LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2330, 21 September 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

RETIRING FROM BUSINESS

Ex Bret Harte.

What the Colonel's business was nobody knew, nor did anybody care particularly. He purchase'! for cash only, and never grumbled at the price of anything he wanted. Who could ask more than that ?

Carious people occasiorally wondered how, when It had been fully two years since the Colonel, with everybody 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 Hall saloons which the Colonel did not patronise, was once heard to wonder, absent-mindedly, whether the Colonel hadn't a money mill somewhere when he turned on eagles and ' slugs' (the coast name for fifty-dollar gold pieces). When so important a personage aa a barkeeper indulged publicly in the Idea, the inhabitants of Challenge Hill, like good Californiana everywhere, consider themselves in duty bound to give it grave consideration ; so, for a few days, cortain industrious pro fessional 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 retried them, and melted them up, and had the lumps assayed. The result was a complete vindication of the col nel. and a loss of considerable custom to the indiscreet barkeeper. The C'olooel was aa good natured a man as had ever been known on Challenge Hill, but, being mortal, the Colonel had his occasional times of despondency, and one of them ooonrred after a seiles of races in which he had stake'! his all on his bay mare Tipsie, and had lest.

Looking reproachfully on hi 3 beloved animal, he failed to heed the aching void of his pocketa, and drinking deeply, swearing eloquently, and glaring defiantly at all mankind were equally unproductive of coin. The boys at the saloon sympathised moot feelingly with the Colonel. They were nnoeasing in their invitations to drink, and thoy exhibited considerable Christian forbearance when the Colonel savagely dissented with every one who advanced any proposition, no matter who incontrovertible. But unappreoiated sympathy grows decidedly tiresome to the giver, and it was with a feeling of relief that the boys saw the Colonel stride oat of the saloon, mount Tipsie, and gallop furiously away. Biding on horseback has always been considered an excellent sort of exercise, and riding is universally admitted to be one of the most healthful means of exhilaration In the world; but when a man is so absorbed in his ox rciao that he will not stop to speak to his friend, and when his exhiliration is so complete that he turns his eyes from well meaning thumbs pointing insignificantly into doorways through which a man has often passed while seoiiog bracing influences, it is only natural that people should express some wonder.

The Colonel was well known at Toddy Flat, Come Hand, Blazer's, Murderer's Bar, and several other villages through whioh he passed. As no one had been seen to concede him, betting man were soon offering odds that the Colonel was running away from somebody. Strictly speaking they were wrong, but thoy won all the money that had been staked against them, for within half an hour there passed over the same road an anxiouslooking individual who reigned up in front of the principal saloon of each place, and inquired if the Oalonel had passed. Had the gollunt Colonel known that he was followed, aud by whom, there certainly would have been an ext-a election held at the latter place very shortly after, for tho pursuer was 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 tamed out of the road and urged his horse through the young pines and boshes which grew thickly by the road, while the constable galloped on to the next camp There seemed to be no path through the thicket into wbich the Colonel had turned, but Xipsie walked between the treos and shrubs as if they were familiar objects of his stable yard. Suddenly a voice from the bushes shouted—

' What's up V ' B .sincss—that's what.'

'lt's time,' replied the voice, and its owner—a bearded six-footer -emerged from the bnsbe3 and stroked Tipsie's nose with the freedom of an old acquaintance. 'We ain't had a nip since last night, and there ain't a crackor or a handful of flour in the shanty. The old gal go back on yer ?' ' Yes,' replied the Colonel, ruefully, 'lost every blessed race. 'TwasD* her fault—bless her—she done her level best. Ev'rybody to home .' 'You bet,' said the man. 'All been a prayin' for yer to turn up with the rooks an' somethin' with more color than spring water. Come on *

The man led the way, and Tipsie and tr-e (Jolonol followed, and the trio suddenly found themselves before a log hut, in front of which sat three solemn, disconsolate individuals, who looked appealingly to tho Colonel.

' Mack'll tfill yer how 'twas, fellers,' said tho Coloneljmeekly, ' whi'e I pocket the mare.'

The Colonel was absent but a very few moments, but when ho returned each of the four was attired in pistols and knife, while Mack was distributing some domlnos made from a rather dirty flour sack. 1 Tain't so late as all that, i=! it ?" inquired the < 'olonel. ' Better be an hour ahead than a miss in this era night,' said one of the fonr. 'I ain't been so thirsty since I came round the Horn in 'SO an' we run short of water. Somebody 'll got hurt if there ain't any bitters In the old concern—they will, or my name ain't Perkins.

' Don't count on yonr chickens 'fore they've hatched, Perky,' said one of the crowd, as he adjusted the domino under the rim of the hat. ' B'posin' there should be too many for us ?' ' Stiddy, stiddy, Cranks ?' remonstrated the Colonel. ' Nobody ever gets along ef thev 'low themselves to be ske«red.'

' Fact,' chimed in tho smallest and thinnest man in tho party. 'The Bible Hays somethin' mighty hot 'bout that. I disremember dzactly how it goes, but I've hern Pare-on Btizzy, down to Maine, preach a ripphn' old sermon many a time. The old man never thort what a comfort them sermons w]iz agoing to be to a road agent, th jugh. That time we stopped 81im Mike's stage, and he did't have no more mannera than to draw on ma, them sermons wuz a perfect blessing to mo —the thorns of 'em cleanod my head as quick as a cocktail. An*—'

' T. don't want to dispute Logroller's pious strain,'interrupted the Colonel, ' bat ez it'd Old BUck that's auivio' today instead of Slim M;ko, and ez it's Old Black allers makes his time, hed'nt we better vamoose ?' The door of the shanty was hastily closed, and the men filed through the thicket until near the road, when they marched rapidly on in parallel lines with it. After about half an hour Perkins, who waß leading, halto ', and wiped his perspiring brow with his shirt sleeve.

' Fur enough from home now,' said he. • Taint no use boin' a gentleman if yer have to work too hard.'

' Saf<- enough, I reekon.' replied the Colonel. ' We'll do the usual ; I'll halt 'em ; Logroller, 'tend ti tho driver; Cranes, take the boot, a<d Mack and Pork, take right and left. An' I know it's tough—but considorin' how ev«rl«ietin' eternal hard up wo are, I reckon we'll have to ask contributions from the ladies, too, cf there's acy aboard—eh, boys?' 'Reckon so,' replied Logroller, with a chuok'e that seemed to inspire oven hi* black domino wi< h a merry wi inkle or two. ' What's the US3 of wnmon's rights ef they don't have a chance rf exercis'n em- Hevin' their purses borrowed 'nd show 'cm the full doctrine in a bran now light ' ' Come, come, boys,' interposed the Colonel, ' thar's the crack of Old Black's whip; piok yer bush—quick! All jump when I whistle 1'

Each man seoreted himself near the roadside. The stage came swing along handsomely ; those inside were laughing heartily at something, and Old Black was just giving ■i delicate touch to the flank of the off leader when the Colonel gave a shrill, quick whistl"-:, .tad five men sprang into the road. The horses stopped as suddenly as if it wore a matter of common occurrence. Old Black dropped the reins, crossed his legs and stared into the sky, and the passengers all put out their heads with a equalled only by that with which they withdrew them as they saw the dominos and revolvers of the road agents, 'Seems to be something the matter, gentlemen,' said the Colonel blandly, as he opened the door. ' Won't you please get out ? Don't trouble yourself to draw, 'cos my friend here's got his weapon cooked an' his finger's rather nervous. Ain't got a handkerchief, hev yer ?' asked he of the first passenger who descended from the stage. • Her T Woll, now that's lucky. Just put yer hands behind yer —so —that's it.' And the unfortunate man's hands were seoureiy tied behind in an instant. The remaining passengers were treated with similar courtesy, and the Colonel and his friends examined the pockets of the captives. Old Blaok remained unmolested, for who ever heard of a stage driver having money ?' * Boys,' said the Colom 1, calling his brother agents aside and comparing receipts, ' 'taint much of a haul; but there's only one woman, and site's old enough to be a feller's grandmother.' ' Like enough she'Jl pan out more than all the rest of the stage put together,' growled Cranks, carefully testing the thickness of the case of a gold watch ' Just like the low lived deoeitfuloess of some folks to hire an old woman to carry their money, eo it'd go safer. Mebbe what she's got ain't nothin' to some f.ilks that's got hosses that kin win money at races, but ' The Colonel abruptly ended the conversation, and approached the stage. He was vory chivalrous, but Cranks' sarcastic reference to Tipsie needed avenging, and as he could not consistently with business arrangements put an end to Cranks, the only lady would have to suffer.

'I beg your pardon, ma'am,' said the Colonel, raising his hat politely with one hand while he drew open the coach door with the other, 'but we're taking up a collection for some deserving object. Wo was goin* to make the gentleman fork over the whole amount, but ez they ain't got enough we will have to bother you. * The old lady trembled, felt for her pocket book and raised her veil. The Colonel looked into her face, slammed the stage door, and sitting on the hub of one of the wheels, stared vacantly Into apace.

• Nothin' V queried Perkins In a whisper, and with faos full of genuine sympathy. 'No—yes,' said the Colonel, dreamily. ' That is, nntie 'em and let the stage go ahead,' he continued, springing to his feet. ' I'll hurry back to the cabin.' And the Colonel dashed into the bushes and left his followers so paralyzed with astonishment that Old Black afterwards remarked that if there'd been anybody to mind the horses ho could have cleaned out the hull orowd with his whip. The passengers, now relieved of their weapons, were unbound, allowed to enter the stage, and th» door was slammed upon which Old Black picked up his reins as if he laid them down at tho station while the horses were being changed, then he cracked his whip, and the stage rolled off, while the Colonel's party hastened back to their hut, fondly inspecting as they wont certain flasks thoy had obtained while transacting their business with thr. occupants of the stage. Great waß the surprise of the road agents as they entered their hut, for there stood the Colonel In a clean white shirt, and in a suit of clothing made from the limited spare wardrobes of the other members of the band.

But the suspicious Cranks speedily subordinated his wonder to his prudence as, laying on the table a heavy purse, exolaimed :

1 Come, Colonel, business before pleasure ; let's divide and scatter. Ef anybody should hear about, and find our trail, an' ketch the traps in our possesion, they might ' ' Divide yer elvcn!' said the Colonel with a white abrubtne»s and a great oath, ' J don't want none of it.'

' Colonel,' said Kerkins, removing his own domino and looking anxiously into the leader's face, 'be you sick ? Here's some bully brandy whioh I found in the passengers' pockets.' •It hain't nothing,' replied the Colonsl with averted eyes. 'l'm going,' and I'm retirin' from business forever.

' Ain't agoin' to turn evidence V cried Cranks, grasping a i istol on the table. ' I'm agoin' to mak e a lead mine cf yon ef you don't take that back !' soared the Colonel with a bound that caused Cranks to drop the pistol and retire precipitately, apologizing as he went. ' I'm agoing to attend to my own business, and that's enough to keep anybody bizzy. Somebody lend me 50io!s. till I hem agin' ' Parkins pressed the money in the Colonel's hand, and within two minutes the • olonel was on Tipsie'a back and galloped off in the direction ths stage bod taken. He overtook it, passed it, and still he galloped on. The people at Mad Gulch knew the Colonel well, and made it a rule never to be astonished at anything he did, but they made an exception to tho rale when the Colonel canvassed the principal bar rooms for men who wished to btiy a horse, and when a gambler who was flnah obtained Tipsie for twonty slugs—only a thousand dollars, when the Colonel had always said there was not gold enough on top of ground to buy her—Mud Gulch experienced a decided sensation.

But when the Colonel, after remaining in the barber shop for half an hour, emerged with his face clean shaved and his hair nicely trimmed aud parted, betting was jo wild that a cool headed sporting man speedily made a fortune by betting against every theory that has been advanced.

Then the Colonel made a tour of the stores and fitted himself with a '.; w suit of clothes, carefully eschewing all of the aorgeous patterns and pronounced colors so dear to the heart of the average miner. Ho bought a new hat and put. on a pair of boots, and pruned his finger nails, and stranger than all, he mildly declined all invitations to drink.

As the Colonel stood at the door of the prinoipal saloon, where the stage always stopped, the Challenge Hill constable was seen to approach the Culonel and tap him on the shoulder, when all the men who bet that the Colonel was dodg'ng somebody claimed the stakes. Bat those who stood near tho Colonel heard the constable say : ' Colonel, I take it all back. When I seed you go out of Challenge Hill it come to me that you might be in the road agent business. But when I seed you sell Tipsie I knew I was on the wrong trail. I wonldn't suspeot you now If all the ptages in the country was robbed ; and I'll give ycu satisfaction any way you -want it.' 'lt's all right,' said the Colonel, with a smile. The constable afterwards said that nobody had any idea of how curiously the Colonel smiled when his beard was off.

Suddenly tho stage pulled up to the door with a crash, and the msle passengers hurried into the saloon in a state of utter indig nation air! impecuniosity. The story of tho robbery attracted everybody, and during the excitement the Colonel slipped out quietly asd opened tho door of the staj>e. Xhe old lady started, and cried:

• George!' And the Colonel jumped in the stage and putting his arm tenderly around the trembling form of the old lady, exclaimed : ' Mother I'

All the newspapers in Prague have been suppressed and the University cioaed by tha G ivemma it. In vie" of the prevalence of «ma'.l-pcx the Admiralty have directed a general examination of the officers and mar; oc H'-jr Mtj sty's ship? at the homo ports, fox- the pur yotc : f asoertuining the oxtont to which revacoinatio.-i may be neceo-ary, such r<>va<*c : nation to bo performed by tha medical ofE.-oraof the ahiD«.

The Vienna p»per.i am:ounoi the death of one of the best known men ot the Austrian capital—Baron Joh3t;n C. Bothen, who was shot by his gamekeeper on June 19th, at hi* villa near the city. Ho began !tfe in a ver; humblo position, selling cigars and collecting for lotteries. He rapidly accumulated wealth, became a banker, entered into variou3 business undertakings, and is said to have been worth millions at the time of hij death. Ha waa fifty-eight yean of age.