Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-01-12
. strated the Colonel. 'sNobody ever
gets along eff they low themselves to

gets along eff they low themselves to
be skeered."
"Fact," chimed in one of the small
est and thinnest man in the party.
"1 he Bible says somethin' mighty
hot bout that. disremember
h'xactly how 1t goes, but I've heard
Parson Buzzy, down to Maine, preach
a rippin' old sermon many a time.
The old man hever thort what COM
fort them sermons 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 q
perfect blessing to me-,he thorns OF
'em cleared my head as quick as a
cocktail. An"
II don't want to disturb Logrol-
ler's pious STRAIN" interrupted the
Colonel, ''but ez it's Old Black that 8
arrivin' to-day, instead Of Sam Mike,
and ez Old Black alters makes his
time, hadn't we better vamoose?'
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 half an hour Perkins,
who was leading, halted, and wiped
his perspiring brow with his shirt
sleeve.
EUR enough from home now,'
said he.
''Taint no use being gentleman
if yer have to work too hard
Safe enough, l reckon" replied
the Colonel. "We'll do the usual
I'll halt 'em; Logroller tend to the
driver; Cranks, take the boot, and
Mack and Perk, take right and left.
An | know it's tough-but consider
ing how everlastin' eternal hard up
we are, reckon we'll have to ask
contributions from the ladies, too, et
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 wo-
mems rights eff they don't ever have
a chance of exercis'n 'em; havin'
their purses borrowed nd show ZEN
the full doctrine in bran new light. y
Come, come. boys" interposed
the Colonel, 'thar's the crack of Ole
} Blacks whip; pick up yer bush
quick! and jump when l whistle"
, Each man secreted himself by the
, roadside. The stage was swinging
along handsomely; those inside wer,
laughing heartily at something, ant
Old Black was just giving a delicat.
touch to the flank of the off leader
, when the Colonel gave shrill, quicl
f whistle, and five men sprang into the
, road.
The horses stopped as suddenly a
J if it were a matter of common occur
renee. Old Black dropped the reins
: crossed his legs and stared into the
/ sky, and the passengers all put ou
their heads with a rapidity equale,
/ only by that with which they with
, drew them rs they saw the dominoe:
: and revolvers of the road agents.
2 ''Seems to be something the mat
, ter. gentlemen, said the Colone
, blandly, as he opened the door
S "W ont you please get out:" Don
: Trouble yourself to draw, COS N,
: friend here's got his weapon cooked
an his fingers rather nervous. Ain
t got a handkerchief, hev yez?' h
B, asked of the first passenger who de
T scenaed from the stage. ''Hev
5 Well now, that's lucky. just pu
your hands behind yer, so; that
5 it, And the unfortunate man
Y hands were securely tied behind hin
in an instant.
:, The remaining passengers ver'
treated with similar courtesy, ant
f the Colonel and his friends examined
e the pockets of the captives. O.'
| Black remained unmolested, for win
: ever heard of a stage driver havin,
l any money!
Boys" said the Colonel, callin,
n his brother agents aside and callin!
receipts, 'taint much Of haul; bu
q there is only one woman, and shes
2 old enough to be feller's grand
8 MOTHER
f "Like enough she'll pan out NOR
than all the rest of the stage put to
gether," growled Cr.nks, CAREFUL.
/ testing the thickness of the case of
gold watch. ''Just like the low-live'
e deceitfulness of some folks to hire al
e old woman to carry their money, 81
b it'd go safer. Mebbe what she's 60
e amt nothing to some folks that's 90
J.. good hosses and ken win money q
b races, but"
i The Colonel abruptly ended til
: conversation and approached tn
y stage. He was very chivalreus, bu
e Cranks' sarcastic reference to Tipsi
needed avenging, and as he could no
8 consistently with business arrange
ments put an end to Cranks, the onl
lady would have to suffer.
Il beg your pardon, ma'am,' sal
d the Colonel, raising his hat politel
= with one hand while he drew ope
d the coach door with the other, 'bu
n we're taking up collection tor som
a deserving objects. We was goin'
a make the gentlemen fork over tn
e whole amount, but ez they amt &C
n enough, we will have to bother you.
The old lady trembled, felt for he
l. pocket book and raised her veil. Th
> Colonel looked into her face, slamme
e the stage door and, sitting on th
o hub of one of the wheels, stared v.
cantly into space.
IL "Nothing?' queried Perkins in
h whisper and with face full of gen'
e inc sympathy.
I" "No-yes, said the Colone
e dreamily. ''That is, unite 'em an
le let the stage 90 ahead" he continued
.e springing to his feet. 'I'll hurI
,e back to the cabin"
% The Colonel dashed into the bushe
|. and left his followers so paralyze
l. with astonishment that Old Black .
Y. terward remarked that If there bee
anybody to mind the horses be cou
" have cleaned out the hull crowd vii
d his whip.
ls The passengers, now relieved I
t. their weapons, were unbound, allowe