Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-28
Retiring From Buiness.

What the colone's business was no
body knew, nor did anybody care partic-
ularly. He purchased for cash only, and
never grumbled at the price of ANYTHING
ne wanted; who could ask more than
that?
Curious people occasionly wondered
how, when it had been fully two years
since the colonel, with everyone else,
abandoned Dutch Creek to the Chinese,
ne managed to spend money freely and
70 lose considerable at cards and horse
races. Ia fact, the keeper OF that one Of
the two Challenge Hill saloons which the
colonel did not patronize, was once heard
10 absent mindeily wonder whether the
colonel hadn't Il money mill somewhere,
where he turned out double eagles, and
"slugs' (he coast name for fifty-dollar
gold pieces
When so important parsonage as a
bar-keeper lndulgcs publicly in an idea,
the inhabitances of Challenge Hill, like
good Californians everywhere, considered
themselves in duty bound to give it grave
consideration, so tor few days certain
industrious professional gentlemen, who
Won money ofthe colonel, carefully weigh
ed 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 ana had the Jumps as
sayed.
The result was complete vindication
OF the colonel, and loss of considerable
custom to the indiscreet ar-keeper.
The colonel was as good natured man
as had ever been known at Challenge Hill,
but being mortal the colonel had his oc-
caslonal times of dependency, and one
OF t~em occurred after series OF races
IN which he had stakeu his all on his own
bay mare Tipsie, and had lost
Looking reproa chfully at his beloved
animal he failed to feel the aching void
of his pockets, and drinking deeply,
swearing eIoqnently and glaring defiant
y at all man kind, were equally unpro-
ductive Of coin.
The boys at the saloon sympathized
most teelingly with the colonel they were
unceasing in their invitations to drink,
and they even exhibited considerable
Christian forbearance, when the colonel
sayagely dissented with every one who adj.
vanced any proposition, no matter how
incontrovertlbe.
But unappreciated sympathy grows de-
cldedly tiresome of the giver and it was
with a feeling of relief that the boys saw
the colonel stride out of the saloon,
mount Tipsie, and gallop furiously away.
Riding on horseback has always been
considered an excellent sort of exercise,
and fast riding is universally admitted to
be one OF the most healthful and delight
ful means OF exhilaration in the world.
But when a man is so absorbed in his
exercise that he will not stop to speak to
a friend and when his exhilaration is so
complete that he turns his eyes from
we'll meaning thumbs pointing signifi-
cantly into doorways through which
man has often passed while seeking brac.
ing lntiuences,it is bnt natural that people
should express some wonder.
The colonel was well known at Toddy
Flat, Come Hand, Blazers, Murd ,rers
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 all the, money that had been
staked against them, for within half an
hours time there passed over the same
road an misunderstanding individual, who
reigned up in front of the principal
saloon OF the place, and asked if the
colonel had passed.
Had the gallant colonel known that he
was followed, and by whom, there would
have been an extra election held at the
place very shortly after, for the pursuer
was the constable of Challenge Hill. and
for constables and all officers of the law
the colonel possessed hatred of unspeak-
able intensity.
On 9alloped the colonel, following the
stage road, which threaded the old min
ing camps in Duck Creek; but suddenly
he turned abruptly out Of the road and
urged his horse through the young pines
and bushes, which grew thickly by the
road, while the constable galloped rapid
ly on to the next camp.
There seemed to be no path through
the thlcket into which the colonel had
turned. but Tipsie walked between the
trees and shrubs as if they were the fam
liar objects of her own stable ward.
Suddenly voice from the bushes
shouted;
whats up?"
"Business-that's what" replied he
colonel.
''It's time, replied the voice, and its
owner-a bearded-six-footer emerged
from the bushes, and stroked Tlpsie,s