The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1882-02-17

| SesAN WIZ SoAohoA ahoSnAy, Vi'ho P'~"V
the mare
The Colonel was absent but a yer,
few moments, but when he returned
each of the four was attired in pistol
andiknives, while Mack was distribut
ing some dominoes made from a rather
dirty -four sack
Better be an hour ahead than miss
in this ere night said one of the four
Il amt been SO thirsty since l came
round the horn in so. and we run short
of water. Somebody'll get hurt If there
| amt any bitters in the old concern
they will, or my name amt Perkins,
Don't count your chickens before
they're Matched. Perky said one of the
crowd, as he adjusted the dominOe un
der the rim of his hat. 'Sposin' there
should be too many Of us?'
'Stiddy, stiddy, Cranksp remonstrat-
ed the Colonel. "Nobody ever gets
along of they low themselves to be
skeered'
Fact chimed i'm the smallest and
thinnest man in the party. The Bible
says somethin' mighty hot bout that.
I disremember dzactly how it goes, but
I've heard Parson Buzzy, down to
Maine, preach a rippin' old sermon
many time.
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.
Far enough from home now,' said
he.
'Tain't no use being a gentleman
If yer have to work too hard
Safe enough, L eckon,' 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 the left. An 1 know it's
tough-but considering how everlast-
in eternal hard up we are, 1 reckon
we'll have to ask contributions from
the ladies, too, eff there's any aboard eh,
bOys?'
Reckon so,' replied Logroller, with
a 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 even have chance
of exercis'n 'em, 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 bosh, quick. And
jump when 1 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 a delicate
touch to the flank of the off leader,
when the Colonel gave u shrill, quick
whistle, and five men sprang into the
road.
The horse stopped as suddenly as if
it were q 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
a rapidity equalled only by that with
OnO1 WlOndlOW OflClll ttO UuOy saw
the dominoes and revoivers of the road
agents.
Seems to be something the matter,
gentlemen said the Colonel, blandly,
as he opened the door. wont you
please get out? Don't trouble your
self to draw, cos my friend here's got
his weapon cooked an his fingers rath.
er nervous. Amt got a handkerchief.
hev yozp' he asked of the first passen
ger who descends from the stage
Hevp Well, now, that's lucky. Just
put your hands behind yer so; that's it.
And the unfortunate mans hands were
securely tied behind him in an instant
The remaining passengers were treat
ed with similar courtesy and the Col
onel and his friends examined the pock
cts of the captives.
Old Black remained unmolested, for
who ever heard of stage driver hav-
ing any money?
Boys, said the Colonel, calling his
brother agents aside and calling re
ceipts, 'taint much of a haul; but
there is only one woman, and she's ole
enough to be feller's grandmother
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 deceit
edness of some folks to hire an old wO
man to carry their money, so it'd g
safer. Mebbe what she'd got ain
nothing to some folks that's got goot
hosses and ken win money at races
but
The Colonel abruptly ended the con
versation and approached the stage
He was very chivalrous, but Cranks
sarcastic reference to Tipsie needles
avenging, and as he could not consist
emily with business arrangements pu
an end to Cranks, the old lady woul'
have to suffer.
Il beg your pardon, ma'am, said tn
Colonel, raising his hat politely wit
one hand while he drew open the coacl
door with the other, but we're takin
up a collection for some deserving OF
jects. We was goin' to make the ger
tlemen fork over the hull amount, bu
ez they amt got enough we. will hav
to bother you
The old lady trembled, felt for he
pocket-book, and raised her veil. Th
Colonel looked into her face, slamme
the stage door, and sitting on the hu
of one of the wheels, stared vacant
into space. 'Nothingp' querried Pc
kins, in a whisper, and with a face fu
of genuine sympathy.
.No-yes,' said the Colonel dreamil