Smyrna times., 1882-01-18
Retiring from Business.
BY BRET EARTE.

By BRET HARTE
What the coloael's business was nobody
knew, nor did anybody care particularly
lie purchased for cash only, and never
Srunbed at the price of anything he
wanted. Who could ask more than that?
Curious people occasionlly wondered
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 saloons which the colonel
did not patrOniZe was once heard to
wonder, absent-miaded, whether the colo
mel hadn't a money mill somewhere where
he turned out eagles and 'slugs" the
coast name for $50 gold pieces.
When so important parsonage rs 4
bar-keeper indulged publicly in the idea
the inhabitants of Challenge IIilI. like
good CaliiOrnians everywhere, considered
themselves in duty bound to give it grave
consideration 80 for few DAYS certain
industrious professional gentlemen, who
won money from the colo lel. 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 assaycd
The result was complete vindicatioz
of the colonel, and the loss of consdera-
bic custom to the indiscreet barkeeper.
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 despOndencv. and
one of them occurred after a series Of
races in which he had staked his all on his
bay mare Tipsie, and had lost.
Looking reprOachtully at his beloved
animal he failed to heed the aching void
OF his pockets, and drinking deeply. swear
ing eloquently and glaring deliantlv at all
mankind, were equally unproductiye Of
coin.
The boys at the saloon sympa,hize.l
most teelingly with the colonel. They
were increasingly in their invitations to
drink, and they exhibited considerable
Christian torbearancc when the colonel
savagely dissented from every one who
advanced any proposition, no matter how
lncontrovertible. But usappreGiated 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 ride furiouslv
away.
Riding on horseback has ALWAYS been
/ considered an excellent sort Of exercise
! Riding is universally admitted to be Que
of the most healthful means of exhiiara-
ton i'll the world, but when man is so
absorbed in this exercise that he will not
stop to speak to his friend, and when his
eXhllaratiOn is so complete that he turns
his eyes from all wcll-mcaning thumbs
pointing significantly into doorways. thro'
! which a man has often passed while seek
I iOO hranipo, st,H, - :,
that people should express some wonder
The colonel was well known at Todd
Flat, Lone Hand, Blazers, Murderer's
Bar, and several other villages through
which he passed. As no one had been
seen to procede 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-lOokiag individual who reined up
in front of the principal saloon in each
place and inquired if the colonel had
passed.
Had the gallant colonel known that he
was followed, and by whom, there GER
tainly would have been an extra election
held at the latter place very shortly after,
for the pursurer was the constable, and
for all officers of the law the colonel pos
sessed hatred.
On sallOping away the colonel followed
the stage road, which threaded the cid
mining camps on Dutch creek, but sud
denly he turned out of the road and urged
his horse through the youngest pines and
bushes which grew thickly by the road.
while the constable rode on to the next
camp.
There seemed to be no path through the
thicket into which the colonel had turned.
but Tipsie walked between the traes and
shrubs as if they were familiar objects of
his stable yard.
Suddenly voice from the bushes
shouted whats up?"
" Business that's what"
Its tims," replied the voice. and its
owner-a bearded six-footer emerged
from the bushes and stroked Tipsies nose
with tho freedom of an old acquaintance.
1--WE amt had nip since last night, and
there amt cracker or handful of flour
in the shant. The old gal gone back on
yer?"
YES" replied the colonel, ruefully
''lost every blasted race. 'Twasn't her
fault-bless herv-she done her level best
Ev'rybody to homer"
ANh RNbg otiid bhC MAIL All bCCn
prayin' fer yer to turn up with the rocks
an something with more color than spring
water Come on"
The. man led the way and Tipsie and
the colonel followed, and the trio suddenly
found themselves before log hut, In front
of which sat three solemn, disconsolatt
individuals who looked up appealingly tc
the colonel.
"Mack'll tell you how twas, fellers,
said the colonel, meekly, "while picket
the mare"
The colonel was absent but a few mo
ments, but when he returned each of the
four was attired in pistols and knives
while Mack was distributing some domi
1 noes made from a rather dirty sack
Better be an hour ahead than miss
in this 'ere night said one of the four
= amt been so thirsty since / come round
the horn in $50, AM we RUN short of water
Eonehody'll get hurt if there amt any
bitters in the old concern they will, OF