The Owosso times., 1881-07-29

safer. Mebbe what she's got amt
nothin' to some folks that's got hos
ses that kin win money at races, but
The Colonel abruptly ended the con-
versation, and approached the stage.
He was very chivalrous, but Cranks'
sarcastic reference to Tipsie needed
avenging, and as he could not consis-
tently with business arrangements put
an end to Cranks, the only lady would
have to suffer.
Il beg your pardon, ma'am, said the
Colonel, raising his hand politely with
one hand while he drew open the coach
door with the other, bat we're taking
up collection for some deserving OBJ
ject. We was goin' to make the gentle
man fork over the whole amount, but
ez they amt got enough we will have
to bother you."
The old lady trembled, felt of 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' /? queried Perkins in whis-
per, and with face full of genuine SYM
pathy.
'No-yes,' said the Colonel, dreamily.
That is, unite 'em and let the stage 60
ahead he continued, springing to his
feet. I'll hurry back to the cabin"
And the Colonel dashed into the bushes
and left his followers so paralyzed with
astOnishment that Old Black afterward
remarked that if there'd been anybody
to mind the horse he could have
cleaned out the hull crowd with his
whip.
The passengers, now relieved of their
weapons, were unbound. allowed to en-
ter the stage, and the door was slam
med, 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 Colone's
party hastened back to their hut, fondly
inspecting as they went certain TASKS
they had obtained while transactine
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 wardrobes of the
other members of the band.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily
subordinated his wonder to his pru-
dence as, laying on the table a heavy
purse, he exclaimed:
Come, Colonel, business before pleas
ure; let's divide and scatter. Eff any
body should hear about it, and find our
trail, an ketch the traps in our posses
sion, they might
divide yourselvesp said the Colonel
with white abruptness and great
oath, 81 don't want none of it,"
Colonel" said Perking, removing
his own domino and looking anxiously
into the leaders face, "be you sick
Here's some bully brandy which
found in the passengers pockets"
ut hain't nothing" replied the Col
onel with averted eyes. "I'm goin'
and I'm retirin' from business for
ever"
saint agoin' to turn evidence?"
cried Cranks, grasping a pistol on the
table.
I'm goin' to make led mine of you
eff you don't take that back p roared
the Colonel with bound that caused
Cranks to drop the pistol and retire
precipitately, apologizing as he went.
'I'm agoing to attend to my own busi-
ness, and that's enough to keep any
body bizzy. Somebody lend me $50
till l see hem agin."
Perkins passed the money into the
Colonel's hand, and within two minutes
the Colonel was on Tipsie's back and
galloped off in the direction the stage
had taken.
He overlook it, passed it, and still
he gallOped on.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the
Colonel well, and made it rule never
to be astonished at anything he did,
but they made an exception to the rule
when the Colonel canvassed the prin-
cipal bar rooms for men who wished
to buy horse, and when gambler
who was flush obtained Tipsie for
twenty slugs-only a thousand dollars,
when the Colonel had always said there
was not gold enough on top of ground
to buy her-Mud Gulch experienced a
decided sensation.
But when the Colonel, after remain
ing in the barber shop for half an hour,
emerged with his face clean shaved
and his hair nicely trimmed and parted,
betting was so wild that cool-headed
sporting man speedily made fortune
by betting against every theory that
had been advanced.
Then the Colonel made tour of the
stores and fitted himself with new
suit of clothes, carefully eschewing all
of the gorgeous patterns and pro-
nounced colors so dear to the heart of
the average miner. He bought new
hat and put on pair of boots, and
pruned his finger nails, and stranger
than all, he mildly declined all invita-
tiOns to drink.
As the Colonel stood at the door of
the principal saloon, where the stage
always stopped, the Challenge Hill con.
stable was seen to approach the Colo.
mel and tap him on the shoulder, when
all the men who bet that the Colonel
was dodging somebody claimed the
stakes. But those who stood neal
the Colonel heard the constable say:
Colonel, take it all back. When
send you 90 out Of Challenge Hill il
come to me that you might be in the
road agent business. But when | seet
you sell Tipsie 1 knew was on tht
wrong trail. I wouldn't suspect yor