The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-03-14

aYou bet," said th3 man. "a,
been a prayin' for WI to turn q
with the rocks an eomethin' Wit
more color than spring water. Com
lon.n
The man led the way and Tipsi
and the Colonel followed. and th
trio suddenly found Themselves bt
1fore a log hut. in front pf which So
three solemn, disconsokte individu
als, who looked appeafngly at th
lColonel.
"Ma ck'll tell you how it was, fel
lows said the Colonel meekly
"while | pocket the mare"
The Colo mel was absent but a fe1
moments, but when he returne'
each of the fo ur was attired with
pistol and kn, 'fe. while Mack wa
distributing SO. ne dou1inoes mad
from a rather dii -ty dour sack.
/ "'Taint so late as all that, is it?
inquired the Color vel.
/ "Better be an b, ,ur ahead than |
miss in this ere nis 'ht, said one Q
the four.
Il amt been so Il ii1ty since "
came round the horn a 80, and W
run short of water. S. ,hebody'n &c
hurt if there amt any bittArs in th'
old concern-they will or my mann
amt Perkins !"
Don't count on 20 pr chicken
fore they're hatched, I serky," SAT-
one of the crowd, as he 4 djusted hi
domino under the rimfe f his hat
"S'posin there should b go many
for us ?n
sStiddy, stiddy, Crannsl'' I > remon
strated the Colonel. mob ody eve
gets along if they allow the mselves
to be skeered."
"Fact," chimed in 10 9. nallest
and thinnest man in the party "Tht
Bible says something nigh " hot
bout that. / disremem1ber { kactly
how it goes, but I've bern i larson
Buzzy, down in Maine, preach a rip
pin old sermon many time. The
old man never thort whist a co. nfor,
them sermons wuz agoinf TO be to a
road agent, though. The time We
stopped Slim Mixes stage and he
didn't have no more manners than
to draw on me, them sermons ,vere
q perfect blessing to me-the tn orts
of them cleaned my head as gu ick
as q cocktail. An"
( II don't want to dispute Logro IL
Eer's pious strain," Interrupted the
Colonel shut exits Old Black that z
arrivin' to-day instead of SliI Q
Mike, and ez it's Old Black aller )
makes his time, hedn't we better
vamose ?"
. The door of the shanty was hasti-
ly closed and the men fed through
the thicket until near the road, when
they marched rapidly on In parallel
lines with it.
After about half an h0pr, Perkins,
who was leading, halted and wiped
his perspiring brow with his shirt
eleeve. - sssssts = - ~ {.
Sur enough from home, now, T"
said he "Tain't no use being gen.
tleman if yer have to work too
hard"
"Safe enough, / rekon," replied
the Colonel. well do the usual |;
I'll k.alt 'em, Logroller tend to the
driver, Cranks take the boot, and
Mack and Perk takes right and left.
An I know it's tough-but consid-
erin how everlastin' eternal hard up
we are, l reckon we'll have to ask
contributions from the ladies, too, If
there's any aboard-eh, boys?"
Reckon so," replied Logroller,
with q ,chuckle that seemed to in
spire his black domino with a wrin-
kle or two. whats the use of wo-
mems rights eff they don't ever have
a chance of exercis'n 'em? Hevin'
their purses borrowed'lld show 'em
the full doctrine in a bran new
light"
"Come, come, boys" interrupted
the Colonel, ..that's the crack of Old
Blacks whip; pick your bush
quick All Jump when / whistle"
Each man secreted himself near
the roadside. The stage came
swinging along handsomely; those
inside were laughingly heartily at
something, and Old Black was just
giving delicate touch to the flank
of the off leader when the Colonel
gave shrill, quick whistle, and five
men sprang into the road.
The horses stopped as suddely as
| if it were amatter of common occur
renee. Old Black dropped the reins,
crossed his legs and stared into the
sky, and the passengers all put out
their heads with a rapidity equaled
only by that with which they with
drew them as they saw the dominoes
and revolvers cf the road agents.
Seems to. be something the mat
ter, gentlemen" said the Colonel
blandly, as he opened the door.
wont you please get out? Don't
trouble yourselves to draw, COS my
friend here's got his weapon cooked
an his fingers rather nervous. Amt
got handkerchief, hev yer?" asked
he Of the first passenger who de-
scended from the stage. "Hev !?
| Well, now, that's lucky. Just part
yer hands behind yer, please So
that's it.
And the unfortunate mans arms
were securely tied behind in an in
stant.
The remaining passengers were
treated with similar courtesy, aud
the Colonel and his friends examin-
cd the pockets Of the captives. Old
Black remained unmolestsd, for
who ever heard Of . stage driver hav-
ing money?
SRoys,5 said the Colonel, calling
his brother agents aside and COM
pairing receipts, "taint much Of
haul but onlv one woman, and she's
old enough to -bea feller's grand
mother" e aiea
Like enough she'll pan out more
than all the rest Of the stsge put to-
gether," growled Cr1aks, carefully
tebting the thickness Of the case Of
the gold wstch. "Ju6t Hke the low