The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-04-24
RETIRING FROM BUSINESS.
BY BRET HARTE.

What the ColonePs business was no.
body knew nor did anybody care, par
ticularly. He purchased for cash only,
and he never grumbled. at the price of
anything that he wanted; who could
ask more than that?
Curious people occasionally wondered
how, when it had been fully two years
since the Colonel, with every one else.
abandoned Duck Greek to the Chinese,
he managed to spend money freely, and
to lose considerable at cards and horse
races. In fact, the keeper of that one
of the two Challenge Hill saloons which
the Colonel did not patronize was once
heard to absent-mindedly wonder
whether the Colonel hadn't money
mill somewhere where he turned out
double eagles and "slugs" (the Coast
name for tifty-dollar gold pieces).
When SO important parsonage as a
bar-keeper INDUCED publicly in an idea
the inhabitants of Challenge Hill, like
good Californians everywhere, consid-
cred themselves in duty bound to give
grave consideration, SO for few days
certain industrious professional gentle
men, who won money of the Colonel,
carefully weighed some of the brightest
pieces and tested them with acids and
tasted them and sawed them in two and
retired them and melted them up and
had the Jumps assayed.
The result was complete vindica-
ton of the Colonel, and loss of con-
siderable custom to the indiscIeet bar
keeper.
The Colonel was as good natured a
man as had ever been known at Chal-
lenge Hill, but being mortal, the
Colonel had his occasional times of des-
pondency, and one of them occurred
after series of races in which he had
staked his all on his own bay mare
Tipsie, and lad lost.
Looking reproacbfully at his beloved
animal he failed to heed the aching void
of his pockets, and drinking deeply,
swearing eloquently, and glaring def.
antly at all mankind, were equally I'M
productive of coin.
The boys at the saloon sympathized
most feelingly with the Colonel !; they
were unceasing in their invitations tc
drink, and they even exhibited consid
cradle Christian ferbearance when the
Colonel savagely dissented with every
one who advanced any proposition, ne
matter how incontrovertible.
But unappreciated sympathy grows
decidedly tiresome to the giver, and j
was with a feeling of relief that tn,
boys saw the Cololel stride out of tn,
saloon, mount Tipsie, and gallop furi
ously away.
Riding on horseback has always beel
considered an excellent sort of exercise
and fast rid ng is universally admitte'
to be one of the most healthful and de
lightful means of exhilaration i'll TIL
world.
But when man is so absorbed in hi
exercise that he will not stop to spea
to friend, and when his exhilaratioI
is so complete that he turns his eye
from well-meaning thumbs pointinl
significantly into doorways throug
which a man has often passed Will
seeking bracing Influences, it is bu
natural that people should express som
wonder.
The Colonel was well known at Todd
Flat, Cone Hand, Blazers, Murderer
Bar, and several other villages throug
which he passed, and as no one ha
been seen TO precede him, betting me
wero soon Offering odds that the Colone
was running away from somebody.
Strictly speaking they were wrong
but they won all the money that ha
been staked against them, for With
half an hours time there passed owe
the same road an misunderstanding ind
vidual, who refined up in front of tn
principal saloon of each place, an
asked # the Colonel had passed.
Had the gallant Colonel known this
he was followed, and by whom, ther