The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-08-23

DOgroller tend 10 the driver, Cranks take
the boot, and Mack and Perk takes right
and left. An l know its tough-but con-
siderin' how everlastin' eternal hard up
we are, / reckon we'll have to ask contri-
buttons from the ladies, too, if there's eny
aboard-eh, boys?'
Reckon so, replied Logroller, with a
chuekle that seemed to inspire his black
domino with a wrinkle or two. What's
the use of women's rights eff they don't
ever nave a chance of exercis' 'em ? Hev-
in their purses borrowed Id show 'em the
full doctrine in a bran new light
Come, come, boys interrupted the
Colonel, that's the crack of Old Blacks
whip; pick your bush-quick! All jump
when l whistle"
Each man secreted himself near the
roadside. The stage came swinging along
handsomely those inside were laughing
heartily at something, and Old Black was
Just giving a 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 q matter of common occurrence.
Did Black dropped the reins, crossed his
legs and stared into the sky, and the pas
sengers all put out their heads with a ra-
pidity eaualed only by that with which
they Withdrew them as they saw the dom
inoes and reyolvers of the road agents.
Seems to be something the matter, gen
tlemen,n said the Colonel blandly as he
opened the door. Wont you please get
| nut ? Don't trouble yourself to draw, cos
my friend here's got his weapon cooked an
his fingers rather nervous. Amt got a
handkerchief, hev yer?' asked he of the
first passenger who descended from the
,tape. "Hev? Well, now, that's lucky.
~ - .,a. L,.,Io halfaI var p1aaua-on
that's it.n And the unfortunate mans
arms were securely tied behind in an in
Jtant.
The remaining passengers were treated
with similar courtesy, and the Colonel and
his friends examined the pockets of the
captiyes. Old Black remained unmolest-
ed, for who ever heard OF a stage driver
having money!
Boys said the Colonel, calling his
brother agents aside and comparing re-
ceipts. "taint much of a haul but there's
only one woman, and she's old enough TO
to be a fellers grandmother
Like enough she'll pan out more than
all the rest of the stage put together
growled Cranks, carefully testing the thick
ness of the case of the gold watch. "Just
like the low-lived deceitfulness of some
folks to hire an old woman TO carry their
money, so it'd 20 safer. Mebbe what she's
got amt nothin', to some folks that's got
bosses that can win money at races, but
The Colonel abruptly ended the CONVEX
%sation, and approached the stage. He was
very chivalrous, but Crank s sarcastic refer
ence to Tipsie needed avenging, and as he
could not consistently with business ar
engagements put an end to Cranks, the only
lady would nave to suffer.
81 beg your pardon, ma'am," said the
Colonel, raising his hat politely with one
hand while drew open the coach door with
the other, "but we're taking up a collection
for some deservin' object. We was goin'
TO make the gentlemen fork over the hull
mount, but ez they amt got enough, we
will hey to bother YOU
The old lady tremb!ed, felt for her pock-
et-book and raised her veil. The Colonel
looked into her face, slammed the stage
door, and sitting on the hub of one of the
wheels, stared vacantly into space.
"Nothin'?" queried Perkins in a whis-
per, and with a face full of genuine SYM
pathy.
"No-yes,n said the Colonel dreamily,
That is, unite 'em and let the stage go
ahead" he continued, s%pringing to his feet.
"I'I hurry back to the cabin.n And the
Colonel dashed into the bushes and left his
fellows 80 paralyzed with establishment
that Old Black afterward remarked that
if there'd been anybody to attend to the
horses he could have cleaned out the hull
crowd with his whip.
The passengers, relieved of their weap-
ons, were unbound, allowed to enter the
Jtageannd the door was slammed, upon
which Old Black picked up his reins as if
he had laid them down at the station while
the horses were being changed, then crack
ed his whip and the stage rolled off, while
the Colonel party FASTENED back to their
hut, fondly inspecting as they went GER
tain TASKS they had obtained while tran
sacting their business with the occupants
of the stage.
Great was the establishment of the road
agents us 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 mem
bers of the band.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily sub
ordinated his wonder to his prudence, as
laying on the table a heavy purse he ex-
claimed:
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"
"Divide yerselves,'' said the Colonel,
with abruptness and a great oath, Il don't
want none of it.'
Colonel said Perkins, removing his
domino and looking anxiously into the
leaders face, 'be you sick A? Here's some
bully brandy which | found in the pas
sengers' pockets
sit hain't nothin'," replied the Colonel
with averted eyes. "Im goin' to retire
from business forever"
Amt goin' to turn evidence p cried
Cranks, grasping a pistol on the table.
I'm going to make n lead mine of you
eff you don't take that back ~ roared the
Colonel, with a bound that caused Cranks
to drop the pistol and retire precipitately,
a~pologlzing as he went. I'm agoin' to at
tend to my own business, and that's
enough to keep anybody bizzy. Some
body lend me $50 till / see him agin."
Perkins pressed the money into the Col
onel's hand, and within two minutes the
Colonel was on Tipsie's back and galloped
of in the direction the stage had taken.
He overlook it, passed it, and still he
Calloped on.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the Colo
mel well and made it n rule not to be surpris-
ed at anything he did but they made an
exception to the rule when the Colonel cam
vassed the principal bar-rooms former who
wished to buy a horse, and when a gam
bier who was flush obtained Tipsie for 90
lnOe-nnlv 81 600 when the Colonel haS
always said there wasn't gold enough
on top of ground to buy her-Mud Gulch
experienced II decided sensation.
But when the Colonel, after remaining
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 a cooi-headed sporting
man speedily made n fortune by betting
against every theory that bad been adj