Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-05

hour Perkins, who was leading, halted, and
wiped his perspiring brow with his shirt
sleeve.
eur enough from home now, said he.
"'Taint no use bein' gentleman il yer
have to work too hard"
'Safe enough, l 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 take right and left.
An know it's tough-but considerin' how
everlastin' eternal hard up we are, reckon
wen have TO ask contributions from the la
dies, too, ef there's any aboard-eh, boys p
Reckon So" replied Logroller, with
chuckle that seemed to inspire even his black
domino with a merry wrinkle or two. Whats
the use Of womens rights ef they don't ever
have a chance Of exercis'n 'em. Hevin' their
purses borrowed 'ud show 'em the full doc
trine in bran new light"
Come, come, boys" interposed the Colo
mel, 'thars the crack of Old Blacks whip
pick yer bush quick All jump when l
whistle"
Each man secreted himself near the road
side. The stage came swinging along hand
somely those inside were laughing heartily
at something, and Old Black was just giving
a delicate touch to the flank Of the of leader
when the Colonel gave a shrill quick whistle,
and five men sprang into the road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as if it
we're a 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
a. they saw the dominos and revolvers Of the
road agents.
Seems to be something the matter, gen.
tlemen," said the Colonel blandly, as he
opened the door Wont you please get
out Don't trouble yourself to draw, COS
my friend here's got his weapon cooked
an his fingers rather nervous. Amt got
handkerchief hev yer p asked he Of the first
passenger who descended from ths stage.
"Hev? 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 examined the pockets of the cap
tives. Old Black remained unmolested, for
who ever heard a OF a stage driver having
money!
Boys, said the Colonel, calling his broth
er agents aside and comparing receipts,
"'tain't much of a haul but there's only
one woman, and she's old enough to be a fel-
ler's grandmother"
Like enough she'll pan out more than oil
the rest Of the stage put together growled
Cranks, carefully testing the thickness of the
case of a 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 nothin' to
some folks that's got hosses that kin win
money at races, but"
The Colonel abruptly ended the conversa-
tion, and approached the stage. He was very
g.
Tipsie needed avenging, 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 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 look
ed into her face. slammed the stage door,
and sitting on the hub of one Of the wheels,
stared vacantly into space.
'Nothin' p queried Perkins in a whisper,
and with face full of genuine sympathy.
"No-yes," said the Colonel, dreamily
That is, unite 'em and let the stage 90
ahead, " he continued, springing to his feet.
I'm hurry back to the cabin" And the Col
onel dashed into the bushes and left his fol-
lowers so paralyzed with astonishment 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 to enter
the stage, and the door was slammed, upon
which Old Black picked up his reiDs as if he
laid them down at the station while the
horses we're being changed, then he cracked
his whip, and the stage rolled OFF, while the
COloneTs party hastened 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 their hut, for there stood the
Colonel in a clean white shirt, and in a suit
of clothing made from the limited spare
wardrobes of the other members of the band.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily subor-
dinAted his wonder to his prudence as, laying
on the table heavy purse, he exclaimed:
Come, Colonel, business before pleasure
let's divide and scatter. Eff anybody should
hear about it, and find our trail, an ketch
the traps in our possession, they might"
boAA tho OOAohOA WAhA
white abruptness and great oath, II don't
want none of it,"
Colonel" said Perkins, removing his own
domino and looking anxiously into the lead
er's face, "be you sick? Here's some bully
brandy which I found in the passengers
pockets"
at hain't nothin'," replied the Colonel
with averted eyes. I'm goin, and I'm re-
trim from business forever"
Amt agoin' to turn evidence ?" cried
Crsnks graspng pistol on the table.
'I'm agoin TO make lead mine of you ei
you don't take that back :" roared the Colo
mel with bound that caused Cranks to DROP
the pistol and retire precipitately, apologiz
ing as he went. I'm agoin to attend to my
own business, and that's enough TO keep any.
body bizzy. Somebody lend me fifty till
see him agin."
Perkins pressed the money in the Colonel's
hand, and within two minutes the COlone
was on Tpsie's back and galloped of in the
direction the stage had taken.
He overlook it, passed it, and still he gal
loped on.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the Colo
mel we'll, and made it a rule never 10 be as
tonished at anything be did, but they made
an exception to the rule when the COlone
canvassed the principal bar rooms for mer
VINO Wlbneu 10 Duy uOrsei anu Nueu u Bhli
| bier who was flush obtained Tipsio for TWEEN
| ty slugs-only a thousand dollars, when th.
Colonel had always said there was not gold
enough on top of ground to buy her-Muc
| Gulch experienced decided sensation.
But when the Colonel. after remaining il
\ the barber shop for half an hour, emerged
with his face clean shaved and his hair nicely
trimmed and parted, betting was so wild tha
a cool headed sporting man speedily made {
fortune by betting against every theory tina
had been advanced
Then the Colonel made tour Of the store'
and fitted himself with a new suit Of clothes
carefully eschewing all of the gorgeous pat
terms and pronounced eolors SO dear to the
heart of the average miner. He bought 4
new hat, and put on pair of new boots
and pruned his finger nails, and, stranger
than all, he mildly declined all invitations L
| drink.
As the Colonel stood at the door of th'
/ principal saloon, where the stage always stop
a =