The Portland daily press., 1881-12-19

Like enough suo IL pau Uub iuUlo budl tll
the rest of the stage put together" growled
Cranks, carefully testing the thickness OF
the case Of gold watch. "Just like the low
lived deceitfulness of some folks to hire an
old woman to carry their money, so it'd go
safer. Mebbe what she's got amt nothing
to some folks that's got good bosses and ken
win money at races, but"
The colonel abruptly ended the converse
ton and approached the stage. He was very
chivalrous, but Cranks' sarcastic reference
to Tipsie needed ayenging. and as he could
not consistently with business arrangements
put an end to Cranks the only lady would
have to suffer.
II beg your pardon, ma'am, said the col
onel, raising his hat politely with one hand
while he drew open the coach door with the
other. ''but we're taking up collection for
some deserving objects. We was goin' to
make the gentlemen fork over the hull
amount, but ez they amt got enough wewill
have to bother you"
The old lady trembled, felt for her pocket
book and raised her VEIL. The colonel looked
sitting on the hub of one of the wheels, stared
vacantly into space. 'sNothing" qucried
Perkins, in whisper and with face OF
genuine sympathy.
"No-yes," said the colonel, dreamily.
ssThat is, unite 'em and let the stage go
ahead" he continued, springing to his feet.
"rll hurry back to the cabin" The colonel
dashed into the bushes, and left his followers
so paralyzed with establishment that Old
Black afterward remarked that if there'd
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 10 enter the
stage, and the door was slammed, upop
which Old Black picked up his reins as if he
had laid them down at the station, while the
coloneps party FASTENED back to their hut,
fondly inspecting 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 the Init, for there stood the
colonel in a clean white shirt, and suit of
clothing made from the limited spare ward
robe of the other members of the band.
Rut the suspicious Cranks speedily subor-
dinated his wonder to his prudence as, lay
ing on the table heavy purse, he exclaimed
7sCome, Colonel, business before pleasure;
let's divide and scatter. Eff anybody should
hear about it and find our trail an sketch
the brads in our possession they might
ssDivide yourselvesr' said the colonel with
abruptness and great oath. 81 don't want
none of it."
"Colonel,' said Perkins, removing his
own domino and looking anxiously into the
leaders, face, che you sick?" Here's some
bully brandy which found in the passen-
gers pockets"
at hain't nothing" replied the colonel
with averted eyes. "I'm going, and I'm re-
trim from business forever"
Amt agoln' to turn evidence" cried
Cranks, grasping pistol on the table.
sPm agoin' to make a lead mine of you eff
YOU ion't take that backp' roared the colo
mel with bound that caused Cranks to drop
the pistol and retire precipitately, apologi-
zing as he went. "Pm agoin' to attend to
nv own business, and hats enough to keep
anybody bizzy. Somebody lend me $50 till
see him again.
Perkins pressed the money in the coloneIs
hand, and within two minutes the colonel
was on Tipsies back and galloping off in the
direction the stage had taken.
He overlook If, passed it, and still he gal
| Hoped on.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the colo
mel well and made it rule never to be as
tonished at anything he did, but they made
an exception to the rule when the colonel
canvassed the principal bar-rooms for men
who wished to buy horse, and when a
gambler who was flushed obtained Tipsie
for twenty slugs-only $1000-when the col
onel had always said there was not gold
enough on the top of the ground to buy her,
Mud Gulch experienced decided sensa-
ton.
But when the colonel, after remaining in
the barber shop for half an hour, emerged
with his face clean shaved and his hair nice
| ly parted, betting was so wild that cool
headed sporting man speedily made for
| tune by betting against every theory that had
| been advanced.
Then the colonel made a tour of the store
and fitted himself with a new suit ofclothes,
carefully eschewing all of the gorgeous pat
terms aud pronounced colors SO dear to the
heart of the average miner. He bought a
new hat and put on a pair of boots and
pruned his finger nails, and, stranger than
all, he mildly declined all invitations to
| drink.
As the colonel stood at the door of the
principal saloon. where the stage always
stopped, the Challenge Hill constable was
seen to approach the colonel and tap him on
the shoulder, when all the men who bet
that the colonel was lodging somebody
claimed the stakes. But those who stood
near the colonel heard the constable say:
Colonel, take it all back. When l seed
you go out to Challenge Hill it come to me
that you might be in the road agent bust
ness. But when l seed you sell Tipsie /
knew was on the wrong all. | wouldn't
suspect you now if all the stages in the
world was robbed and I'll give you salts
faction any way you want it."
sits all right" said the colonel, with a
smile. The constable afterward said that
nobody had any idea how curioLsly the col.
onel smiled when his beard was off,"
Suddenly the stage pulled up to the door
| with crash, and the male passengers hur-
ried into the saloon in a state of utter indig-
nation and impecuniosity.
The story of the robbery attracted every
body, and during the excitement the colonel
slipped out quietly and opened the door OF
| the stage. the old lady started and cried:
"GeorgeP
And the colonel jumped in the stage and
putting his arm tenderly around the tremb-
ling form of the old lady, exclaimed:
s1Motherp'