第8章

Hespokefortenminuteswithafluencyandcomprehensivebusiness-

likedirectnessthatsurprisedGrant.Hewasnotthere,hesaid,toglorifywhathadbeendonebyhimself,hisfamily,orhisfriendsinTasajara.Otherswhoweretofollowhimmightdothat,oratleastmightbebetterabletoexplainandexpatiateupontheadvantagesoftheinstitutiontheyhadjustopened,anditssocial,moral,andreligiouseffectuponthecommunity.Hewasthereasabusinessmantodemonstratetothem——ashehadalwaysdoneandalwayshopedtodo——themoneyvalueofimprovement;theprofit——iftheymightchoosetocallit——ofwell-regulatedandproperlycalculatedspeculation.Theplotoflanduponwhichtheystood,ofwhichthebuildingoccupiedonlyoneeighth,wasboughttwoyearsbeforefortenthousanddollars.Whentheplansofthebuildingwerecompletedamonthafterwards,thevalueoftheremainingseveneighthshadrisenenoughtodefraythecostoftheentireconstruction.Hewasinapositiontotellthemthatonlythatmorningtheadjacentproperty,subdividedandlaidoutinstreetsandbuilding-plots,hadbeenadmittedintothecorporatelimitsofthecity;andthatonthenextanniversaryofthebuildingtheywouldapproachitthroughanavenueoffinisheddwellings!Anoutburstofapplausefollowedthespeaker"spracticalclimax;thefreshyoungfacesofhisauditorsglowedwithinvincibleenthusiasm;theafternoontrade-winds,fresheningoverthelimitlessplainbeyond,tossedthebrightbannersatthewindowsaswithsympatheticrejoicing,andafewodorouspineshavings,overlookedinacornerinthehurryofpreparation,touchedbyaneddyingzephyr,creptoutandrolledinyellowringletsacrossthefloor.

TheReverendDoctorPilsburyaroseinamoredecoroussilence.Hehadlistenedapprovingly,admiringly,hemightsayevenreverently,totheprecedingspeaker.Butalthoughhisdistinguishedfriendhad,withhisusualmodesty,madelightofhisownservicesandthoseofhischarmingfamily,he,thespeaker,hadnotrisentosinghispraises.No;itwasnotinthisHall,projectedbyhisforesightandraisedbyhisliberality;inthistown,calledintoexistencebyhisenergyandstampedbyhisattributes;inthiscounty,developedbyhisgeniusandsustainedbyhiscapital;ay,inthisveryStatewhosegrandeurwasmadepossiblebysuchgiantsashe,——itwasnotinanyoftheseplacesthatitwasnecessarytopraiseDanielHarcourt,orthatapanegyricofhimwouldbemorethanidlerepetition.Norwouldhe,asthatdistinguishedmanhadsuggested,enlargeuponthesocial,moral,andreligiousbenefitsoftheimprovementtheywerenowcelebrating.Itwaswrittenonthehappy,innocentfaces,inthefestivegarb,inthedecorousdemeanor,intheintelligenteyesthatsparkledaroundhim,inthepresenceofthoseofhisparishionerswhomhecouldmeetasfreelyhereto-dayasinhisownchurchonSunday.Whatthencouldhesay?Whatthenwastheretosay?Perhapsheshouldsaynothingifitwerenotforthepresenceoftheyoungbeforehim——HestoppedandfixedhiseyespaternallyontheyouthfulJohnnyBillings,whowithahalfdozenotherSunday-schoolscholarshadbeenmarshaledbeforethereverendspeaker——AndwhatwastobethelessonTHEY

weretolearnfromit?Theyhadheardwhathadbeenachievedbylabor,enterprise,anddiligence.Perhapstheywouldbelieve,andnaturallytoo,thatwhatlabor,enterprise,anddiligencehaddonecouldbedoneagain.Butwasthatall?Wastherenothingbehindthesequalities——which,afterall,werewithinthereachofeveryonehere?Hadtheyeverthoughtthatbackofeverypioneer,everyexplorer,everypathfinder,everyfounderandcreator,therewasstillanother?Therewasnoterraincognitasorareastobeunknowntoone;nowildernesssoremoteastobebeyondagreaterkenthantheirs;nowastesotracklessbutthatonehadalreadypassedthatway!Didtheyeverreflectthatwhenthedullseaebbedandflowedinthetulesovertheveryspotwheretheywerenowstanding,whoitwasthatalsoforesaw,conceived,andordainedthemightychangethatwouldtakeplace;whoevenguidedanddirectedthefeeblemeansemployedtoworkit;whosespiritmoved,asinstillolderdaysofwhichtheyhadread,overthefaceofthestagnantwaters?Perhapstheyhad.WhothenwastherealpioneerofTasajara,——backoftheHarcourts,thePeterses,theBillingses,andWingates?Thereverendgentlemangentlypausedforareply.

Itwasgivenintheclearbutstartledaccentsofthehalffrightened,half-fascinatedJohnnyBillings,inthreewords:——

""LigeCurtis,sir!"

CHAPTERVI

Thetradewind,that,blowingdirectlyfromtheGoldenGate,seemedtoconcentrateitsfullforceuponthewesternslopeofRussianHill,mighthavedismayedanyclimberlesshopefulandsanguinethanthatmostimaginativeofnewspaperreportersandmostyouthfulofhusbands,JohnMiltonHarcourt.Butforallthatitwasanhonestwind,anditsdry,practicalenergyandsalt-pervadingbreathonlyseemedtostinghimtogreaterandmoreenthusiasticexertions,until,quiteatthesummitofthehillandlastofastragglinglineoflittlecottageshalfsubmergedindriftingsand,hestooduponhisownhumbleporch.

"Iwasthinking,comingupthehill,Loo,"hesaid,burstingintothesitting-room,pantingly,"ofwritingsomethingaboutthefutureofthehill!Howitwilllookfiftyyearsfromnow,allterracedwithhousesandgardens!——andrightuphereakindofAcropolis,don"tyouknow.Ihadquiteapictureofitinmymindjustnow."

Aplainly-dressedyoungwomanwithaprettyface,that,however,lookedasifithadbeenprematurelysappedofcolorandvitality,herelaidasidesomewhitesewingshehadinherlap,andsaid:——

"Butyoudidthatoncebefore,Milty,andyouknowthe"Herald"

wouldn"ttakeitbecausetheysaiditwasafreenoticeofMr.

Boorem"sbuildinglots,andhedidn"tadvertiseinthe"Herald."I

alwaystoldyouthatyououghttohaveseenBooremfirst."

Theyoungfellowblinkedhiseyeswithamomentaryarrestofthatbuoyanthopefulnesswhichwastheirpeculiarcharacteristic,butneverthelessrepliedwithundauntedcheerfulness,"Iforgot.

Anyhow,it"sallthesame,forIworkeditintothat"SundayWalk."

Andit"sjustaseasytowriteittheotherway,yousee,——lookingback,DOWNTHEHILL,youknow.SomethingabouttheoldPadrestoilingthroughthesandjustbeforetheAngelus;orasfarbackasSirFrancisDrake"stime,andhavearunawayboat"screw,comingashoretolookforgoldthattheMexicanshadtalkedof.Lord!

that"seasyenough!Itellyouwhat,Loo,it"sworthlivingupherejustfortheinspiration."Evenwhileboyishlyexhalingthisenthusiasmhewasalsodivestinghimselfofcertainbundleswhosecontentsseemedtoimplythathehadbroughthisdinnerwithhim,——

theyouthfulMrs.Harcourtsettingthetableinaperfunctory,listlesswaythatcontrastedoddlywithherhusband"scheerfulenergy.

"Youhaven"theardofanyregularsituationyet?"sheaskedabstractedly.

"No,——notexactly,"hereplied."But[buoyantly]it"sagreatdealbetterformenottotakeanythinginahurryandtiemyselftoanyparticularline.Now,I"mquitefree."

"AndIsupposeyouhaven"tseenthatMr.Fletcheragain?"shecontinued.

"No.Heonlywantedtoknowsomethingaboutme.That"sthewaywiththemall,Loo.WheneverIapplyforworkanywhereit"salways:"Soyou"reDan"lHarcourt"sson,eh?Quarreledwiththeoldman?Badjob;bettermakeitup!You"llmakemorestickin"tohim.He"sworthmillions!"EverybodyseemstothinkeverythingofHIM,asifIhadnoindividualitybeyondthat,I"veagoodmindtochangemyname."

"Andpraywhatwouldminebethen?"

Therewassomuchirritationinhervoicethathedrewnearerherandgentlyputhisarmaroundherwaist."Why,whateverminewas,darling,"hesaidwithatendersmile."Youdidn"tfallinlovewithanyparticularname,didyou,Loo?"

"No,butImarriedaparticularone,"shesaidquickly.

Hiseyelidsquiveredagain,asifhewasavoidingsomeunpleasantlystaringsuggestion,andshestopped.

"YouknowwhatImean,dear,"shesaid,withaquicklittlelaugh.

"Justbecauseyourfather"sanoldcrosspatch,YOUhaven"tlostyourrightstohisnameandproperty.Andthosepeoplewhosayyououghttomakeitupperhapsknowwhat"sforthebest."

"Butyourememberwhathesaidofyou,Loo?"saidtheyoungmanwithaflashingeye."DoyouthinkIcaneverforgetthat?"

"ButyouDOforgetit,dear;youforgetitwhenyougointownamongfreshfacesandpeople;whenyouarelookingforwork.Youforgetitwhenyou"reatworkwritingyourcopy,——forI"veseenyousmileasyouwrote.Youforgetitclimbingupthedreadfulsand,foryouwerethinkingjustnowofwhathappenedyearsago,oristohappenyearstocome.AndIwanttoforgetittoo,Milty.Idon"twanttosithereallday,thinkingofit,withthewinddrivingthesandagainstthewindow,andnothingtolookatbutthosewhitetombsinLoneMountainCemetery,andthosewhitecapsthatmightbegravestonestoo,andnotasoultotalktoorevenseepassbyuntilIfeelasifIweredeadandburiedalso.Ifyouwereme——

you——you——you——couldn"thelpcryingtoo!"

Indeedhewasverynearitnow.Forashecaughtherinhisarms,suddenlyseeingwithalover"ssympathyandthepoet"sswifterimaginationallthatshehadseenandevenmore,hewasaghastatthevisionconjured.Inherdelicatehealthandlonelinesshowdreadfulmusthavebeenthesemonotonousdays,andthisglittering,cruelsea!Whataselfishbrutehewas!Yetashestoodthereholdingher,silentlyandrhythmicallymarkinghistendernessandremorsefulfeelingsbyrockingherfromsidetosidelikealanguidmetronome,shequietlydisengagedherwetlashesfromhisshoulderandsaidinquiteanothertone:——

"SotheywereallatTasajaralastweek?"

"Who,dear?"

"Yourfatherandsisters."

"Yes,"saidJohnMilton,hesitatingly.

"Andthey"vetakenbackyoursisterafterherdivorce?"

Thestaringobtrusivenessofthisfactapparentlymadeherhusband"sbrightsympatheticeyeblinkasbefore.

"Andifyouweretodivorceme,YOUwouldbetakenbacktoo,"sheaddedquickly,suddenlywithdrawingherselfwithapettishmovementandwalkingtothewindow.

Buthefollowed."Don"ttalkinthatway,Loo!Don"tlookinthatway,dear!"hesaid,takingherhandgently,yetnotwithoutasenseofsomeinconsistencyinherconductthatjarreduponhisownsimpledirectness."Youknowthatnothingcanpartusnow.Iwaswrongtoletmylittlegirlworryherselfallalonehere,butI——I——

thoughtitwasallso——sobrightandfreeoutonthishill,——

lookingfarawaybeyondtheGoldenGate,——asfarasCathay,youknow,andsuchachangefromthosedismalflatsofTasajaraandthatawfulstretchoftules.Butit"sallrightnow.AndnowthatIknowhowyoufeel,we"llgoelsewhere."

Shedidnotreply.Perhapsshefounditdifficulttokeepupherinjuredattitudeinthefaceofherhusband"sgentleness.Perhapsherattentionhadbeenattractedbytheunusualspectacleofastranger,whohadjustmountedthehillandwasnowslowlypassingalongthelineofcottageswithahesitatingairofinquiry."Hemaybelookingforthishouse,——foryou,"shesaidinanentirelynewtoneofinterest."Runoutandsee.Itmaybesomeonewhowants"——

"Anarticle,"saidMiltoncheerfully."ByJove!heIScominghere."

Thestrangerwasindeedapproachingthelittlecottage,andwithapparentlysomeconfidence.Hewasawell-dressed,well-mademan,whoseagelookeduncertainfromthecontrastbetweenhisheavybrownmoustacheandhishair,that,curlingunderthebrimofhishat,wasalmostwhiteincolor.Theyoungmanstarted,andsaid,hurriedly:"IreallybelieveitisFletcher,——theysayhishairturnedwhitefromthePanamafever."

ItwasindeedMr.Fletcherwhoenteredandintroducedhimself,——

agentlereservedman,withsomethingofthatcolorlessnessofprematureageinhisspeechwhichwasobservableinhishair.HehadheardofMr.Harcourtfromafriendwhohadrecommendedhimhighly.AsMr.Harcourthadprobablybeentold,he,thespeaker,wasabouttoembarksomecapitalinafirst-classnewspaperinSanFrancisco,andshouldselectthestaffhimself.Hewantedtosecureonlyfirst-ratetalent,——butaboveall,youthfulness,directness,andoriginality.The"Clarion,"forthatwastobeitsname,wastohavenothing"oldfogy"aboutit.No.ItwasdistinctlytobetheorganofYoungCalifornia!Thisandmuchmorefromthegravelipsoftheelderlyyoungman,whosespeechseemedtobedividedbetweenthepretty,butequallyfaded,youngwife,andtheonepersonificationofinvincibleyouthpresent,——herhusband.

"ButIfearIhaveinterruptedyourhouseholdduties,"hesaidpleasantly."Youwerepreparingdinner.Praygoon.Andletmehelpyou,——I"mnotabadcook,——andyoucangivememyrewardbylettingmeshareitwithyou,fortheclimbupherehassharpenedmyappetite.Wecantalkaswegoon."

Itwasinvaintoprotest;therewassomethingpaternalaswellaspracticalinthecamaraderieofthisactualcapitalistandpossibleMaecenasandpatronashequietlyhunguphishatandovercoat,andhelpedtosetthetablewithapracticedhand.Nor,ashesuggested,didtheconversationfalter,andbeforetheyhadtakentheirseatsatthefrugalboardhehadalreadyengagedJohnMiltonHarcourtasassistanteditorofthe"Clarion"atasalarythatseemedprincelytothissonofamillionaire!Theyoungwifemeantimehadtakenactivepartinthediscussion;whetheritwasvaguelyunderstoodthatthepossessionofpoeticalandimaginativefacultiesprecludedanycapacityforbusiness,orwhetheritwasowingtotheapparentsuperiormaturityofMrs.Harcourtandthestranger,itwascertainthatTHEYarrangedthepracticaldetailsoftheengagement,andthattheyouthfulhusbandsatsilent,merelyofferinghisalwayshopefulandsanguineconsent.

"You"lltakeahousenearertotown,Isuppose?"continuedMr.

Fletchertothelady,"thoughyou"veacharmingviewhere.I

supposeitwasquiteachangefromTasajaraandyourfather-in-

law"shouse?Idaresayhehadasfineaplacethere——onhisownhomestead——ashehashere?"

YoungHarcourtdroppedhissensitiveeyelidsagain.Itseemedhardthathecouldnevergetawayfromtheseallusionstohisfather!

Perhapsitwasonlytothatrelationshipthathewasindebtedforhisvisitor"skindness.Inhissimplehonestyhecouldnotbearthethoughtofsuchamisapprehension."Perhaps,Mr.Fletcher,youdonotknow,"hesaid,"thatmyfatherisnotontermswithme,andthatweneitherexpectanythingnorcouldweevertakeanythingfromhim.Couldwe,Loo?"Headdedtheuselessquestionpartlybecausehesawthathiswife"sfacebetrayedlittlesympathywithhim,andpartlythatFletcherwaslookingathercuriously,asifforconfirmation.ButthiswasanotherofJohnMilton"strialsasanimaginativereporter;nobodyeverseemedtocareforhispracticalopinionsorfacts!

"Mr.Fletcherisnotinterestedinourlittlefamilydifferences,Milty,"shesaid,lookingatMr.Fletcher,however,insteadofhim.

"You"reDanielHarcourt"sSONwhateverhappens."

Thecloudthathadpassedovertheyoungman"sfaceandeyesdidnot,however,escapeMr.Fletcher"sattention,forhesmiled,andaddedgayly,"AndIhopemyvaluedlieutenantinanycase."

NeverthelessJohnMiltonwasquitereadytoavailhimselfofaninspirationtofetchsomecigarsforhisguestfromthebaroftheSea-ViewHouseontheslopeofthehillbeyond,andtherebyavoidafatefulsubject.Onceinthefreshairagainhepromptlyrecoveredhisboyishspirits.Thelightflyingscudhadalreadyeffacedthefirstrisingstars;thelowercreepingsea-foghadalreadyblottedoutthewesternshoreandsea;butbelowhimtotheeasttheglitteringlightsofthecityseemedtostartupwithanew,mysterious,anddazzlingbrilliancy.ItwasthevalleyofdiamondsthatSindbadsawlyingalmostathisfeet!Perhapssomewheretherethelightofhisownfameandfortunewasalreadybeginningtotwinkle!

Hereturnedtohishumbleroofjoyousandinspired.Asheenteredthehallheheardhiswife"svoiceandhisownnamementioned,followedbythatawkward,meaninglesssilenceonhisentrancewhichsoplainlyindicatedeitherthathehadbeenthesubjectofconversationorthatitwasnotforhisears.ItwasadismalreminderofhisboyhoodatSidonandTasajara.Buthewastoofullofhopeandambitiontoheeditto-night,andlater,whenMr.

Fletcherhadtakenhisdeparture,hispent-upenthusiasmburstoutbeforehisyouthfulpartner.Hadsherealizedthattheirstruggleswereovernow,thattheirfuturewassecure?Theyneednolongerfeareverbeingforcedtotakebountyfromthefamily;theywereindependentofthemall!Hewouldmakeanameforhimselfthatshouldbedistinctfromhisfather"sasheshouldmakeafortunethatwouldbetheirsalone.Theyoungwifesmiled."Butallthatneednotpreventyou,dear,fromclaimingyourRIGHTSwhenthetimecomes."

"ButifIscorntomaketheclaimortakeapennyofhis,Loo?"

"Yousayyouscorntotakethemoneyyouthinkyourfathergotbyameretrick,——atthebest,——anddidn"tearn.Andnowyouwillbeabletoshowyoucanlivewithoutit,andearnyourownfortune.

Well,dear,forthatveryreasonwhyshouldyouletyourfatherandothersenjoyandwastewhatisfairlyyourshare?ForitisYOUR

sharewhetheritcametoyourfatherfairlyornot;andifnot,itisstillyourduty,believingasyoudo,toclaimitfromhim,thatatleastYOUmaydowithitwhatyouchoose.Youmightwanttorestoreit——to——to——somebody."

Theyoungmanlaughed."But,mydearLoo!supposethatIwereweakenoughtoclaimit,doyouthinkmyfatherwouldgiveitup?Hehastheright,andnolawcouldforcehimtoyieldtomemorethanhechooses."

"Notthelaw,butYOUcould."

"Idon"tunderstandyou,"hesaidquickly.

"Youcouldforcehimbysimplytellinghimwhatyouoncetoldme."

JohnMiltondrewback,andhishanddroppedlooselyfromhiswife"s.Thecolorlefthisfreshyoungface;thelightquiveredforamomentandthenbecamefixedandsetinhiseyes.Forthatmomenthelookedtenyearshersenior."Iwaswrongevertotellevenyouthat,Loo,"hesaidinalowvoice."Youarewrongtoeverremindmeofit.Forgetitfromthismoment,asyouvalueourloveandwantittoliveandberemembered.Andforget,Loo,asI

do,——andevershall,——thatyoueversuggestedtometousemysecretinthewayyoudidjustnow."

ButhereMrs.Harcourtburstintotears,moretouchedbythealterationinherhusband"smanner,Ifear,thanbyanycontritionforwrongdoing.Ofcourseifhewishedtowithdrawhisconfidencesfromher,justashehadalmostconfessedhewishedtowithdrawhisNAME,shecouldn"thelpit,butitwashardthatwhenshesattherealldaylongtryingtothinkwhatwasbestforthem,sheshouldbeblamed!AtwhichthequietandforgivingJohnMiltonsmiledremorsefullyandtriedtocomforther.Neverthelessanoccasionalodd,indefinablechillseemedtocreepacrossthefeverishenthusiasmwithwhichhewascelebratingthisdayoffortune.Andyetheneitherknewnorsuspecteduntillongafterthathisfoolishwifehadthatnighthalfbetrayedhissecrettothestranger!

ThenextdayhepresentedanoteofintroductionfromMr.Fletchertothebusinessmanagerofthe"Clarion,"andthefollowingmorningwasdulyinstalledinoffice.Hedidnotseehisbenefactoragain;

thatsinglevisitwasleftinthemysteryandisolationofanangelicepisode.ItlaterappearedthatotherandlargerinterestsintheSanJosevalleyclaimedhispatron"sresidenceandattendance;

onlythecapitalandgeneralpurposeofthepaper——todevelopintoapartyorganintheinterestofhispossiblesenatorialaspirationsindueseason——wasfurnishedbyhim.GratefulasJohnMiltonfelttowardshim,hewasrelieved;itseemedprobablethatMr.FletcherHADselectedhimonhisindividualmerits,andnotasthesonofamillionaire.

Hethrewhimselfintohisworkwithhisoldhopefulenthusiasm,andperhapsanoriginalityofmethodthatwaspartofhissingularindependence.Withoutthestudent"strainingorrestraint,——forhistwoyears"schoolingatTasajaraduringhisparents"prosperitycametoolatetoactasadiscipline,——hewasunfetteredbyanyrules,andguidedonlybyanunerringinstinctivetastethatbecamenearbeinggenius.Hewasabrilliantandoriginal,ifnotalwaysaprofoundandaccurate,reporter.Bydegreeshebecameanaccustomedinteresttothereadersofthe"Clarion;"thenaninfluence.Actorsthemselvesinmanyafiercedrama,livinglivesofdevotion,emotion,andpicturesqueincident,theyhadsatisfiedthemselveswithonlythebriefestandmostpracticaldailyrecordoftheiradventure,andevenatfirstweredazedandstartledtofindthatmanyofthemhadbeenheroesandsomepoets.ThestealthyboyishreaderofromanticchronicleatSidonhadlearnedbyheartthechivalrousstoryoftheemigration.Thesecondcolumnofthe"Clarion"becamefamousevenwhilethefigureofitsyouthfulwriter,unknownandunrecognized,wasstillnightlyclimbingthesandsofRussianHill,andevenlookingdownasbeforeonthelightsofthegrowingcity,withoutathoughtthathehadaddedtothatglitteringconstellation.

Cheerfulandcontentedwiththeexerciseofwork,hewouldhavebeenhappybutforthegradualhauntingofanotherdreadwhichpresentlybegantodraghimatearlierhoursupthesteeppathtohislittlehome;tohalthimbeforethedoorwiththequickenedbreathofananxietyhewouldscarcelyconfesstohimself,andsometimesholdhimaimlesslyawholedaybeneathhisroof.FortheprettybutdelicateMrs.Harcourt,likeothersofherclass,hadaddedaweakandineffectivematernitytotheirotherconjugaltrials,andoneearlydawnababywasbornthatlingeredwiththemscarcelylongerthanthemorningmistandexhaledwiththerisingsun.Theyoungwiferegainedherstrengthslowly,——soslowlythattheyouthfulhusbandbroughthisworkattimestothehousetokeephercompany.Andasingularchangehadcomeoverher.Shenolongertalkedofthepast,norofhisfamily.Asifthelittlelifethathadpassedwiththatmorningmisthadrepresentedsomeascendingexpiatorysacrifice,itseemedtohavebroughtthemintoclosercommunion.

Yetherweakconditionmadehimconcealanothertroublethathadcomeuponhim.Itwasinthethirdmonthofhisemploymentonthe"Clarion"thatoneafternoon,whilecorrectingsomeproofsonhischief"sdesk,hecameuponthefollowingeditorialparagraph:——

"Theplayed-outcantof"pioneergenius"and"pioneerdiscovery"

appearstohavereacheditsclimaxintheattemptofsomeofourcontemporariestoapplyittoDanHarcourt"snewTasajaraJobbeforethelegislature.ItisperfectlywellknowninHarcourt"sowndistrictthat,farfrombeingapioneerandsettlerHIMSELFhesimplysucceededafterafashiontothegenuineworkofoneElijahCurtis,anactualpioneeranddiscoverer,yearsbefore,whileHarcourt,webelieve,waskeepingafrontierdoggeryinSidon,anddispensing"tanglefoot"andsaltjunktothehayfootedPikeCountiansofhisprecinct.Thiswouldmakehimasmuchofthe"pioneerdiscoverer"astherattlesnakewhofirsttakesupboardandlodgingsandthenpossessioninaprairiedog"sburrow.Andifthetraveler"staleistruethattherattlesnakesometimesmakesamealofhislandlord,thestorytoldatSidonmaybeequallycrediblethattheoriginalpioneermysteriouslydisappearedaboutthetimethatDanHarcourtcameintotheproperty.FromwhichitwouldseemthatHarcourtisnotinapositionforhisfriendstoinviteverydeepscrutinyintohis"pioneer"achievements."

Stupefaction,avagueterror,andrisinganger,rapidlysucceededeachotherintheyoungman"smindashestoodmechanicallyholdingthepaperinhishand.Itwasthewritingofhischiefeditor,whoseeasybrutalityhehadsometimesevenboyishlyadmired.

Withoutstoppingtoconsidertheirrelativepositionshesoughthimindignantlyandlaidtheproofbeforehim.Theeditorlaughed.

"Butwhat"sthattoYOU?YOU"REnotontermswiththeoldman."

"Butheismyfather!"saidJohnMiltonhotly.

"Lookhere,"saidtheeditorgood-naturedly,"I"dliketoobligeyou,butitisn"tBUSINESS,youknow,——andthisIS,youunderstand,——PROPRIETOR"SBUSINESStoo!OfcourseIseeitmightstandinthewayofyourmakinguptotheoldmanafterwardsandcominginforamillion.Well!youcantellhimit"sME.SayI

WOULDputitin.SayI"mnasty——andIAM!"

"Thenitmustgoin?"saidJohnMiltonwithawhiteface.

"Youbet."

"ThenImustgoout!"Andwritingouthisresignation,helaiditbeforehischiefandleft.