The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-08-06
SELECT STORY.
RETIRING FROM BUSINESS.

What the ColouelS business was no
/ body knew, nor did anybody care particu-
larry. He purchased for cash only, and
never grumbled at the price of anything
he wanted: who conld ask more than
that
Curious people occasionally wondered
how. when it 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
to lose considerably at cards and horse
races. In fact, the keeper of that one OF
the Challenge Hill saloons which the
Colonel did not patroniZe was once heard
to wonder absent mindedly. whether the
Colonel hadn t a money mill somewhere
where he turned OH eagles and 'slugs
(the coast name for fifty dollar gold
pieces.
When SO important a parsonage as a
barkeeper INDUCED publicly i'll the idea,
the Inhabitants of Challenge Hill. like
good Californians everywhere. consider
themselves in duty bound to give it grave
consideration: 50, for few days, certain
industrious professional gentlemen. who
won money of the Colonel, carefully
weighed some of the brightest pieces.
and tested them with acids, and sawed
them in two, and retired them, and melt
ell them up, and had the Jumps assayed.
The result was complete vindication
of the Colonel. and loss of considerable
custom to the indiscreet barkeeper.
The Colonel was as good-natured a
man rs had ever been known on Chal-
lenge Hill, but being mortal, the Colonel
had his occasional times Of dependency,
and one of them occurred after series
of races in which he had staked his all
on his bay mare Tipse and had lost.
Looking reproacltully at his beloved
animal, he failed to heed the aching void
of his pockets. aud drinking deeply,
swearing cloquently and glaring defiantly
at all mankind were equally unproduc-
tive of coin.
The boys at the saloon sympatbiZed
most leelingly with the Colonel. They
were :inceasing in their invitations to
drink. and they exhibited considerable
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 giver, and it was with 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 riding is universally admitted to be
one of the most healthful means of eX-
hilaration in the world: but when man
is So absorbed in his exercise that he will
not stop to speak to his friend. and when
his exhilaration is so complete that he
turns his eyes from well meaning thumbs
pointing insignificantly into doorways
I't''NNs
while seeking bracing influences. it is
only natural that people should express
some wonder.
The Colonel was well known at Teddy
Flat. Come Hand. Blazers Murderer S
Bar and several other villages through
which he passed. AS no one had been
e., i hat
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 agaisnt them. for within half an
hour there passed over the same road IN
anxious looking individual who refined up
in front Of the principal saloon of each
place, and inquire if the Colonel had
passed.
Had the gallant Colonel known that
he was followed. and by whom. there
certainly would have been an extra elec.
ton held at the latter place very shortly
after. for the pursuer was the constable,
and for all officers of the law the Colonel
possessed hatred.
On galloped the Colonel, following the
stage road. which threaded the old min
ing camps on Dutch Creek. but suddenly
he turned ont of the road and urged his
horse through the young pines aud bush
es which grew thckly by the road, while
the constable galloped on to the next
camp.
There seemed to be no path through
the thicket into which the Colonel had
turned. but Tipsie walked between the
trees and shrubs as if they were familiar
objects Of his stable yard.
Suddenly a voice from the bushes
shouted:
whats up?''
''BusineSs-that' what
is time" replied the voice, and its
owner--a bearded ix-footer-emerged
from the bushes and strokcd Tipsie' S
nose with the freedom Of an old acquaint-
ance. 1--WE amt had nip since last
night, and there amt Il cracker or IA
handful of flour in the shanty. The old
gal go back on yer?''
EYES, replied the Colonel ruefully,
''lost every blasted race. 'Twasnt' her
fault-hless her-she done her level best
Everybody to home?''
You bet said the man. ''All been
a prayin' for yer to turn up with the
rocks an somethin' with more color than
spring water. Come on
The man led the way, and Tipsie and
the Colonel followed, and the trio sud
denly found themselves before log hut,
in front of which sat three solemn. dis
consulate individuals. who looked appeal
ingly to the Colonel.
MACK Ii tell you how twas, tellers,
said the Colonel meekly, while pocket
the mare.
The Colonel was absent but a very few
moments. but when he returned each of
the four was attired iii pistols and knife.
while Mack was distributing some dom
mos made from rather dirty flour sack.
faint so late as that. is it," inquir-
ed the Colonel.
Better be an hour ahead than a miss
in this ere night said enc of the four.
Il amt been so thirsty since | came
round the Horn in 80 an we run short
of water Somebody'll get hurt if there