The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-10-12

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 blessin' to me
the thorts of 'em cleaned my
head as quick as a cocktail. An
Il don't want to dispute Logrol-
ler's Plus strain" interrupted the
colonel "but ez it's Old Black that's
arrivin to-day instead ofSlim Mike,
and ez its Old Black alters makes
his time, hadn't we better vamose?'
The door of the shanty was hastl
lv closed and the men filed through
the thiclet until near the road
when they marched rapidly en- in
parellel lines with it. After about
half an hour Perkins, who was lead
ing, halted and wiped his perspiring
brow with his shirt sleeve.
"Fur enough from home, now,
said he. 'Taint no use bein' a
gentleman if yer have TO work toe
hard"
safe enough, i 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 left
An / know it's tough-but consid'
erin how everlastin eternal hard up
we are, reckon we'll have to ask
contributions from the ladies, too
if there's eny aboard-eh, boys ?"
Reckon So" replied Logroller
with a chuckle that seemed to In
spire his black domino with wrin-
kle or two. whats the use of wo'
mems rights eff they don't ever have
have a chance TO exercise 'em
Hevin' their purses borrowed II
shown 'em the full doctrine in
bran new light"
"Come, come boys" interrupted
the colonel, that's tie crack of ole
Blacks whip; pick yer bush-quick
All Jump when | whistle"
Each man secreted himself near
the roadside. The stage came
swinging along handss-"ely; those
inside were laughing heartily al
something, and Old Black was jus
giving delicate touch to the flank
vi the off leader when the colone
gave a shrill, quick whistle and five
men sprang into the road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as
if it were a matter of common oc
currence. Old Black dropped The
reins, crossed his legs and stared
into the sky, and the passengers al
put out their heads with a rapidity
equaled only by that with which
they withdrew them as they saw The
dominoes and revolvers of the road
agents.
Seems to be something the mat
ter, gentlemen" said the colonel
blandly, as he opened the door
won't you please get out ? DOM
trouble yourself to draw, COS my
friend here's got his weapon cooked
an his fingers rather nervous. AIM
got handkerchief, hev yer ?" asked
he of the first passenger who descend
ed from the stage. "Hev ? Well
now, that's lucky. Just put vel
hands behind yer, please-so-
that's it." And the unfortunate
mans arms were securely tied be-
hind him in an instent.
The remaining passengers were
treated with similar courtesy, and
the colonel and his friends examin
ed the pockets of the captives. Old
Black remained unmolested, fol
whoever heard of a stage driver hav'
ing money
Boys" said the colonel, calling
his brother agents aside and com
pairing receipts, " 'taint much of 8
haul but there's only one woman
and she's old enough to be a fellows
grandmother"
Like enough she'll pan out more
than all the rest of the stage put to-
gether," growled Cranks. carefully
testing the thickness of the case OF
the gold watch. Just like the low.
lived deceitfulness of some folks tc
hire an old women to carry theil
money, so it'd go safer. Mebbe what
she's got amt nothin' to some folks
that got hosses that can win money
at races, but"
The colonel abruptly ended the
conversation, and approached the
stage. He was very chivalrous, but
Cranks' sarcastic reference to Tipsie
needed avenging, and as he could
not consistently with business ar
rangements put an end to Cranks,
the only lady would have to suffer.
II beg your pardon, ma'am," said
the colonel, raising his hat politely
with one hand while he drew open
the coach door with the other, "but
we are taking up a collection for
some deservin' object. We was
goin' to make the gentleman fork
over the hull amount, but ez they
amt got enough, We will have to
bother you"
The old lady trembled, felt for
her pocketbook 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' ?" queried Perkins in a
whisper, and with a face full of gen.
uine sympathy.
Moves" said the colonel,
dreamily. THAT is, unite 'em and
let the stage go ahead" he continu-
ed, sprinking to his feet. ''I'll hur-
ry back to the cabin" And the
colonel dashed into the bushes and
left his followers so paralyzed with
that Old Black after
ward remarked that if there'd been
to attend to the horses he
could have cleaned out the hull
crowd with his whip.
The passengers, relieved of their
weapons, were unbound, allowed to
enter the stage, and the door wi-
upon which Old Black
picked up his reins as if he had laid
them down at the station while the
horses were being changed, then
cracked his whip and the stage roll
ed of, when the colonel's party has