The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-08-06

Black alters makes his time, helm we
better vamooSe?
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
perspiring brow with his shirt sleeve.
Fur enough from home now" said
he.
"'Teint no use being gentleman if
yer have to work too hard.
We'll do the usual: L II halt 'em: said
the Colonel: Logroller tend to the driv-
er; Cranks. take the boot, and Mack and
Perk. take right and left. An | know
it 5 tough-but considerin' how everlast-
in eternal hard up we are, | reckon We'll
have to ask contributions from the ladies
too, eff there any aboard-eh boys"
Reckon So replied Ioyroller. with
black domino with a merry wrinkle OF
two. What the use of women rights
ef they dom ever have 4 chance of eXer-
cis'n 'em. IIevin' their purses borrowed
nd show EN- the full doctrine in bran
new light"
"Come, come, boys" interposed the
Colonel. char the crack of Old Black S
whip: pick yer bush-quick. All jump
when | whistle
Each man secreted himself near the
roadside. The stage came swinging along
handsomely: those inside were laughing
heartily at 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 if it
We're matter of common occurrence.
Old Black dropped the reins, crossed his
legs, and stared into the sky, and the
passengers all put ont their heads with a
rapidity equaled only by that with which
they withdrew them as they saw the
,lominos 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,
cause my friend here's got his weapon
cooked an his fingers 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 yer hands be-
hind yer-so-that's it, And the I'M
behind in an instant.
The remaining passengers We're treated
with similar courtesy, and the Colonel
and his friends examined the pockets of
the captives. Old Black remained un-
moleSted, for who ever heard OF a stage
driver having money!
brother agents aside and comparing re-
ccipt. tain much of haul: but there $
only one woman. and she's old enough
to be fellers grandmother.
Like enough She II pan out more than
all the rest Of the stage put together, -
growled Cranks, carefully testing the
thickness of the case of gold watch.
''.Iust like the lived deceitfulness of
some folks to hire an old woman to carry
ia .oF ho
what she's got amt nothin' to some
folks that has got hosses that kin win
money at races
The Colonel abruptly ended the con-
versation, and approached the stage. He
was very chivalrous. but Cranks' sarcas-
tic reference 10 Tipsie needed avenging.
and as he could not consistently with
business arrangements put IN end to
Cranks, the only lady would have to
suffer-
Il beg your pardon, ma am said the
Colonel, raising his hat politely with one
hand while he drew open the coach door.
''but we're taking up collection for
some deserving object. We was goin' to
make the gentlemen fork over the hull
amount, but ez they amt got enough we
will have to bother you.
The old lady trembled, felt for her
pocket 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' p queried Perkins in wills
per, and with face full of genuine SYM
pathy.
"No-yes." said the Colonel, dreami-
ly. THAT is, unite 'em and let the stage
60 ahead he continued, springing to
his feet. I'll hurry back to the cabin. y
And the Colonel dashed into the bushes
and left his followers so paralyled with
establishment that Old Black afterwards
remarked that if thered been anybody
to mind the horses he could have cleaned
out the hull crowd with his whip.
The passengers. now 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 if he laid them down at the station
while the horses were being changed,
then he cracked his whip, and the stage
rolled off, while the Colonel's party has
tened back to their hut, fondly inspect
ing. as they went, certain TASKS they had
obtained while transacting 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 suit of clothing made from
the limited spare wardrohes Of the other
members of the band.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily
Subordinated his wonder to his prudence
as, laying on the table a heavy purse. he
exclaimed:
Come, Colonel. business before pleas
ure: let's divide and scatter, Ef any
body should hear about it. and find our
trail. an ketch the traps i'll our posses
sion, they might
divide yerselves" said the Colonel
with white abruptness and a great oath,
Il don't want none of it.
"Col0nol, said Perkins. removing his
own domino and looking anxiously into
the leaders face, ''be you sick? Here
some bully brandy which found in the