Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-01-12
RETIRING FROM BUSINESS,
BY BRET HARTE.

only, and never grumbled at the price
OF anything he wanted Who could
ask more than that?
Curious people occasionally won.
dered how, when it had been fully
two years since the Colonel, will
every one else, abandoned Dutch
Creek to the Chinese, he managed tc
spend money freely and to lose con.
siderable 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, abseDt-mindediy
whether the Colonel hadn't money
mill somewhere, where he tuned out
eagles and ''slugs" (the coast name
for $50 gold pieces).
When so important a parsonage as
a barkeeper INDUCED publicly in the
idea, the inhabitants of Challenge
Hill, like good Calitornians every
where, considered themselves in duty
bound to give it grave consideration
SO for few days certain industrious
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 them
assayed. The result was a complete
vindication of the Colonel, and the
loss Of considerable custom to the in.
discreet bar keeper.
The Colonel was as goodnatured 8
man as had ever been known on Chal
lenge Hill, but, being mortal, the
Colonel had his occasional times OF
dependency, and one of them occur.
red after q series of races, in which
he had staked his all on his bay mare
Tipsie and had lost.
Looking reproachfully at this be
loved animal, he failed to heed thu
: aching void of his pockets, and drink
! ing deeply, swearing eloqnently, anC
glaring defiantly at all mankind, were
equally unproductive of coin.
The boys at the saloon sympathizeC
most feelingly with the Colonel. They
were unceasing in their invitations Il
drink, and they exhibited consider
able Christian forbearance when tn.
Colonel savagely oissented from ever,
one who advanced any proposition
no matter how incontrovertible. Blu
, unappreciated sympathy grows de
cidedly tiresom to the giver, and i
was with feeling of relief that tn
boys saw the Colonel stride out 0
the saloon, mount Tipsie and gallol
furiously away.
Riding on horseback has alway
been considered an excellent sort o
exeicise. Riding is universally ad
mitted to be one Of the most healthfu
;. means OF exhiaration in the world
but when man is so absorbed il
this exercise that he will not stop t
speak to his friend, and when his ex
turns his eyes from all we'll meanin
thumbs pointing significantly int
doorways, through which man hs
: often passed while seeking bracing i'll
e huences, it is only natural that pee
= pie should express some wonder.
The Colonel was well-known 8
Toddy Flat, Lone Hand, Blazer s
8, Murderer Bar, and several othe
villages through which he passed. A
no one had been seen TO precede him
t betting men were soon offering odd
= that the Colonel was running ava
from somebody.
Strictly speaking they were wrong
but they won all the money that ha
been staked against them, for in ia
an hour there passed over the sam
I road an misunderstanding individus
who reined up in front of the prime
: dial saloon of each place, and inquire
if the Colonel had passed.
Had the gallant Colonel know
=, that he was followed and by whom
there certainly would have been a
:. extra election held at the latter plac
= very shortly after, for the pursuer wa
the constable, and for all officers {
the law the Colonel possessed hatred
On galloping away the Colonel fol
. lowed the stage road, which threade
the old mining camp on Dutch Greek
but suddenly he turned out of th
road and urged his horse through til
Youngest pines and bushes whic
grew thickly by the road, while tn
constable rode on to the next camp
There seemed to be no path throug
G the thicket into which the Colont
# had turned, but Tipsie walked b.
), tween the trees and shrubs as if the
were familiar objects Of his stab
yard.
Suddenly a voice from the bushe
/ shouted:
u whats up!"
"Business-that' S what.
ats time," replied the voice, an
its owner-a bearded sIx-footer-
emerged from the bushes and stroke
. Tipsie's nose with the freedom Of a
j! old acquaintance. ''We amt had
nip since last night, and there amt
cracker or handful of flour in tt
shanty. The old gal gone back
s. yer!"
Ie "Yes'' replied the Colonel, ruefu
d Iv; "Iost every blasted race
+. Twasn't her fault-bless her-sf
- done her level best. Everybody
\ home?'
"You bet," said the man. "A
b been prayin' for yer to turn up WI
the rocks an something with mol
color than spring water. Come on.
The man led the way and lips
and the Colonel followed, and Il
v trio suddenly found themselves befo
log hut, in front of which sat thr'
solemn, disconsolate individuals, WI
, looked up appealingly to the Colone
}. "Mack'll tell you how it was, fe
Iers." said the Colonel, meekl
"I'll picket the mare"
~ \ The Colonel was absent but ve
rs m few minutes, but when he returne
g. each Of the four was atsired in pisto
il and knives, while Mack was distrIbu
at ing some dominoes made from rat
er dirty -four sack. -.
- "Better be an hour ahead th'
amiss in this 'ere night said one
d. d. the four. II amt been SO thlrs
Al in