Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-08-14

tue Ib MI VIC sbo't W Was''-
Somebody'll u get hurt II ther' ain, any Bit
rers on the old concern-they will or my
name Amt Perkins"
Don't count on your chickens fore
they're hatched. Perky" said one OF the
party a. he adjusted the domino under the
rim Of his hat. - 'Sposin' tber' sbud be
too many for us;'' .
"S,ddy. stiddy, Crsnks !" demonstrated
the Colonel Nobody ever gets along ei
they Tow 'emseives to be skeered."
"Factl'' chimed In the smallest and
thInpcst man In the party. The Bible
says someihin' mighty hot about that
disre member dxactiy how 1t goes:
but I've heard Parson Buzy. down 10
Maine preach rippin' old sermon many n
time The old man never thor, what
comfort them sermons WIS agoin 10 be 10
a road agent. though. That time we stop
ped Slim Mikes stage. aud he didn't her
no more manners than to draw on me.
them sermons wus a perfect blessing 10
mc-,hs thought OF 'em cleared my head
as quick as = cocktail. Au'-"
81 don't want TO dispute Logroller's
pious strain" interrupted the Colonel.
"but er its Old Black that's drivin' to-day
instead Of slim Nike. and "a Old Black
alle-s makes his time. hedn't we better
vamoser'
The door of the shantv was hastily
closed. and the men flied through the
thiose;s until nesf the road. when they
marched rapidly on 10 parallel lines with
u. After abou, half an hour Perkins, who
was leading. halted and wiped his per
spring brow with his shtrt sleeve.
Fur enough from home. now said be.
"rsint no use bcin' gentleman ef yer
have to work too hard
Safa kcA ~.
Colonel. We'll do the usual. III halt
EN-. Logroiler tend TO the driver. Crank
takes the boot. aud Mac and Perk takes
right and left And-i know Us tough
bat conslderin' how everlastin' ciarnA.ly
hard up We arc, reckon we'll hcv 10 ak
contribution from the ladies', too. of thats
any aboard-eh. boysg"
Reckon So" replied T.ogroller, with
chuckle that seemed 20 inspire even his
black domino with a merry twinkle or two.
Whats the use OF women's rights ci
they don't hcv chance ov ex-rclsin' EN-
Hevln' their purse. borrowed nd show 'em
the hull doctrine in bran new Hight"
Come. come, boys" inierposed the
Colonel. ''ihar's the crack OF Old Blacs'.
whip Pick yer bushes quick All jump
when | whis,l..''
Each man sccreied himself near the
iNAAA-tsf- rAaNF shS4R-
handsomely. the Insiders we're laughing
heartily about something. and Old BLACK
was jusi giving a delicate touch to the
iauk OF the of leader. when the Colonel
gave shrill. quick whistle, and five men
sprang Into the road
The horses stopped az suddenly a. II L
were a mAt,er OF common occurrence.
Old Black dropped the relns, crossed his
legs. aud stared into the sky. and the pas
scuger. sl put out their heads with
rspiditv equalied ouly by that with whrch
they withdrew them IA they saw the domi.
noes and revolvcrs OF the road agents.
Seems TO be something the matter gen
uemeu." said the Colonel biaodlv. a. he
opened the door Wont you please gc,
out7 Don't tronbi. yoar-.lf to draw. 'csr-
nv friend here's got his weapon cooked
an his fingers /. rather nervous. Amt
got handkerchief. hev yer;" askei he oi
the nrst passenger who descended from the
stage. "iiev! Well now that's lucky.
just pa; yer hands behind you please--so
thai. it" And the unfortunate man was
securely bound In an Instant.
The remaining passengers we're treated
with similar courtesy. and the Colonel and
his friends examined the pockets Of The
captlves- Oh Black remained 1nmOlested.
for Who ever heard OF a stage driver hay-
Ing money!
Boys" said the Colonel calling his
brother agents aside. and comparing re-
celpis. faint much OF 4 haul but there's
only one woman and she's old enough TO
be a fcller's grandmother. BETTER let her
alone. ehy'
Like enough she'll pan out more'n all
the rest OF the stage put together =
growled CrAnks. carefully testing the
thickness of the case OF gold watch.
Just Ike the low lived deceafdlness Of
some folks to hire an old woman to carry
their money. so nd go safer. Maybe what
she's got ain't nothin' u some folks ihet's
got hurs@s that kin win EN- money at
races. but"
The Colonel abruptly ended the CONVEX
sstion. and approached the stage. He was
very cblvalrous, but Crank's sarcastic
reference 20 Tpsie needed avenging. and
as he could no, consistently with business
arrangements put an eoj To Crsnks. The
old lady would have TO snfi.r.
II beg your pardon. ma.an." said the
Colonel raising his hst politely with one
hand while he opened the coach door wiki
the other, but we're taking up 2 coliec-
ton fur some deserving object. We wus
going 10 make the gentlemen fork over the
hull amount. bu, ez they hain't 90, enough.
we will hev TO bother you "
The old lady tremb bied, felt for her pock-
ct book, and raised her veil. The Colonel
looked into her face. slammed the stage
door. and sitting on the hub OF one Of the
wheels STARED vacantly into space.
"Nothin'r" queried Perkins 10 . whis-
per. and with n face full OF genuine SYM
paihy-
.,No-yes," said the Colonel dreAmily.
That is. unite 'em and let the stage go
ahead, " he continued, springing TO his feet.
III hurry back 10 the cabin" And the
Colonel dashed into the bushes and left his
followers so parAlyzed with astonlshment
thai Old Black afterwards remarked that
''Ef theT'i been any body 10 the hosses he
could bev cleaned out the hull crowd with
his whip"
The passengers. nov relieved OF their
weapons. were unbound. allowed to enter
the stage and The door was slammed, upon
which Old Black picked up his reins as
coolly as IL he bad laid them down a.
station while the horses were being chang
ed, then he cracked his whip and the stage
rolled on, while the Colonel's party has
tened back 10 their hut, fondly inspecting
as they went certain TASKS they obtained
while transactiug their business with the
occupants of the stage.
Great was The surprise OF the road
hgthts as tbef entered their nut. Tor tnere
stood the Colonel in a clean white shirt
and in suit Of clothing made from the
limited spare wardrobe Of the other mem
bers Of the gang.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily
subordnated his prudence. as laying on
the table watch. two pistols, . pocket
book and heavy purse he exclaimed:
.Come, Colonel. business before pless
ure let's divide, IAN scatter. Ef any body
should hear about II. en- find our trail. an
ketch the traps In our possession, they
might
divide yerselves! r. said the Colonel,
with abruptness. and . great osth. 81 don't
want any Of it,
Colonel" said Perkins. removing his
! own domino and looking anxiousiy into
the leaders face. ''be you sick? Here's
some baiiy brandy which found In one Of
the passengers pockets"
al hsin't nsthin, replied the Colonel.
| with averted eyes. "l'm goin' aud Fm
retirin' from this basioess. forever
Amt agoio' 70 turn evidencer' cried
| Cracks. grsspinx the pistOl on the table.
'.I'm g0in' TO make lead mine Ot you
| .S Won don't take that hack p roarel the