Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-03-09

, folks that's got good hesses and ken win
money at races, but"
The Colonel abruptly ended the con-
} Versatlon and approached the stage. Ha
, was very chivalrous, but Cranks' sarcas.
tic reference to Tipsie needed ayenginO
and as he could not consistently with
business arrangements put an end to
Cranks, the only lady would have to
suffer.
Il beg your pardon, ma'am," said the
Colonel, raising his hat politely with
one hand while he drew open the coach
door with the other, "but we're taking
up CORRECTION for some deserving OBJ
Jects. We was goin' to make the gan
tlemen fork over the whole amount. but
ez they amt got enough we will have to
bother you.'
The old lady trembled, felt for her
pocketbook and raised her vail. The
Colonel looked into her face, slammed
the stage door, and sitting on the hub of
one OF the wheels, stared vacantly into
space. "Nothing?' queried Perkins. i'm
a Whisper and with face full of genu-
inc sympathy.
| "No-yos," said the Colonel dreamjly.
THAT is unite 'em aud let the stage 90
ahead" he continued, springing to his
feet. "Ill hurry back to the cabin" The
Colonel dashed into the bushes, and left
his followers so paralyzed with astonish-
ment that Old Black afterward remark
cd that if there'd been anybody to mind
the horses he could have cleaned out the
hull 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 ND his
reins as if he had laid them down at the
station, while the Colonel's party hasten
ed back 10 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 white shirt
and suit of clothing made from the
limited spare wardrobe of the other
members of the band
But the suspicious Cranks speedily
subordinated his wonder to his prudence
as laying on the table heavy purse, he
exclaimed:
"Come, Colonel, business before pleas
ure; let's divide and scatter Eff ANYBODY
should hear about it and find our trail
an sketch the brads in our possession
they might"
divide yourselves said the Colonel,
with abruptness and a 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 packets"
ut hain't nOthin'," replied the Colonel
with averted eyes. "Fm goin', and Pm
retlrln' from business forever"
"Ain't agoin' to turn evidence?" cried
Cranks, grasping pistol on the table.
"Im agOin' to make a lead mine of
you eff you don't take that backT'' roared
the Colonel with a bound that caused
Cranks to drop the pistol and retire pre-
cipitately, apologizing as he went. @Pm
agOiH' to attend to my own business.and
that's enough to keep anybody bizzy.
Somebody lend me $50 till L see him
again."
Perkins pressed the money into the
ColOnel's hand, and within two minutes
the Colonel was on Tipsie's back and
galloping off in the direction the stage
had taken.
He overlook it, passed it, and still he
galloped OH.
The people at Mud Gulch knew the
Colonel well and made it a rule never to
be astOnished at anything he did, but
they made an exception to the rule when
the Colonel canvassed the principal bar
rooms for men who wished to buy a
good horse, and when a gambler who
was flush obtained Tipsie for twenty
slugs-Only $1,000-When the Colonel
had always said there was not gold
enough on top of the ground to buy her,
Mud Gulch experienced decided sensa-
ton.
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 so
wild that a cool-headed sporting man
speedily made fortune by betting
against every theory that had been ad-
vanced. ..f....f
Then the Colonel made tour of the
store and fitted himself with new suit
of clothes, carefully eschewing all of the
gorgeous patterns and pronounced colors
so dear to the heart of the average mi
ner. He bought new hat and put on
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 al
ways stopped, the Challenge Hill eonsta-
BILE 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 Colonel
heard the constable say:
Colonel, | take it all back. When I
seed you go out to Challenge Hill it came
to me that you might be in the road
agent business. Bnt when / seed YOU
sell Tipsie l knew l was on the wrong
trail. l wouldn't suspect you now if all
The stages in the world was robbed; and
[ IL give you satisfaction any way you
want it."
Its all right" said the Colonel, with
/ smile. The constable afterward said
hat nobody had ans idea how euriously
,he Colonel smiled when his beard was
,ff.
Suddenly the stage pulled up to the
ieor with crash, and the male paSsen-
,ers hurried into the saloon in a state of
litter indignation and impecuniosity.
The story of the robbery attracted ev-
,rybody, and during the excitement the
Colonel slipped out quietly and opened
he door of the stage. The old lady
started and cried:
"George?"
And the Colonel jumped in the stage
Ind, putting his arm tenderly around
he trembling form of the old lady, ex-
.laimed: -.
Mother
Seventh-Day Adventism.
In the course of the history of the
christian church many seets have arisen