Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-17

astonishment that Old Black aiterwart
remarked that if there'd been anybody te
mind the horses he could have cleaned
out the hull crowd with his whip.
The passengers, now relieved Of theil
weapons, were unbound, allowed to en-
ter the stage, and the door was slammed
upon which Old Black picked up hi:
reins as if he had laid them down at the
station, while the Coloners 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 a clean white shirt,
and a suit of clothing made from the
limited spare wardrobe Of the other mem
bers of the band.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily
,ubordinated his wonder to his prudence
as. laying on the table heavy purse, he
exclaimed:
Come. Colonel, business before pleas
urc: let's divide and scatter. Et any
body should hear about it and find our
trail and ketch the brads in our posses
sion they might"
Divide yourselves ~ said the Colo
nel, with sbrup,ness and great oath.
~ don't want none Of il.
Colonel" said Perkins. removing his
own domino and looking anxiously into
the leaders face, {" be you sick Here $
some bully brandy which | found in the
passengers pockets
1T hain't no,hin'," replied the Colo
mel, with aver,ed eyes. I'm going, and
I'm retirin' from business forever,
"Ain't agoin to turn evidence ? cried
Cranks, grasping pistol on the table.
81 am agoin' 10 make lead mine oi
you ef you don, take that back " roared
the Colonel with bound that caused
Cranks to drop the pistol and retire pre-
cipi,a,ely, apologizing as he went. i m
soin to attend 10 my own business. aud
that's enough TO keep anybody busy.
Somebody lend me $50 until | see him
again"
Perkins pressed the money in the Col
onel's hand. and within two minutes the
Colonel was on Tip:ie's back and gallop
ing off in the direction the stage had
taken.
He overlook it, passed it, and still he
gallopsd on.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the
Colonel well and made it rule never to
be astonished at anything he did, but
they made an exception 10 the rule when
the Colonel canvassed the principal bar
rooms for men who wished TO buy a
horse. and when gambler who was
flushed obtained Tipsic for twenty slug
only 81 .000-when the Colonel had
ALWAYS said that there was not gold
enough on the top Of the ground TO buy
her, Mud Gulch experienced a decided
sensation.
But when the Colonel, after remain
ing in the barber shop for half an hour,
emerged with his face clean shaved and
his hair nicely parted, betting was SC
Wild tina, a cool headed sporting man
speedily made a fortune by betting
against every theory that had been ad-
vsnced.
Then the Colonel made tour of the
stores and fitted himself with a new suit
of clothes, carefully eschewing all of the
gorgeous patterns and pronounced colors
so dear TO the heart Of the average miner.
He bought new hat and put on pair
of boots and pruned his finger nails, and
stranger than all he mildly declined all
invitations 20 drink.
As the Colonel stood at the door of the
principal saloon, where the stage al ways
stopped, 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 some
BODY claimed the stakes. But those who
stood near the Colonel heard the consta-
ble say:
Colonel, take it all back. When
seed you 20 out to Challenge Hill II
came TO me that you might be in the
road agent business. But when | seen
you sell Tipsie knew | was on the wrong
trail. wouldn't suspect you now If al
the stages in the world was robbed and
will give you satisfaction any way you
want it"
Its all right" said the Colonel, with
a smile. The constable afterward said
that nobody had any idea how curious'y
the Colonel smiled when his beard wa.
off.
Suddenly the stage pulled up to the
door with a crash, and the male passen.
gers hurried into the saloon in state
of utter indignation and impecuniosity.
The story of the robbery attracted ev'
erybody, and during the excitement the
Colonel slipped out quietly and openet
the door of the stage, the old lady started
and cried: George
And the Colonel jumped in the stage
and. putting his arm tenderly around th'
trembling form of the old lady, exclaim.
ed: Mother
1t had taken him some little time t.
| h,;nr his tonuna in accnrd with his mind