Smyrna times., 1882-01-18

tney re hatched, Perky. sad one OF the
crowd, as he adjusted the domino under
the rim of his dirty hat. "S'posn' there
should be too many of us?"
"Stiddy, stiddy, Cranksw demonstrated
the colonel. Nobody ever gets along if
they low themselves 10 be skeered."
" Fact. chimed in the smallest and
thinnest man in the party. The Bible
says somcthin' nightly hot bout that ]
disremenber ehattly how it goes, but Eve
heard Parson lilizzy, down to Main, preach
rippin' old sermon many a time. The
old man never Thought what a comfort
them sermons WIS a%oin' to b., to a road
agent, though The time we stopped sam
Mikes stage and he didn't have 10 molr
manners Than To draw on nc, thcm seiln-
Ona wuz 4 perfect blessing 10 me the
thornS Of EN- cleared my head qui~l, ~
a cocktail. An
Il don't want to distuyh T.agro!ler'y
pious strain, interrupted die colonel
but as it's Old Black that's arii>.,. To-
day, instead of sam Mike, and ez ;'tt
Black alters maIcs his time. hadn't We
better YalH0ose ??
The door of the shanty was hastily
closed, and the men filed through the
thicket until near the road. when they
marched rapidly in parallel lines with it.
After about haif an hour Perkins. who
was leading halted, and wiped his pcrspir-
ing brow with his shirtsice\e
Fur enough from home now said he
Tain't no use being a gentleman il
yer have to work too hard
Safe enough, | reckon" replied the
colonel. Wen do the usual; I'll halt
! EN-; Logr0llcr, tend to the driver; Crank
take the boot and Mack and Perk. take
right and left. An know il 5 tough but
considering how cyerlastin' eternal hard
up we are, | reckon well have to ask con-
tribulions from the ladies, too ef there ;
any aboard eh, boyS?''
Reckon So replied LoSroiier, with q
chucklc that seemed to inspire cV0n k;a
| black domino with merry wrinkle or
| two; whats the use Of wonan's rights
| cf tRey don't ever have a chance Of ex-
ercis'n m; hayin' their purses borrowed
I'D SHOW en- tite full fortriac in Il bran
new light. :
Come, come, bows" intprpo.ed the
colonel: "thar's the crack Of Old Black :
whip: pick up yer bush. quick .tud
jump when J whistle"
Each man scrrv;ed himself by the road
side. The stage wa, swinging along hand-
somely, those inside were laughing heartily
at something. and Old Black was iu t Civ
ing . delicate touch TO the flank of the of
leader, when the colonel gave shrill.
quick whistle. and five men -prano into
the road.
The horses stopped as sudd2niy Us If II
were matter of common occurrence
Old Black dropped the reins, crossed his
legs and stared into the sky. and the pas
sengerS all put out their heads with a
rapidity equaled only by that which they
withdrew them as they saw the dominocs
and rsvolvsrs of the road agents.
Seems to be something the matter.
/ gentlemen, said the colonel. blandly. as
he opened the door. Won't YOU uiea.e
| get out? Don't trouble yourself to draw.
COS my friend here's got his weapon cock
ell and his fingers rather nervous. Aiut
got handkerchief, hev yez?" lie asked
! OF the first passenger who decended from
the stage. lIeV? We'll, now. that 3
lucky. just put your hands behind YER.
50; that's it." And the unfortunate man :
hands were securely tied behind him in
an instant
The remainder passengers were treated
with similar courtesy, and the colonel and
his friends examined the pockets Of the
captives. Old Black remained unmoIcs-
ted, for who ever heard Of stage driver
having any money?
Boys" said the colonel, calling his
brother agents aside and calling receipts
''taint much of haul; but there is only
one woman, and she's old enough to be a
fsller's grandmother"
Like enough she'll pan out more than
all the rest Of the stage put together. '
growled Cranks, carefully testing the
| thickness OF the case Of gold watch
Just like the lOw-lived deceitfuness OF
some folks, to hire an old woman to carry
their money, 50 it'd goS safer Mebbe what
she's got amt nothing to some folks that's
got good hOsses and ken win money at
races, but"
The colonel abruptly eaded the conver-
salon and approached The stage. lie was
very chivalrous, but Cranks' sarcastic
reference to Tipsie needed aveRging. and
as he could not consistently with business
arrangements put sn end to Cranks, the
only lady would have to suffer.
. beg your pardon, ma'am," said the
colonel, RAISING his hat politely with one
hand while he drew open the coach -dool
with tho other, "but we're taking up a
collection for some deserving objects. We
was Soin TO make the gentlemen fork
over the hull amount, but eZ thev aint
got enough we will havo to bother you. .
The old lady trembed, felt for her
pocket-boOk and raised her veil. The sol
onel looked into her face, slammed the stare
door, and sitting on the hub of one of tac
wheels, stared vacantly iAtC space. Got
notIIin' :" queried Perkins in a whisper
and with face full of genuine sympathy.
" NO-ycs," said the colonel dreamly.
" That is, unite 'em and let the stage 20
ahead" he continued, sprnging to his
feet, I'll hurry back to the cabin" The
colonel dashed into the bushes. and left
his followers so paralyzed. with astonjSh.
meHt that Old Black alterward remark ed
that if there'd Deen anybody to mind the
horses he could have cleaned out the hull
crowd with his whip.
The passengers, now relieved of thcil
weapons, were unbound, allowed to enter
the stage, and the door was slammed, upon
which Old Black picked up the reins as il
he had laid them down at the station
while colonel's party hastened back tC
their hut, fondly inspecting as they went
certain TASKS they had obtained while
transacting their business with the ocou
pants of the stage.
Great was the surprise of the r0aC
: agents as they entered the hut, for there
stood the colonel in a clean white shir
and suit of clothing made from the limi
ted spare wardrObs of the other members
of the band
But the suspicious Cranlks speedily sub
ordinated his wonder to his prudence as
laying on the table a heavy purse, he ex
claimed:
"Come, colonel, business before pleasure
let's divide and scatter. Ef anybod,
should hear about it and find our trail an
, | katch the hrandS in Our f1oseAssion thaN