The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-08-10

comfort lilcfl StIlfiDifS NuH s-ciii
/ TO be TO road agent, though
That time We stopped Slim Mikes
stare. and he didn't have no more
| manners than to draw on me, them
sermons WIZ n perfect blessing tc
ne-iho thorns of 'em cleaned my
head as quick as Il cocktail. An
II don't want to dispute Logrol-
ler's pious strain" interrupted the
lColonel. sbut cz its Old Black that
is arrivin' to-day instead of Slim
Mike. and ez its Old Black alters
lmakes his time, hedn't we better
vamoose?
The door OF the shanty was hasti-
lv closed. and the men filed through
the thicket until near the road when
they marched rapidly on in paral-
Ilel lines with it. After about hall
an hour Perkins, who was leading
halted, and wiped his perspiring
brow with his shirt sleeve.
"Fur enough from home now,
said he.
"'Taiut no use bein' q gentleman
lif yer have to work to hard"
i.Safe enough, / reckon" replied
1.-THE Colonel. "Well do the usual
I'm halt 'em: Logroller, tend to the
driver: Cranks, take the boot, and
! Mack and Perk, take right and left.
/ An l 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. ef there's any aboard-eh,
bows ?"
Reckon so, replied Logroller,
with chuckle that seemed to in
spire even his black domino with a
merry wrinkle or two. What's the
use Of women's rights ef they don't
ever have 4 chance Of eXercis'n 'em.
Hevin' their purses borrowed 'ud
show 'em the full doctrine in bran
new light"
Come. come, boys" interposed
the Colonel, "thars the crack of Old
Blacks whip; pick yer bush
quick All jump when ! whistle"
Each man secreted himself near
the road side. The stage came
swinging along handsomely; those
inside were laughii heartily at
something, and Old Black was just
giving a delicate touch TO the flank
/ Of the Off leader when the Colonel
gave a shril. quick whistle, and five
men sprang into the road.
The horses stopped as suddenly
as If it were matter of common
occurrence. Old Black dropped the
reins. crossed his legs and stared
into the sky, and the passengers all
put out their heads with a rapidity
equalled only by that with which
they withdrew them as they saw
the dominos and revolyers of the
road agents.
Seems TO be something the mat
ter, gentlemen" said the Colonel
blandly, as he opened the door.
Wont YOU please get out? Don't
trouble yourself 10 draw, COS my
friend here's got his weapon cooked
an his fingers rather nervous. Amt
got a handkerchief, hev yer?" ask
ed he of the first passenger who de
scended from the stage. Hey?
Well now, that's lucky. Just put
yer hands behind yer-so-that's
it." And the unfortunate mans
hands were securely tied behind IN
an instant.
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, for
who ever heard of a stage .driyer
having money?
"Bovs," said the Colonel, calling
his brother agents aside and COM
pairing receipts, "tain't much Of a
haul but there's only one woman,
and she's old enough TO be 4 feller's
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 Il
gold watch. Just like the low-liv-
ed deceitfulness Of some folks TO hire
an old woman to carry their money
so it'd 90 safer. Mebbe what shes
got amt nothin' to some folks that's
got hosses that kin 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 he could not
consistently with business arrange
ments put an end to Cranks, the
only lady would have to suffer.
81 beg your pardon, Ma'am," said
the Colonel, raisir g his hat politely
with one hand while he drew
open the coach door, but we're tax
ing up collection for some deserv-
ing 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'? ?" queried Perkins in
whisper, and with face full of gen.
uine sympathy.
"No-yes," said the Colonel,
dreamily. THAT is, unite 'em and
let the stage go ahead" he contin-
ued, springing to his feet. "Tll
hurry back to the cabin" And the
Colonel dashed into the bushes and
left his followers so paralyzed with
astonishment that Old Black after
wards 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, al
lowed to enter the stage, and the
door was slammed, upon which
Old Black picked up his reins AZ II
he had laid them down at the ST.
ton while the horses were being
i. L L. l. ! L L