Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-04-01

is SO absorbed in his exercise that he
will not stop to speak to his friend, and
when his exhilarationsis SO complete that
he turns his eyes from well-meaning
thumbs pointing significantly into
doorways through which 4 man has Oft
en- passed while seeking bracing infu-
ences, it Is only naturass that people
should express some wonder.
The Colonel was well known at Toddy
Flat, Come Hand, Blazers, Murderer's
Bar and several other villages through
which he passed. AS no one had been
seen to precede him, betting men were
soon Offering odds that the Colonel was
running away from somebody.
Strictly speaking they were wrong,
but they won Gll the money that had
been staked against them, for within
half an hour there passed over the same
road an anxious-looking individual, who
reined up in front OF the principal saloon
of each place and inquired If the Colonel
had passed.
Had the gallant Colonel known that
he was followed, and by whom, there
certainly would have been an extra cleo
ton held at the latter place very shortly
after, for the prIrsuer was the constable,
and for all officers OF the law the Colonel
possessed hatred.
On gallopcd the Colonel, following the
stage road, which threaded the old
mining camps on Dutch creek, but sud-
denly he turned out of the road and
urged his horse through the young pines
and bushes which grew thickly by the
road, while the constable galloped on to
the next camp.
There seemed to be no path through
the thicl1et into which the Colonel
had turned, but Tipsie walked between
the trees and shrubs as if they were
familiar objects of his stabie-yard.
Suddenly voice from the bushes
shouted:
whats up?"
"Business--thats what
"It's time," replied the voice, and its
owner-a bearded six-footer- emerged
from the bushes and stroked Tipsie's
nose with the freedom of an old acquaint
ance. "We amt had IA nip since last
night, and there ain't q cracker or
handful Of flour in the shanty. The old
gal go back on yer?"
eyes" replied the Colonel, ruefully,
lost every blasted race 'Twasn't her
fault-bless her-she done her level best.
Ev'ry body to home?"
"You bet," said the man. "All
been o prayin' for yer to turn up with
the rocks an somethin' with more color
than spring water. Come on"
The man led the way, and Tipsie and
the Colonel followed, and the trio sud-
denly found themselves before a log hut,
in front of which sat three solemn, dis
consulate individuals, who looked ap-
pealingly to the Colonel.
"Mackll tell ye how twas, fellers,"
said the Colonel, meekly, "while I
picket the mare"
The Colonel was absent but few
moments, but when he returned each of
the four were attired in pistols and
knife, while Mack was distributing
some dominoes made from a rather dirty
-four sack.
"Tain't so late as oil that, is it ?" in
quired the Colonel.
Better be an houra ahead than miss
IN this ere night" said one OF the four.
81 amt been so thirsty since came
round the Horn in 80, an we
run short of water. Somebody II get
hurt if there amt any bitters in the old
concern--they will, or my name ain't
Perkins,"
"Don't count on your chickens fore
they've Matched, Perky" said one of the
crowdas he adjusted the domino underth
rim of his hat. "S'posin' there should
be too many for us ?"
"Stiddy, stiddy, Cranks |" remon-
strated the Colonel. "Nobody ever
gets along ef they low themselves to be
skeered.
"Fact," cAimed in 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 hern Parson Buzzy, down to Maine,
preach q ripplin' old sermon many o
time. The old man never thought what
q comfort them sermons wllz agoin' to
be to road agent, though. That time
we stopped Slim Mixes stage, and he
didn't have no more manners than to
draw on me, them sermons wuz o perfect
blessing to me-the thorns of 'em
cleaned my head as quick as cocktail.
AM"
81 don't want to dispute Logroller's
pious strain" interrupted the Colonel.
"but ez it's Old Black that's arrivin' to-
day instead of Slim Mike, and ez it's
Old Black alters made his time, hadn't
we better vamoose %.
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.
Fur enough from home now," said
he.