The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-07
OUT OF BUSINESS.
BY BRET HARTE.

What the colonel's business was no.
body knew, nor did anybody care, par
aicularly. He purchased for cash only,
and he never grumbled at the price of
anything he wanted; who could ask
more than that
Curious people occasionally wondered
how, when 1t had been fully two years
since the colonel, with every one else,
abandoned Dutch creek to the Chinese,
he managed to spend money freely and
20 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 fifty-dollar gold pieces).
When 80 important parsonage as a
barkeeper INDUCED publicly In an idea,
the inhabitants of Challenge Hill, like
good Californians everywhere, consid-
cred themselves in duty bound to give 1t
grave consideration, so for few days
certain industrious professional gentle
men, who won money OF the colonel,
carefully weighed some OF the brightest
pieces end tested them with acids, and
sawed them up. and had the Jumps as
Hayed.
The result was complete vindication
of the colonel, and loss Of considera-
bic custom to the indiscreet bar
Keeper.
The colonel was as good natured a
man as had ever been known at Chal-
Ienge Hill, but being mortal, the colo
mel had his occasional times Of despond-
ency. and one OF them occurred after a
series OF races in which he had staked
his all on his own bay mare Tipsie, and
had lost.
Looking reproachfully at his beloved
animal he failed to heed the aching
void in his pockets, and drinking deep.
Iy, swearing eloquently and glaring de-
family at all mankind, were equally
unproductive OF coin.
The bows at the saloon sympathized
most feelingly with the colonel; they
were unceasipg in their invitations to
drink, and they even exhibited consid-
cradle Christian forbearance, when the
colonel savagely dissented with every
one who advanced any proposition, no
matter how incontrovertible.
But unappreciated sympathy grows
decidedly tiresome to the glver, and it
was with feeling OF relief that the
boys saw the colonel stride out Of the
saloon, mount Tipsie, and gallop fu-
xIously 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 de-
lightful means Of exhilaration in the
world.
But when q man is so absorbed in his
exercise that he will not stop to speak
Goa friend, and when his exhilaration Is
40 complete that he turns his eyes from
well-meaning thumbs pointing signiti-
cantly into doorways through which a
man has often passed while seeking
bracing influences, 1t Is but natural that
people should express some wonder.
The colonel was we'll known at L cody
Flat. Come Hand, Blazers, Murderer 8
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.
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 anxious looking indt-
vidual who reigned up in front OF the
principal saloon of each place, and
asked II the colonel had passed.
Had the gallant colonel known that
ne was followed, and by whom, there
would have been an extra election held
at the latter place very shortly after, for
che pursuer was the constable of Chal-
IeDge Hill. and for constables and all
officers of the law the colonel possessed
hatred of unspeakable intensity.
On gslloped the colonel, following the
stage road, which threaded the old min
ing camps on Tuck Creek but suddenly
he turned abruptly out Of the road and