The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-01-20

he had laid them down at the station while
the Coloners party fastened back to the
hut, fondly inspecting as they went certain
TASKS they had obtained 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 a clean white shirt and a suit of
clothing made from the limited wardrobe of
the other members of the band.
Bat the suspicious Cranks speedily subor-
dinated his wonder to his prudence as, lay
ing on the table heavy purse, he exclaim-
ed:
Come, Colonel, business before pleasure;
let's divide and scatter. Eff anybody shou
hear about it and find onr trail and ketch
the brads in in our possession they might"
"Divide yourselves said the Colonel,
with abruptness and a great oath 1 don't
want none Of it. :"
Colonel, said Perkins, removing his own
domino and looking anxiously into the lead
face, be you sick Here's some bully brandy
which I found in the passengers pocket"
cit hain't nothing" replied the Colonel
with averted eyes. "Im going, and I'm re-
trim from business forever"
"Ain't agoin' to turn evidence?" cried
Cranks, grasping pistol on the table.
'1'm goin' to make a lead mine Of you eff
you don't take that back - roared the Col.
with a bound that caused Cranks to drop the
pistol and retire precipitately, apOlogi?ing as
he went. I'm agoin' ter tend to my own
business and that's enough to keep anybody
bizzy. Somebody lend me fifty dolly until l
see him again.
Perkins pressed the money into tie Colon
els hand, and within two minutes the Col
onel was on Tipsie's back and galloping off
in the direction the stage had taken.
He overlook it, passed it, and still he gal
loped on.
The people of Mud Gulch knew the Col
onel well, and made it rule not to be aston
ished at anything he did, but they made an
exception to the rule when the Colonel can
vassed the principal barroOms for men who
wished to buy a hoi Sc, and when q gambler
who was flush obtained Tipsie for twenty
slugs-only 81, 1,0OO-when the Colonel had
always said that there was not gold enough
on top of the ground to buy her, Mud Gulch
experienced decided sensation.
But when the Colonel, after remaining in
the barber shop for half an hour, emerged
with his face clean shaved and bis hair nice
ly parted, betting was so wild that a cool
headed sporting man speedily made for
tune by betting against every theory that
had been advanced.
Then the Colonel made a tour of the store
and fitted himself with a new suit of clothes,
carefully eschewing all the gorgeous pat
terms and pronounced colors so dear to the
Z haa of he r,aFr 10
new hat and put on a pair of boots, and
pruned his finger nails, and. stranger than
all he mildly declined all invitations to
drink
As the Colonel stood at the door of the
principal saloon where the stage always
stops. the Challenge Hill constable was seen
to approach the Colonel and tap him on the
shoulder, when all the men who bet that the
Colonel was lodging somebody claimed the
stakes. But those who stood near the Colo
mel heard the Constable say:
Colonel, take it all back. When 1 saw
you 90 out to Challenge Hill it came to me
that you might be in the road agent bust
ness But when l seed you sell Tipsic I
knew | was on the wrong trail. 1 wouldn't
suspect you now if all the stages in the world
were robbed and III give you satisfaction
any way you want it,.
ITS all right" said the Colonel, with
smile. The constable afterwaTd said that
nobody had any idea how curiOusly the
Colonel smiled when his beard was off.
Suddenly the stage pulled up to the door
with crash. and the male passengers hur-
ried into the saloon in a state Of utter indig-
nation and impecuniosity.
The story of the robbery attracted every
body, and during the excitement the Colonel
slipped out quietly and opened the door of
the stage. The old lady started and cried
George -
And the Colonel jumped into the stage
and, putting mis- arm tenaerly around the
trembling form of the old lady exclaimed ::
Mother -