St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-01-06
Retiring from Business.
ONE OF BRET HARTE's LIVELY CALIFOR
MA STORIES.

ONE OF BRET HARTE'S LIVELY CALIFOR-
MA STORIES.
What the Coloners business was no.
body knew, nor did anybody care par
| ticularly. He purchased for cash only,
and never grumbled at the price of
any thing he wanted; who could ask
more than that
Curious people occasionally wonder
ed how, when it had been fully two
wears since the Colonel, with every one
else, abandoned Dutch Creek 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 Challenge Hill sa-
looms which the Colonel did not pat
ronize was once heard to wonder, alb
sent mindedly, whether the Colonel
hadn't money mill somewhere where
he turned out eagles and ''slugs" (the
cost name for fifty dollar gold pieces).
| When so important a parsonage as ii
bar keeper INDUCED publicly i'll the
idea, the inhabitants of Challenge Hill,
like good CalifOrnians everywhere,
considered themselves i'll duty bound
to give it grave consideration so for IL
few days, certain industrious profess
sional 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 complete vindica-
ton of the Colonel, and loss of con-
siderable custom to the indiscreet bar
keeper.
The Colonel was as good natured a
man as had ever been known on Chal
lenge Hill, but being mortal, the Colo
mel had his occasional times of despon-
dency, and one of them occurred after
IL series of races in which he had stak-
ed his all on his bay mare Tipsie and
had lost.
Looking reproachfully at his beloved
animal, he failed to heed the aching
void of his pockets, and drinking deep
ly, swearing elOquently and glaring
defiantly at all mankind were equally
unproductive of coin.
The boys at the saloon sympathized
most feelingly with the Colonel. They
were unceasing in their invitation t.
drink and they exhibited considerable
Christian fOrbearance when the Colo
mel savagely dissented with every one
who advanced any proposition, no mat
ter how mcOntrOvertible. But unap
preciated sympathy grows decidedly
tiresOme to the giver, and it was witt
, 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 beel
considered an excellent sort of exer
else, riding is universally admitted t,
be one of the most healthful means o
, exhilaratiOn in the world, but when ;
man is so absorbed in his exercise tina
he will not speak to his friend, ant
d. when his exhilaratiOn is so complete
: that he turns his eyes from well mean
q ing thumbs pointing significantly int
dOOrways through which man has of
D ten passed while seeking bracing i'll
e fiuences, it is only natural that peOpl
n should express some wonder.
, The Colonel was well known at Tod
dy Flat, Lone Hand, Blazers, Murder
er's Bar, and several other village
through which he passed. As no on
5 had been seen to precede him, betting
+ men were soon offering odds that tn
= Colonel was running away from some
- body.
Strictly speaking they were wrong
II but they won all the money that ha
# been staked against them, for With
half an hour there passed over tn
g same road an anxious looking individ
e ual who reined up in front of the priI
a cipal saloon of each place, and inquire
,s if the Colonel had passed.
# Had the gallant Colonel known thu
:. he was followed and by whom, thel
l. certainly would have been an exit
e election held at the latter place yer
Is shortly after, for the pursuer was til
80 constable, and for all officers of I'll
= law the Colonel possessed hatred.
u On galloping away, the Colonel fO
Df lowed the stage road, which threade
" the old mining camps on Dutch Cree
but suddenly he turned out of the rOa
and urged his horse through the yOuni
'o est pines and bushes which grew thicl
lie ly by the road, while the cOnstab
De rode on to the next camp.
o. There seemed to be no path throul
a the thicket into which the Colonel hi
:" turned, but Tipsie walked between Il
X trees and shrubs as if they were fam
hit lar objects of her stable yard.
st Suddenly voice from the bush
I,o shouted:
whats up 2"
&c Business that's what"
st ats time," replied the voice, and
he owner-a bearded ixfooter-emerg
., from the bushes and stroked Tipsi,
-, nose with the freedom of an old q
Ill quaintance 1--WE amt had nip sin
so last night, and there amt cracker
is handful of -four in the shant. t
to old gal gone back on yer ~
''Yes," replied the Colonel, rueful
''lost every blasted race. 'Twasn't !
fault-bless her-she done her ley
'ut best. Ev'rybOdy to home n
q ~ "You bet" said the man. "All be
- prayin, for yer to turn up with
"ne rocks an something with more co
ne than spring water. Come on"
Tas The man led the way, and Tipsie Il
Dr. the Colonel followed, and the trio 81
,s denly found themselves before
hut, in front of which sat three solen
'h' disconsolate individuals, who looI
81 appealingly to the Colonel.
Tas "Mack1l tell you how twas, feller
we said the Colonel meekly, "while l po'
ct the mare.n
The Colonel was absent but a W
ing few moments, but when he return
the each of the four was attired in pist