the ladies, too, eff thar's any
aboard-eh, boysP"
Reckon so," replied Logroller, with
chuckle that seemed to inspire even
his black domino with merry wrinkle
or two. "What's the use of women's
rights eff they don't ever have a chance
ov exercisin' emp Hevin' their purses
borrowed md show 'em the hull doctrine
in a bran new light"
"Come, come, boys" interposed the
Cononel, 'thar's the crack of Old
Black'swhip! Pick yer bushes-quick!
All jump when Iwhistle!" .I.h
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 suddenlysas if
it were 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 rapidity equaled only by that
with which they withdrew them as they
saw the dominoes and revolvers of the
road agents. af l...
"Seems to be something the matter,
gentlemen" said the Colonel blandly,
as he opened the door. "Won't you
please get outP 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 yerP" asked he of the first passen-
ger who descended from the stage.
''HevP Well now, that's lucky. Just
put yer hands behind you, please-so-
hats it," And the unfortunate man
Vas securely bound in an instant. The
passengers were treated with
similar courtesy, and the Colonel and
lis friends examined the pockets of the
,aptives. Old Black remained unmo-
ested, for who ever heard of stage
lriver having money!
"Boys," said the Colonel, calling his ;
brother agents aside, and comparing re-
eipts, faint much of a haul; but ;
here's only one woman, an she's old
nough to be a feller's grandmother. !
Setter let her alone, eh?'
"Like enough she'll pan out more'n
IL the rest of the stage put together" 8
rowled Cranks, carefully testing the '
thickness of the case of a gold watch.
Jest like the low-lived deceitfulness of g
ONE folks to hire an old woman to car q
y their money, so it'd 60 safer. Mebbe +
hat she's got amt nothin' to some r
'lks that's got bosses tibet kin win 'em +
honey at races; butt q
The Colonel abruptly ended the con- a
ersation, and approached the stage. d
.e was very chivalrous, but Cranks's
lrcastic reference to Tipsie needed t
and, as he could not con- a
silently with business arrangements {
ut an end to Cranks, the old woman {
ould have to suffer. Il
"I beg your pardin, ma 'am," said c
lie Colonel, raising his hat politely with G
ne hand while he opened the coach 81
Dor with the other, "but we're taking 81
. collection for some deserving OBJ
ct. We wuz agoin' to make the gen. 1
emen fork over the hull amount, but, c,
they hain't got enough, we will hev r.
bother YOU" =
The old lady trembled, felt for her y,
,cket-book, raised her veil. The Colo W
ii looked into her face, slammed the n,
age door, and sitting on the hub of re
he of the wheels, stared vacantly into a,
ace.
Z" Nothin'P" queried Perkins in W
nisper, and with face full of genuine 50