Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-08-18

| half an hour tneTt paSSsu ONeE the bhUle
road an anxious-looking individual who
reined up in front of the principal
saloon of each place and asked if the
colonel had passed
Had the gallant colonel known that
he was followed, and by whom, there
would have been m extra election held
at tho latter place very shortly after for
the pursurer was the constable, and for
all officers of the law tho colonel pos
sessed hatred.
On galloped tho colonel, following
the stage road, which threaded tho old
mining camps on Dutch creek, but
suddenly he turned out of the road and
urged his horse through tho young
pines and bushes, which grew thickly
by the road, while the constable gal
loped 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 as if they were familiar
objects of her stable yard.
Suddenly a voice from the bushes
shouted
whats up"
Business-th what"
Its time" replied the voice, and its
owner-a bearded iz-footer-emerged
from the bushes and stroked Tipsie's
nose with the freedom OF an old &C.
quaintance. 1--WE amt had nip since
last night, and there amt a cracker or a
handful of flour in the shanty. The old
gal go back on yer?"
Yes" replied the colonel, ruefully;
lost every blasted race. 'Twasn't her
fault-bless her-she done her level
best. Ev'ryhody to home p
"You bet" said the man. Gan been
a 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 log
hut, in front of which sat three solemn
disconsolate individuals, who looked ap-
pealingly at the colonel.
"Mack'll tell yer how twas, fellers,"
said the colonel meekly, "while l
pocket the mare"
The colonel was absent but a very
few moments, but when he returned
each of the four was attired in pistol
and knife, while Mack was distributing
some dominoes made from rather dirty
aour sack.
" 'Taint so late as all that, is it," in
quired the colonel.
Better be an hour ahead than miss
in this re night" said one of the four.
Il ain't>been 80 thirsty since we came
around ths,horn in 80, an we run short
Of water. S3mebody'll get hurt If there
amt any bittcrs in the old concern
they will, or my name amt Perkins H'
Don't count on your chickens fore
they're hatched, Pertt, Y said one Of the
crowd, as he adiustd 7 Ssszsmino under
the rim of his hai posin' there
should be too rnans ioT'
"Sdddy. stiddy, Cnnksw rcmon-
strated the colonel. Nobody ever
gets along if them low themselves to
be skeered"
Fact" chimed in the smallest and
thinnest man in the party. "The Bible
says somethin' might hot bout that. l
disremember dzactly how It goes, but
I've hern Parson Buzzy, down in Maine,
preach a rippin' old sermon many a
time. Tho old man never thort wha. a
comfort them sermons wuz agoin' to be
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 was perfect bless
ing to me-the thorts Of 'em cleaned my
head as quick a. q cocktail. An"
II don't want to dispute Logroller's
pious strain" interrupted the colonel;
"but ez it's Old Black that's arrivin to.
day instead Of Slim Mike, and ez it's
Old Black alters makes his time, hadn't
We better vamose2'
The door Of the shanty was hastily
closed and the men filed through tho
thicket until near the road, when they
marched rapidly on in parallel lines
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 bein' gentleman
il yer have TO work too hard"
"Safe enough, / reckon" replied the
colonel. "We'll do the usual; I'll halt
em, Logroller tend to the driver, Cranks
take the boot, and Mack and Perk takes
| right and Ieft An know iL'a tough