Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-17
dominOes made from rather dirty -four

Better be an hour ahead than mis-.
in this ere night" said one of the four
" amt been so thirsty since CANE
round the Horn in so. an we run shor,
Of water. Somebody'll get hurt if there
amt any bitters in the old concern; they
viii. or my name amt Perkins
Don't count on your chickens fore
they're ha,ched, Perky" said one Of the
crowd, a. he adjusted the domino under
the rim of his hat. 'Sposin' there should
be too many Of US:
"Stiddy, stiddy, Cranks,' remonstrat-
cd the Colonel. Nobody ever gets along
ef they Low themselves to be skeered."
Fact" chimed in the smallest and
,hinnest man in the party, The Bible
saws Some,hin' mighty no, 'bou, that.
disremember exactly how it goes, but I've
heard Parson Buzzy, down in Maine,
preach a rippin' old sermon many u time
The old man never thort what comfort
them sermons wuz agoin' to be road
agent. though The time we stopped
sam Mikes stage and he didn't have no
more manners than 10 draw on me, them
sermons wuz perfect blessing 10 me
the ,horns Of 'em cleared my head as
quick as a cocktail An"
II don, want TO disturb Logrollers 5
pious strain interrupted the Colonel,
"but cz It's Old Black that's srrivin' to-
dav instead of sam Mike. and ez it's Old
Black alters makes his time, hadn't we
better yamoOse
The door Of the shantv was hastily
closed. and the men filed through the
,hicket until near the road, when they
marched rapidly on in parallel lines with
II. After about half an hour, Perkins,
Who was leading. halted, and wiped his
per>piring brow with his shir; sleeve.
"Tain't no use being a gentleman, If
yer have TO work too hard.
safe enough, | reckon, replied the
Colonel. Well do the usual; III halt
EN- Logroller tend TO the driver; Cranks
take the boot and Mack and Prrk take
right and left. An | know it's tough
but considering how everlasting eter-
nal hard up we are, reckon we'll just
have to ask for contributions from the la
dies. too, ef there is any aboard eh,
BOYS :"
Reckon 50. replied Locroller, with
q chuckle that seemed TO inspire even his
black domino with a merry wrinkle or
two what's the use of women's rights
ef they don't ever have a chance Of ex-
crci>in EN-. havin their purses borrowed
nd ,how IN the full doctrine in bran
new light
Gene, come, bows" in,erposed the
Colonel. " thar's the crack of Old Blacks
whip; pick up Yer bush, quick And
Jump when whistle.
Each man secre;ed himself by the
roadside The stage was swinging along
handsomely; those inside were laughing
heartily d; something. and Old Black
was just giving delicate touch TO the
flank OF the of leader when the Colonel
gave a shrill, quick whistle, and five men
,prang into the road.
The ho's,> stopped as suddenly as If
it were "a matter Of common occurrence.
Old Hack dropped the reins, crossed his
legS and stared in The ky. and the pass
euecrs all put out their heads with ra-
pili,y ,qGai.ed only by that with which
l.. .L.,- the
dominoes and revolvers OF the road
agents.
s.. seem, 20 be something the matter,
gentlemen said the Colone', 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 ye:" he asked Of the FIST passenger
who descended from the stage. " Hev /:
Nell, now, that's lucky. Just put
Your hands behind you, so that's 1t. y
And The unfortunate mans hands were
securely tied behind him in less than an
instant.
The remaining passengers were treated
win similar courtesy, and the Colonel
aud hi. friends examined the pockets of
the c4p,iyts. Old Black remained un
molestei, for whoever heard Of stage
river having any money:
Boys" said the Colonel, calling his
brother agents aside and calling receipts.
faint much of haul; but there's only
one woman, and she's old enough to be a
feIlers grandmother.
Like enough she'll pan out more n
than all the rest Of the stage put togeth-
er,' 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 10 carry
their money, 50 it'd 20 safer. Mebbe
what she's got amt nothing 10 some
folks that's got good hOsses and ken win
money at races, but
The Colonel abruptly ended the con-
versation and approached the stage. he
was very chivalrous. but Crankss sar-
castle reference to Tipsie needed aveng-
inc and as he could not consistently
with business arrangements put an end
70 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, " but We re