The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-07-06
RETIRIyG FROM BUSINESS.
BY BRETE HARTE.


What the Colonel'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
1rhe wanted. Who could ask more than
that?
Curious people occasionally wonder
ed 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 considerable at cards and horse
races. In fact, the keeper of that one of
the Challege Hill saloons which the Col
onel did not patronize, was once heard to
wonder, absent mindedly, whether the
Colonel hadn't money mill somewhere
where he turned out eagles and "slugs"
(the coast name of $50 gold pieces).
When so important q parsonage as a
barkeeper INDUCED publicly in the idea,
the inhabitants of Challege Hill, like
good Californians everywhere, consider
ed themselves in duty bound to give it
grave consideration; so for few days
certain industrious professional gentle
men, 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 melted them up, and had the lump
assayed.
The result was complete vindication
of the Colonel, and the loss of consid-
cradle custom to the indiscrete bar
keeper.
The Colonel was as good natured q
man as ever had been known on Chal-
lege Hill, but being mortal, the Colonel
had his occasional times of dependency,
and one of them occurred after q series
of races in which he had staked his all
on his bay mare Tipsie and had lost.
The boys at the saloon sympathized
most feelingly with the Colonel. But
unappreciated sympathy grows decid-
eddy 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 ride furiously away.
The Colonel was we'll known at Teddy
Flat, Lone Hand, Blazers, Murderer's
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
hour there passed over the same road an
anxious looking individual who refined
M in front OF the principal saloon of
each place, and he inquired il the Colo
mel had passed.
Had the gallant Colonel known that
he was followed, and by whom. there
s~1~ ~~ovx1I houo hoav1 a n aYfpa oIo0.
ton held at the latter place very shortly
after. for the pursuer was q constable,
and for all officers of the law the Colonel
) possessed hatred.
On galloping away the Colonel fol.
lowed 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
est pines and bushes which grew very
thickly by the road side, while the con-
stable rode on to the next camp.
There seemed to be no path through
the thicket into which the Colenel had
turned. but Tipsy walked between the
trees and scrubs as If they were familiar
objects of her stable yard.
Suddenly voice from the bushes
shouted:
WhRtS upT
Business that's what"
'.It's time" replied the voice, and its
owner, q bearded six-footer, emerged
from the bushes and stroked Tipsy's
nose with the freedom of an old &C.
quaintance. I'VE amt had . nip since
last night, and there amt . cracker or
handful OF -four in the shanty. Has the
old gal gone back on yer?"
yes" replied the Colonel, ruefully;
''lost every blasted race. Twasn't her
fanlt, bless her, she done her level best.
Ev'rybody to homer"
"You bet" said the man. "All been
prayin' for yer 10 turn up with the rocks
an something with moro color than
spring water. Como on"
The man led the way and Tipsie and
the Colonel followed, and the trio sud.
denly found themselves before the log
hut, before which set three solemn, dis
consolats individuals, who looked mp
sppealingly to the Colonel.
"Nack1f tell yoa how twas fellers, |"
sid Tie Colonel meekly. while I picket
the mare"
The Colonel Was absent but . very
lew momsnts, but when he returned
each Of the four was attired in pistols
and knives, while Neck was distributing
come dominocs made from rather dirty
Aour sack.
''BetAsr Be an hour ahead than miss