St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-01-06


al amt been so thirsty since | came
round the horn in so, an we run short
of water. SOmebody'll get hurt if there
amt any bitters in the old concern
or my name amt Perkins,"
''DOn't count on your chickens fore
there Matched, Perky" said one of the
crowd, as he adjusted the domino un
der the rim of his hat. "'SpOsin' there
should be too many for us 7"
"Stiddy, stiddy, Cranks !" remonstra-
ted the Colonel. "NObody ever gets
along eff they low themselves to be
skeered."
"Fact," chimed in the smallest and
thinnest man in the party. ''The Bi-
BILE says sOmethin' mighty hot bout
that. | disremember dzactly how it
goes, but I've heard ParsOn Buzzy,
down to Maine, preach rippin' old
sermon many a time. The old man
never thOrt what comfort them SER
mons wuz agOin' to be to a road agent,
though. The time we stopped Sam
Mikes stage and he didn't have no
more manners than to draw on me,
them sermons wuz perfect blessing to
me-the thOrts of 'em cleared my head
as quick as cocktail. An"
~ don't want to dispute LOgrOller's
piOus strain" interrupted the Colonel,
''but ez it's Old Black that's arrivin'
to-day instead of Sam Mike, and eZ it's
Old Black alters makes his time, hadn't
we better vamOOse 7"
The door of the shanty was hastily
closed, and the men filed through the
thicket until near the road, when they
marched rapidly on in parallel lines
with it. After about half an hour
Perkins, who was leading, halted, and
wiped his perspiring brow with his
shirt sleeve.
eur enough from home now," said
he.
"'Tain't no use being gentleman,
if yer have to work too hard"
'Safe enough, reckon, replied the
Colonel. ''We'll do the usual I'll
half 'em; LOgroller, tend to the driver !;
Cranks, take the boot, and Mack and
Perk, take right and left. An know
it's tOugh-but considering how ever
lastin' eternal hard up we are, | reck-
on we'll have to ask contributions from
the ladies, too, ef there's any aboard /;
ell boys 2"
"Reckon so," replied Logroller, with
IA chuckle that seemed to inspire even
his black domino with merry wrinkle
or two whats the use of woman's
rights eff they don't ever have IA chance
of exercis'n 'em havip' their purses
borrowed 'ud show 'em the full doctrine
in bran new light"
"Come, come, boys" interposed the
Colonel, ''thar's the crack of Old
Blacks whip: pick up yer bush, quick
And jump when | whistle"
Each man secreted himself by the
road side. The stage was swinging
along handsomely those inside were
laughing heartily at something, and
Old Black was just giving delicate
touch to the flank of the off leader
when the Colonel gave shrill, quick
whistle, and five men sprang into the
road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as if
it were Il matteISof common occurrence.
Old Black dropped the reins, crossed
his legs and stared into the sky, and
the passengers all put out their heads
with rapidity equaled only by that
with which they withdrew them as they
saw the dOminOes and revolVers of the
road agents.
''Seems to be something the matter,
gentlemen" said the Colonel blandly
as he opened the door. "Won't you
please get out Don't trouble your
selves to draw, cos my friend here's
got his weapon cooked an his fingers
rather mel ,ous. Amt got handker-
chief, hev yez 7" he asked of the first
passenger who descended from tbs
+ stage. "Hev Well, now, that:
lucky. Just put your hands behinC
yer so, that's it." And the unfortu
nate mans hands were securely tie6
behind him in an instant.
The remaining passengers were
, treated with similar courtesy, and the
Colonel and his friends examined thu
pockets of the captives. Old Black re
, mained unmOlested, for whoever heart
of stage driver having any money 7
"Boys," said the Colonel, calling hi
brother agents aside and calling re
: ceipts, ''tain't much of a haul bu
e there is only one woman, and she's olt
, enough to be feller's grandmother"
Z Like enough she'll pan out more
than all the rest of the stage put to
gether," growled Cranks' carefully test
;. ing the thickness of the case of a gOl'
/ watch. ''Just like the low lived de
n ceitfulness of some folks to hire an oil,
e woman to carry their money, so it'd G
safer. Mebbe what she's got ain
nothing to some folks that's got goo
4 hOsses that ken win money at races
but
It The Colonel abruptly ended the con
e versatiOn and approached the stage
a He was very chivalrous, but Crank
Y sarcastic reference to Tipsie needle
e avenging, and as he could not consist
e emily with business arrangements pu
an end to Cranks, the old lady wOul
l. have to suffer.
d II beg your pardon, ma'am," sal
<, the Colonel, raising his hat pOlitel
d with one hand while he drew open tn
= coach deor with the other, ''but wei
( taking up a collection for some desery
lie ing objects. We was goin' to mab
the gentlemen fork over the hu
ii amount, but ez they amt got enOug
I'd we will have to bother you"
le The old lady trembled, felt for h
l. pocket book and raised her veil. TT
Colonel looked into her face, slamme
es the stage door, and sitting on the hr
of one of the wheels, stared vacant
into space. Nothing :" queried Pc
kins, in whisper, and with face fu
is of genuine sympathy.
ed "NO-yes," said the Colonel dream
IS ly. "That is, unite 'em and let Il
C. stage go ahead" he continued, sprin
ce ing to his feet. "Ill hurry back
OF the cabin" And the Colonel DASH
be into the bushes and left his followe
so paralyzed with astonishment tn
y, Old Black afterward remarked that
er there'd been anybody to mind q
rel horses he could have cleaned out i
hull crowd with his whip.
EN- The passengers, now relieved