Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-04-01

from the limited spare wardrobes Of the
other members of the band.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily
subordinated his wonder to his prudence
as, laying on the table heavy purse,
he exclaimed:
"Come, Colonel, business before
pleasure; let's divide and scatter. Ef
anybody should hear about it an find
our trail, an ketch the traps in our pos
session, they might
"Divide yourselves !" said the
Colonel, with white abruptness and o
great oath; "Iwant none of it,"
Colonel" said Perkins, removing
his own domino and looking anx1ously
into the leaders face, "be you sick?"
Here's some bully brandy which found
in the passengers pockets"
"It hain't notllin'," replied tile
Colonel, with averted eyes. "Im goiu'
and I'm retirin' from business forever
"Ain't agoin' to turn evidence ?" criet,
Cranks, grasping a pistol lying upon the
"Tm agoin' to make a lead mine OF
you eff you don't take that back I" roared
Vic Oo'OlNl, hltn DOttIlQ UIltU CduStQ
Cranlzs to drop the pistol and retire pre-
cipitately, apologizing as he went. 'Tm
agoin' to attend to my own business,
and that's enough TO keep anybody busy.
Somebody lend me $50 till see him
agin."
Perkins pressed the money in the
Colonefs hand, and within two minutes
the Colonel was on Tipsie's back and
ealloped off in the direction the stage
had taken.
He overlook it, passed it, and still he
galloped on.
The people at Mud Gu,ch knew the
Colonel well, and made it rule never
to be astonished at any thing he did; but
they made an exception to therrlle when
tnA Colonel canvassed the principal bar
rooms for men who wished to buy q
horse, and when gambler who was
fush obtained Tipsie for twenty slugs--
only 81, 900, when the Colonel had al
ways said there was not gold enough ON
top of ground to buy her-HIud Gulch
experienced q decided sepsasion-
15uG wien 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, bet
ting was so wild that cool ol-headedsport-
ing man speedily made fortune by bet
ting against every theory that had been
advanced.
Then the Colonel made tour of the
stores, and fitted himself up with a new
suit of clothes, carefully eschewing all
of the gorgeous patterns and pronounced
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 invitations to drink.
As the Colonel stood at the door OF the
principal saloon, whore 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 had bet that the Colonel was
dodging somebody claimed the stakes.
But those who stood near the Colonel
heard the constable sPy:
"Colonel, take it all back. When
seed you come out of Challenge Hill, it
come to ne that you might be in the
road agent business. But when / seed
you sell Tipsie / knew I was on the
wrong trail. I wouldn't suspect you
now if all the stages i'll the country was
robbed and III give you satisfaction
any way you want it" -.
sIt's oil right" said the Colonel, will.
n smile. The constable afterward said
that nobody had any idea of how curl
ously the Colonel smiled when his beard
was off.
Suddenly the stage pulled mp to tho
door with crash, and the male
passengers hurried into the saloon III a
state of utter Indignation and impecuni-
osity.
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:
"George T.
And the Colonel jumped in the
stage, and, putting his arm tenderlly
around the trembling form OF the Old
lady, exclaimed:
"Mother r'-Bret lidrte.