The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-08-23
RETIRING FROM BUSINESS.

What the Colonel's 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 do 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 Mt cards and hOrse-races.
In fact, the keeper of that one of the Chal-
lenge Hill saloons which the Colonel did
not p%atronize was once heard to wonder,
absent-mindedly, whether the Colonel
hadn't a money-mill somewhere, where he
turned out eagles and "slugs (the coast
name for $50 gold pieces.)
When so important q parsonage as a bar
tender INDUCED publicly in the idea, the
inhabitants of Challenge Hill, like good
Californians every where, considered them
selves in duty bound TO give it grave con-
sideration; 80, for q few days, certain in
dustrious 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 melted them up,
and had the Jumps assayed.
The result was n complete vindication
of the Colonel and a loss of considerable
custom by the indiscreet bar-keeper.
The Colonel was as ~good-natured a
man as had ever been known on Challenge
Hill, but being mortal the Colonel had his
occasional times of dependency, and one
of them occurred after n series of races in
which he had staked his all on his bay
mare Tipsie and had lost.
Looking responsibility at his beloved
animal, he failed to heed the aching void
of his pockets, and drinking deeply, swear
ing e%loquentIy and glaring defiantly ut all
mankind were equally .u%nproductive of
coin.
The boys at the saloon sympathized
fmost feelingly with the Colonel. They
were unceasing 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
in|controvertible. But unappreciated sym
pathy grows decidedly tiresome to the
giver, and it was with a feeling of relief
that the boys saw the Colonel stride out
of the saloon, mount Tipsie and gallop flu
riously 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 exhilarations in
the world. When a man is so absorbed in
his exercise hat he will not stop to speak
to n friend, and when his ~exhilaration is so
complete hat he turns his eyes from we'll
meaning thumbs pointing Significantly
into doorways through which a man has
often passed while seeking bracing in1u-
ences, it is but natural hat people should
express some wonder.
The Colonel was well 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 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
staked against them, for within half an
hour there passed over the same road an
misunderstanding individual who refined up
in front of the principal saloon of each
place and asked if the Colonel had passed.
Had the gallant Colonel known that he
was followed, and by whom, there would
have been an extra election held at the
latter place very shortly after, for the pur-
Iuer wa 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 Creek, 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 con-
stable galloped on to the next camp.
There seemed TO be no path through
the thicket into which the Colonel had
TUNED, but Tipsie walked between the
trees and shrubs us If they were familiar
objects of her stable yard.
Suddenly a voice from the bushes shout
ed what up?'
"Business-that's what"
TITS time,' replied the voice, and its
owner-ab eardedsix footer-emerged from
the bushes and stroked Tipsies nose with
the freedom of an old acquaintance. "We
haint had n nip since last night, and there
amt n cracker or a handful of four in the
shanty. The old gal 20 back on yer ?"
Yes, replied the Colonel, ruefully "lost
every blasted race. "Twasn't her fault
bless her-she lone her level best. Ev'ry-
body to home ~
"You bet" said the man. "AIl been a
prayin' for yer to turn up with the rocks
an somethin' with more color than spring
water. Come on.n
The man led the way and Tipsie and
the Colonel followed, and the trio sudden
ly found themselves before n log hut, in
front of which sat three solemn, disconso-
late individuals, who looked appealingly
at the Colonel.
"Mackn tell yer how I was, ~fellers,''
said the Colonel meekly, while l pocket
the mare"
The Colonel was absent but q few mo-
ments, but when he returned each of the
four was attired with pistol and knife, while
Mack was distributing some dominoes made
from n rather dirty flour sack.
faint 10 late as all that, is ii ?" inquir-
" the Colonel.
Better be an hour ahead than q miss in
this ere night said one of the four. ~
amt been so thirsty since we came round
the horn in 80, an we run short of water.
S~omebody'l get hurt If there amt any bit
tiers in the old coneern-they will or my
name amt Perkins!'
Don't count on your chickens fore
they're Matched, Perky" said one of the
crowd, as he adjusted his domino under
the rim of his hat. "Sposin' there should
be too many for nsp'
"Stiddy, stiddy, Cranks!' demonstrated
the Colonel Nobody ever gets along if
they low themselves to be skeered.'
Fact" chimed in the smallest and thin
nest man in the party. "The Bible says
somethin' mighty hot bout that. 1 disre-
member dzactly how it goes, but I've hern
parson Buzzy, down in Maine, preach a
rippin' old sermon many n time. The old
man never thort what a comfort them SER
mons wuz agoin' to be TO a road agent,
' -oh The time we stopped Slim Mikes
stage and he didn't have no more manners
than to draw on me, them sermons were q
perfect blessing to me-the thorts of 'em
cleaned my head as quick as a cocktail.
An
81 don't want to dispute Logroller's pi-
Gus strain" interrupted the Colonel "but
ez it's Old Black that's arrivin' to-day in
stead of Slim Mike and ez It's Old RlncL