The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-17
Retiring from Business.

Retiring from Business.
What the Coloneps business was no
body knew, nor did any one care, par
. and he never grumbled at the price o
anything that he wanted; who could ash
more than that? ~
, Curious people occasionally wondered
r how, when 1t 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.
The fact is that no one could tell how
the Colonel made his money and nobody
: cared what his name was; but one or
, 1.-TWO shrewd persons had observed that
he was always absent from the settle.
ment wnen the stage was robbed in COM
ing through the passes forty miles dis.
tant. Co.,. l1a.v sf
One afternoon the Colonel bade the
boys at the races goodbye, and galloped
furiously away toward Duck Greek. On,
on he flew, fast as his blooded mare Tip.
;; sic could carry him, following The stage
road, which threaded the old mining
camps ON Duck Greek; but suddenly he
J turned abruptly out OF the road, and
urged his horse through the young pines
and bushes which grew thickly by the
road.
There seemed to be no path through
the thicket into which the Colonel had
turned, but Tipsie walked between trees
and bushes as II they were but the ia.
lmiliar objects OF her own stable-yard.
i Suddenly voice from the bushes
shouted: ve 10 r
"Whats upp
"Busipess-that's what" replied the
Colonel. ..., ..'--..t
a few hurried words were exchanged,
and sharp whistle brought half dozen
rough men about them.
comin' with an extra load Of passengers
and some Of 'em has plenty OF sinners.
We must be on hand lively when 1t
passes Deep Gulch."
A few more words were spoken, and
the party was of for the road, each mans
face concealed by black mask.
| Each man secreted himself near the
roadside, The stage came swinging
along handsomely; the inside passen-
gers were laughing heartily about some-
thing, and Old Black was just giving a
delicate touch to the flank Of the off lead
er, when the Colonel gave shrill, quick
whistle, and the i've men sprang into the
road.
The horses stopped as suddenly as II
it was matter Of common occurrence,
Old Black dropped his reins, crossed mis-
legs. and stared into the sky, and the
passengers all put out their heads with
rapidity equaled only by that with
which they Withdrew them as they saw
the dominoes and revolyers of the road
agents.
gentlemen" said the Colonel, blandly, as
he opened the door. "WoRt you please
| git outY Don't trouble yourselves to
draw, cos my friend here,s got his weepon
cooked, an his fingers is rather nervous.
Aimt got a ham 'kercher, hev yer" asked
| the Colonel Of the first passenger who
descended from the stage. ''Hey. Well,
now that's lucky. Jest put your hands
behind yer, please-so-thatsi it," And
the unfortunate man was securely bound
| in an instant.
the remaining passengers were treated
with similar courtesy, and then the Col
onel and his friends examined the pock-
cts of the captives. Old Black remained
4 unmoiested, for who ever heard of a
lstage-driver having money!
"Boys," said the Colonel, calling his
| brother agents aside, and comparing re-
ceipts, "'tain't much Of haul; but
there's only one woman, am she's old
enough to be feller's grandmother.
i Better let h6r alone, enE"
ssLike enough she'll pan out more'n all
the rest of The stage put together,"
growled Cranks, carefully testing the
thickness OF the case of a gold Watch.
"J est like the low-lived deceitfulness Of
lsome folks, to hire an old woman to kerry
their money so it'ud 60 safe."
81 beg yer parding, ma'am," said the
Colonel, raising his hat politely with one
hand while he reopened the coach door
with the other; shut we're takin' up a
collection fur seme very deservin' OBJ
|ject. We eouS a going to make the gen.
Ltlemen fork over the hull amount, but
ez they hSin't got enough, we'll hev to
bother yOa."
4 The old lady trembled and ielt Tor her
pocket-book, am raised her vail. The
colonel looked into her face, slammed
the stage door, and sitting down'On the
hub Of one Of the wheels, stared vacantly
\; IN oIhin' ?" queried Perkins in whs-
tper, and with face full Of genuine SYM
| pathy.
/ Moves" said the Colonel, dreamily.
"That is, unite 'em, ana let the stage 30
ahead" he continued, sprining to his
feet. 'sPll hurry back to the cabin"
And the Colonel dashed into the bushes.
| Great was the surprise of the road
|
there stood the Colonel in clean white
shirt, and in a suit Of clothing made up
from the limited spare wardrobes of the
other members ofthe gang.
But the suspicious Cranks speedily
subordiDated his wonder to his prudence,
as, laying on the table a watch, two pis-
tois, pocket-book, and a heavy purse,
he exclaimed: fftH ~ @ 81
"Come, Colonel, bizness before pleas
ure; let's divide am scatter. Ef any.
body should hear 'bout 1t, am find our
ltrail, am ketch us with the traps In our
4 possession, they might"
''Divide yerseiyesp said the Colonel,
with abruptness and great oath. ~
ldoRt want none OF it,"
"Uolonel," said Perkins, removing his
own domino, and looking anxiously into
tue leaders, face, "be you sickp Here's
some bully brandy found in one of the
lpassengei's pockets"
~ hain't nothin',0 replied the colonel,
with averted eyes. 'lm a gein' an Pm
a-retirin' from this bizness for ever"
"Ain't a-goin' u turn evidence ?n cried
CrAnks, grasping the pistol OH the table.
Il Ppm a-goia to make lead-mine OF you
ef you don't take that backW roared The
Colonel, with bound, which capsed
iCrauks TO drop the pistol and retire pre-