The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-07-06

but considering how everlastln eternal
hard up we are, / reckon we'll have to
ask contributions from the ladies, too,
eff there's any aboard; eh, boys?"
"Reckon So" replied Logroller, with
chuckle that seemed to inspire even
his black domino with merry wrinkle
or two; "what's the use of women's
rights eff they don't ever have a chance
of exercis'n 'em, their purses borrowed
nd show EN- the full doctoine in bran
new light"
"Come, come, boys" interposed the
Colonel, "thar's the crack of Old Black
whip; pick up yer bosh, quick. And
Jump when whistle"
Each man secreted himself by the
roadside. 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 matter of 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 equalled 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 yourself to draw,
COS my friend here's got his weapon
cooked an his fingers rather nervous.
Amt got handkerchief, hev yez?" he
asked of the first passenger who de-
ecended from the stage. "Hev! Well,
now, that's lucky. Just put yer hands
behind yer so; that's it." And the un-
fortunate mans hands were securely
tied behind him in an instant.
The remaining passengers were treated
with similar courtesy and the Colonel
and his friends examined the pockets of
OF the captives.
"Boys," said the Colonel, calling his
brother aside and calling receipts,
"tain't much of haul; but there is
only one woman, and she's old enough to
be feller's grandmother.
The Colonel approached the stage.
He was very chivalrous, but Cranks
sarcastic reference to Tipsie needed
avenging, and he could not consistently
with business arrangements put an end
to Cranks, the old lady would have to
suffer.
CT beg your pardon, ma'am," said the
Colonel, raising his hat politely with
one hand weile he drew open the coach
door with the other, "but We are taking
up collection for some deserving OBJ
iects. We was goin' to make the gentle
men fork over the hull amount, but ez
they amt got enough we will have to
bother you"
The old lady trembled, felt for her
pocket-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.
.sNothing?' queried Perkins, in q
whisper aud with face of genuine
sympathy.
"No-Yes," said the Colonel ,dreamily.
"That is unite 'em and let the stage go
ahead" he continued, springing to his
feet. "I'll hurry back to the cabin"
The Colonel dashed into the bushes,
and left his followers SO paralyzed with
astonish ment that Old Black afterward
remarked that if thered been anybody
to mind the horses he could have cleaned
out the whole 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 had laid them down at the
station, while the Colonels party has
tened back to their hut fondly inspecting
as they went certain TASKS they had OBJ
tanned while transacting their business
with the occupants of the stage.
Great was the surprise of the road
agents as they entered the hut, for there
stood the Colonel in clean shirt and q
suit OF clothes made from the limited
spare wardrobe of the other members of
the band.
But the suspicious Cranks subordi.
mated his wonder to his prudence, Is lay
ing on the table heavy purse, he ex-
claimed
Come, Colonel, business before pleas
are; let's divide and scatter. Fl any
body should hear about it and find our
trail an sketch the brads in our posses
sion they might"
"Divide yourselvesl" said the Colonel,
with a5ruptness and great oath. II
don't want none Of it"
Colonel" said Perkins, removing his
own domino and looking anxiously into
the leaders face, "be you sick? Here's
some bully brandy which ! found in the
passengers pockets"
ut hain't nothin';;" replied the Colo
nal With averted eyes. "I'm goin, and