Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-05-13

cabin" And the Colonel dashed into the bushes and lefG his followers SO par alyzed with astonishment that Old Black afterward remarked that if tlfer'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 en- ter the stage and the door was slammed, | upon which Old Black picked up his reins. as if he laid them down at the sta tion while thehorses were being changed, 1 then he cracked his whip and the stage rolled off, while the Colouel's party hur- ried back to the hut, fondly inspecting, as they went, certain fiasks they had obtained while transacting their busi- ness 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 a shit of clothing made un 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 a heavy purse, he exclaimed:
 'tCome, Colonel, business before pleasure; let's divide and scatter. Elf anybody should hear about 1t an find our trail, an ketch the traps in our pos session, they might"
 ''Divide yourselves !" said the Colonel, with a white abrrptness and great oath " want none of it."
 "Colonel," said Perkins, removing his own domino and looking anxously into the leaders face, ''be you sick?" Here's some bully brandy which found ill the passengers pockets"
 "It hain't nothin'," replied the Colonel, with ayerted eyes. "Tm goiD' and I'm retiriu' from business forever"
 ''Ain't agoin' to turn evidence" ?" cried Cranks, grasping pistol lying upon the table.
 "Pm agoin' to make a lead mine of you ef you don't take that back roared the Co'onel, with bound that caused Cranks to drop the pistol and retire pre- cipitately, apologi2ing as he went. 'I'm agoln' to attend to my own business, and that's enough to keep anybody busy. Somebody leni me $50 til see him agin."
 Perkins pressed the money in the | Colonel's hand, and within two minutes the Colonel was on Tipsie's back and galloped eff in tie direction the stage had taken.
 He overlook 1t, passed 1t, and still he galloped on.
 The people at Mud Gulcl knew the Colonel well, and maie 1t q rule never to be astonished at anl thing he did; but they made an exception 10 therule when l ha Nr1n !. ha- rooms for meu who wished 10 buy a flush obtained Tipsie for twenty slugs- only $1, 900, when the Colonel had all ways said there was not gold enough on top of ground to buy her-Mud Gulch experienced decided sensation.
 But when the Colonel, after remain ing ill 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 8 cool- headed sport ing man speedily made fortune by bet ting against every theory that had been l advanced.
 Then the Colonel made tour of the stores, and fitted himself up with a new suit of clothes, carefully eschewing ali 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 ail he mildly declined all invitations to drink.
 As the Colonel stood at the door ot the principal saloon, where 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 say:
 "Colonel, takeit all back When l seed you come out Of Challenge Hill, il come to ne that you might be in the road agent business. But when I seed you sell Tipsic l knew 1 was on the wrong trail. l wouldn't suspect yol now if all the stages in the country was robbed; and l'll give you satisfaction any way you want it. :"
 "It's all right" said the Colonel, witt a smile. The constable afterward sai( that nobody had any idea of how curi ously the Colonel smiled when his beard was of.
 Suddenly the stage pulled up to tn, door with crash, and the nal, passengers hurried into the saloon in |: state of utter indignation and impecuni osity.
 The story of the robbery attracted everybody, and during the excitemen the Colonel slipped out quietly an( opened the door of the stage. The olC lady started, and cried:
 "Georgel''
 And tie Colonel jumped in th' stage, and, putting his arm tenderI. around the trembling form of the oiC lady, exclaimed:
 s' Mother !'-Bret Karte.