Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-05
RETIRING FROM BUSINESS.


By BRET HARrE.
What the Coloners business was nobody
knew, nor did anybody care particularly. He
purchased for cash only, and never grumbled
at the price of anything he wanted who
could 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 Greek 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, absentmindedly, whether
the Colonel hadn't a mill somewhere where
he turned out eagles and ''slugs" (the coast
name for fty-dolar gold pieces)
When so important parsonage as bar
keeper indulged publicly in the idea, the in
habitants of Challenge Hill, like good Cali
fornians everywhere, considered themselves in
duty bound to give it grave consideration
so, for few days, certain industrious pro-
fessional gentlemen, who won money of the
Colonel carefully weighed some of the bright
est pieces, and tested them with acids, and
sawed them in two, and retired them, and
melted them up, and bad the Jumps assayed.
The result was a complete vindication Of
the Colonel, and a loss of considerable Gus
NOn 70 the lnllhlIbtA bAANGBNIs
The Colonel was as good -natured man as
had ever been known on Challenge Hill but,
being mortal, the Colonel had his occasional
times Of despondency, and one of them oc-
CURED after a 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 elo-
quently and glaring dehantly at all mankind
were equally unproductive of coin.
The boys at the saloon sympathized most
teelingly with the Colonel. They were un-
ceasing in their invitations to drink, and they
exhibited considerable Christian forbearance
when the Colonel savagely dissented with ey-
cry one who advanced any proposition, no
matter how incontrovertible. But unappre-
ciated sympathy grows decidedly tiresome TO
the giver and it was with 4 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 con-
sidered an excellent sort of exercise and rid
ing is universally admitted to be one Of the
most healthful means Of exhilaration in the
world but when a man is so absorbed in his
exercise that he will not stop to speak to his
friend, and when his exhilaration is so com
plete that he turns his eyes from wel-mean-
ing thumbs pointing significantly into door
ways through which a man has often passed
while seeking bracing influences, it is only
natural that people should express some won
der.
The Colonel was well known at Toddy Flat
Come Hand, Blazers, Murderer's Bar and
| several other villages through which he pass
ed As no one had been seen to precede
| him, betting men were offering odds that
the Colonel was running away from some
body.
Strictly speaking they were wrong, but
| they won all the money that had been staked
| against them, for within half an hour there
| passed over the same road an anxiOus-lOoking
individual who reined up in front of the prin-
eipsl saloon of each place, and inquired il
| the Colonel had passed.
Had the gallant Colonel known that he was
| followed, and by whom, there certainly would
have been an extra election 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 mining
camps on Dutch Greek. but suddenly he
turned out of the road and urged his horse
| through the young pines and bushes which
| grew thickly by the road, while the constable
| galloped on 10 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 we're familiar objects of her
stable yard.
Suddenly voice from the bushes shouted
whats upy'
'Business-that's what"
''Its time" replied the voice. and its own
| era bearded x-footer-emerged from the
bushes and stroked Tipsie's nose with the
| freedom Of an old acquaintance. 1--WE amt
had nip since last night, and there amt a
cracker or a handful of -four in the shanty.
The old gal go back on yer ?"
Eyes, replied the Colonel ruefully, ''lost
| every blasted race. 'Twasn't her fault-bless
her-she done her level best. Ev'rybody to
| home ?"
''You bet" said the man. IAN been a
prayin' for yer TO turn up with the rocks an
something with more color than spring wa
ter. Come on."
The man led the way, and Tipse and the
Colonel followed and the trio suddenly found
themselves before a log hut, in front of
which sat three solemn, diseonsolate indiyid-
uals, who looked appeAlingly at the Colonel.
''Mack'll tell yer how twas, fellers, said
the Colonel meekly, while l pocket the
mare"
The Colonel was absent but a very few mo-
ments but when he returned each of the -four
was attired in pistols and knife, while Mack
was distributing some dominoes made from a
rather dirty -four sack.
"Taint so late as all that, is it 2" inquired
the Colonel.
Better be an hour ahead than a miss in
this ere night" said one of the four. 81
amt been so thirsty since came round the
Horn in 80 an we run short of water. Some
body ill get hurt if there amt any bitters in
the old eoneern-they will, or my name ain't
| Perkins"
Don't count on your chickens fore they're
Matched, Perky" said one of the crowd, as he
adjusted the domino under the rim of his hat.
"'Sposin' there should be too many for US p
"Stddy, stiddy, Cranks |" demonstrated
the Colonel. Nobody ever gets along ei
they low themselves to be skeered."
Fact" ehimed in the smallest and thin
nest man in the party. ''The Bible says
somethin' mighty hot bout that 1 disre-
member 'zactly how it goes, but I've herr
Parson Buzzy, down to Maine, preach a rip
pin old sermon many time. The old man
never thort what comfort them sermons
waz agoing to be TO a road agent, though
That time we stopped Slim Mikes stage, and
he didn't have no more manners than TO draw
on me, them sermons wuz perfect blessing
to me-the thorns Of EN- cleaned my head al
quick as q cocktail An"