Morris tribune., 1881-07-28
RETIRING FROM BUSINESS.
BY BRET HARTE.

the price ofanything he wanted
who could do more than that?
Curious people occasionally wondered
how, when it had been fully two years
since the colonel, with every one else,
had 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 Chal-
lenge hill saloons which the colonel did
not patronize was once heard to wonder
absent mindedly wheher the colonel hadn't
a money mill somewhere, where he turned
out eagles and "slugs" (the coast name for
$50 gold pieces.
When so publica parsonage as bar
tender INDUCED publicly in the idea, the
inhabitants of Challenge hill, like good
Californians everywhere, considered them
selves in duty bound to give it grave consid-
Grafton; SO, for few days, certain indus
trious professional gentlemen who won
money of the colonel carefully weighed
some of the brightest peices and tested
them with acids, and sawed them In two,
and retired them, and melted them up, ana
had the Jumps assayed.
The result was complete vindication of
the colonel and loss of considerable Gus
tom by the indiscreet barkeeper.
The colonel was as good natured a man
rs had ever been known on Challenge hill,
but being mortal the colonel had his occas-
ional times of dependency, and one of
them occurred after series of races in
which he had staked his all on his bay mare
Tipsie and had lost.
Looking reproachfully at his beloved ami
NAL, he failed to heed the aching void of
his pockets, and drinking deeply, swearing
oquently and glaring deiantly at all man
kind were equally unproductive of coin.
at The boys at the saloon sympathized most
feelingly with the colonel. They were IN
ceasing in their invitations to drink, and
they exhibited considerable Christian for
bearance when the colonel savagely dissent
ed with every one who advanced any prop
osition, no matter how controvertible. But
unappreciated sympathy grows decidedly
tiresome to the giver, and it was with a feel
ing 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,
aud riding is universally admitted to be one
of the most healthful means of exhilara-
ton in the world. When man is SO alb
sorbed in his exercise that he will not stop
to speak to friend, and when his exhilar-
alton is SO complete that he turns his eyes
from well meaning thumbs pointing insig-
nifcantly into doorways through which 6
man has often passed while seeking brac-
ing influences, it is but natural that people
should express some wonder.
The colonel was well known at Teddy
Flat, Come Hand, Blazers, Murderer's Bal
and several other villages through which
he passed. AS no one had been seen tc
precede him, betting men were soon offer.
ing odds that the colonel was running away
from somebody.
Strictly speaking they were wrong, but
they won all the money that had been stalk.
ed against them, fer within half IN houl
there passed over the same road an anxious.
looking individual who refined up in front
of the principal saloen of each place anG
asked if the colonel had passed.
Had the gallant colonel known that h
was followed, and by whom, there would
have been an extra election held at the lat
ter place vo-J shortly after, for the pursue,
was the Constable, and for all officers of tn,
law the colonel possessed hatred.
On galloped the colonel. following tn
stage road, which threaded the old mimi,
camps on Dutch creek, but suddenly b.
through the young pines and bushes, whic]
grew thickly by the road, while the consta
Bile galloped on to the next camp.
There seemed to be no path through tn
thicket into which the colonel had turned
but Tipsie walked between the trees an
shrubs as if they were familiar objects o
her stable yard.
Suddenly a voice from the bushe
ed:
whats up?"
Business that's what"
Its time, replied the voice, and it
owner-a bearded x-footer,-emerge
from the bushes and stroked Tipsie's nos
with the freedom of an old acquaintance
"We amt had nip since last night, an
there amt cracker or a handful of fou
in the shanty. The old girl 60 back Of
yer?"
Eyes" replied the colonel, ruefully: "los
every blasted race. 'Twas'nt her fault
bless her-she done her best. Ev'rybod
to homer"
You bet," said the man. "All been
prayin' for yer to turn up with the rocks al
somthin' with more color than spring water
Come on"
The man led the way and Tipsie and tn
colonel followed, and the trio suddenl
found themselves before log hut, in fron
of which eat three solemn, disconsolate in
dividuals, who looked appealingly at tn
colonel.
"Mack1l tell yer how t was, fellers, sal
the colonel, meekly, awhile I pocket tn
mare"
The colonel was absent but very fe-
moments, but when he returned each C
the four was attired in pistol and knife
while Mack was distributing some dominoe
made from rather dirty -four sack.
"Taint SO late as all that, is it?" inquire
the colonel.
Better be an hour ahead than miss i
this ere night" said one of the four.
amt been SO thirsty since we came roun
the horn in SO, an we run snort of water
Somebody II get hurt if there amt any bit
tiers in the old concern-they will, or m
name amt Perkins!"
Don't CONT your chickens fore they'r
Matched, Perky" said one of the crowd, q
he adjusted the domino under the rim o
his hat. @S'posin' there should be to-
many for usf"
Study, stiddy, CranksI" demonstrate,
the colonel. Nobody gets along of then
low themselves to be skeered."
Fact, chimed in the smallest and thin.
nest man in the party. aThe Bible say
somethin' mighty hot bout that. I disre
member dzactly bow it goes, but I've herr
parson Buzzy, down in Maine, preach rip
pin old sermons many time The olt
man never thort what q comfort them ser
mons wuz agoin' to be to road agent
though. The time we stopped Slim Mike
stage and he didn't have no more manner
than to draw on me, them sermons was
perfect blessing to me-the thorts of then
cleaned my head as quick as cocktail
Ar
II don't want to dispute Logroller's piou
strain,n interrupted tie colonel; "but ez j
is Old Black that's arriyen to-day insted O
Slim Mike, and ez it's Old Black allu
makes his time, hedn't we better vamose?
The door of the shanty was hastily close,
and the men filed through the thicket un
ill near the road, when they marched rap
idly on in parallel lines with it. Afts,
Rbout bali an heur, Perkins, who was lead