Shelookedup，becamesuddenlyawarethatsheandherquestionerwerethecentreofinteresttothewholecircleofpassengers，and，withaslightriseofcolor，returned，\"Yes。”
\"Well，MissMullins，I\'vegotaquestionortwotoaskye。Iaskitstraightoutaforethiscrowd。It\'sinmyrightstotakeyeasideandaskit——butthatain\'tmystyle；I\'mnodetective。I
needn\'taskitatall，butactasefIknowedtheanswer，orI
mightleaveittobeaskedbyothers。Yeneedn\'tansweritefyedon\'tlike；ye\'vegotafriendoverther——JudgeThompson——whoisafriendtoye，rightorwrong，jestasanyothermanhereis——asthoughye\'dpackedyourownjury。Well，thesimplequestionI\'vegottoaskyeisTHIS:DidyousignaltoanybodyfromthecoachwhenwepassedGalloper\'sanhourago？\"
WeallthoughtthatBill\'scourageandaudacityhadreacheditsclimaxhere。Toopenlyandpubliclyaccusea\"lady\"beforeagroupofchivalrousCalifornians，andthatladypossessingthefurtherattractionsofyouth，goodlooks，andinnocence，waslittleshortofdesperation。Therewasanevidentmovementofadhesiontowardsthefairstranger，aslightmutteringbrokeoutontheright，buttheveryboldnessoftheactheldtheminstupefiedsurprise。
JudgeThompson，withablandpropitiatorysmilebegan:\"Really，Bill，Imustprotestonbehalfofthisyounglady\"——whenthefairaccused，raisinghereyestoheraccuser，totheconsternationofeverybodyansweredwiththeslightbutconvincinghesitationofconscientioustruthfulness:——
\"IDID。”
\"Ahem!\"interposedtheJudgehastily，\"er——thatis——er——youallowedyourhandkerchieftoflutterfromthewindow，——Inoticeditmyself，——casually——onemightsayevenplayfully——butwithoutanyparticularsignificance。”
Thegirl，regardingherapologistwithasingularminglingofprideandimpatience，returnedbriefly:——
\"Isignaled。”
\"Whodidyousignalto？\"askedBillgravely。
\"TheyounggentlemanI\'mgoingtomarry。”
Astart，followedbyaslighttitterfromtheyoungerpassengers，wasinstantlysuppressedbyasavageglancefromBill。
\"Whatdidyousignaltohimfor？\"hecontinued。
\"TotellhimIwashere，andthatitwasallright，\"returnedtheyounggirl，withasteadilyrisingprideandcolor。
\"Wotwasallright？\"demandedBill。
\"ThatIwasn\'tfollowed，andthathecouldmeetmeontheroadbeyondCass\'sRidgeStation。”Shehesitatedamoment，andthen，withastillgreaterpride，inwhichayouthfuldefiancewasstillmingled，said:
\"I\'verunawayfromhometomarryhim。AndImeanto!Noonecanstopme。Daddidn\'tlikehimjustbecausehewaspoor，anddad\'sgotmoney。DadwantedmetomarryamanIhate，andgotalotofdressesandthingstobribeme。”
\"Andyou\'retakingtheminyourtrunktotheotherfeller？\"saidBillgrimly。
\"Yes，he\'spoor，\"returnedthegirldefiantly。
\"Thenyourfather\'snameisMullins？\"askedBill。
\"It\'snotMullins。I——I——tookthatname，\"shehesitated，withherfirstexhibitionofself-consciousness。
\"WotIShisname？\"
\"EliHemmings。”
Asmileofreliefandsignificancewentroundthecircle。ThefameofElior\"Skinner\"Hemmings，asanotoriousmiserandusurer，hadpassedevenbeyondGalloper\'sRidge。
\"Thestepthatyou\'retaking，MissMullins，Ineednottellyou，isoneofgreatgravity，\"saidJudgeThompson，withacertainpaternalseriousnessofmanner，inwhich，however，weweregladtodetectaglaringaffectation；\"andItrustthatyouandyouraffiancedhavefullyweighedit。Farbeitfrommetointerferewithorquestionthenaturalaffectionsoftwoyoungpeople，butmayIaskyouwhatyouknowofthe——er——younggentlemanforwhomyouaresacrificingsomuch，and，perhaps，imperilingyourwholefuture？Forinstance，haveyouknownhimlong？\"
Theslightlytroubledairoftryingtounderstand，——notunlikethevaguewondermentofchildhood，——withwhichMissMullinshadreceivedthebeginningofthisexordium，changedtoarelievedsmileofcomprehensionasshesaidquickly，\"Ohyes，nearlyawholeyear。”
\"And，\"saidtheJudge，smiling，\"hasheavocation——isheinbusiness？\"
\"Ohyes，\"shereturned；\"he\'sacollector。”
\"Acollector？\"
\"Yes；hecollectsbills，youknow，——money，\"shewenton，withchildisheagerness，\"notforhimself，——HEneverhasanymoney，poorCharley，——butforhisfirm。It\'sdreadfulhardwork，too；keepshimoutfordaysandnights，overbadroadsandbaddestweather。
Sometimes，whenhe\'sstoleovertotheranchjusttoseeme，he\'sbeensobadhecouldscarcelykeephisseatinthesaddle，muchlessstand。Andhe\'sgottotakemightybigrisks，too。Timesthefolksarecrosswithhimandwon\'tpay；oncetheyshothiminthearm，andhecametome，andIhelpeddoitupforhim。Buthedon\'tmind。He\'srealbrave，——jestasbraveashe\'sgood。”Therewassuchawholesomeringoftruthinthisprettypraisethatweweretouchedinsympathywiththespeaker。
\"Whatfirmdoeshecollectfor？\"askedtheJudgegently。
\"Idon\'tknowexactly——hewon\'ttellme；butIthinkit\'saSpanishfirm。Yousee\"——shetookusallintoherconfidencewithasweepingsmileofinnocentyethalf-mischievousartfulness——\"IonlyknowbecauseIpeepedoveraletterheoncegotfromhisfirm，tellinghimhemusthustleupandbereadyfortheroadthenextday；butIthinkthenamewasMartinez——yes，RamonMartinez。”
Inthedeadsilencethatensued——asilencesoprofoundthatwecouldhearthehorsesinthedistantstable-yardrattlingtheirharness——oneoftheyounger\"Excelsior\"boysburstintoahystericlaugh，butthefierceeyeofYubaBillwasdownuponhim，andseemedtoinstantlystiffenhimintoasilent，grinningmask。Theyounggirl，however，tooknonoteofit。Followingout，withlover-likediffusiveness，thereminiscencesthusawakened，shewenton:——
\"Yes，it\'smightyhardwork，buthesaysit\'sallforme，andassoonaswe\'remarriedhe\'llquitit。Hemighthavequititbefore，buthewon\'ttakenomoneyofme，norwhatItoldhimIcouldgetoutofdad!Thatain\'thisstyle。He\'smightyproud——ifheispoor——isCharley。Whythar\'sallma\'smoneywhichsheleftmeintheSavin\'sBankthatIwantedtodrawout——forIhadtheright——
andgiveittohim，buthewouldn\'thearofit!Why，hewouldn\'ttakeoneofthethingsI\'vegotwithme，ifheknewit。Andsohegoesonridin\'andridin\'，hereandthereandeverywhere，andgettin\'moreandmoreplayedoutandsad，andthinandpaleasaspirit，andalwayssouneasyabouthisbusiness，andstartin\'upattimeswhenwe\'remeetin\'outintheSouthWoodsorinthefarclearin\'，andsayin\':\'Imustbegoin\'now，Polly，\'andyetalwaystryin\'tobechiffleandchipperaforeme。WhyhemusthaveridmilesandmilestohavewatchedformetharinthebrushatthefootofGalloper\'sto-night，jesttoseeifallwassafe；andLordy!I\'dhavegivenhimthesignalandshowedalightifI\'ddiedforitthenextminit。There!That\'swhatIknowofCharley——
that\'swhatI\'mrunningawayfromhomefor——that\'swhatI\'mrunningtohimfor，andIdon\'tcarewhoknowsit!AndIonlywishI\'ddoneitafore——andIwould——if——if——if——he\'donlyASKEDME!Therenow!\"Shestopped，panted，andchoked。Thenoneofthesuddentransitionsofyouthfulemotionovertooktheeager，laughingface；
itcloudedupwiththeswiftchangeofchildhood，alightningquiverofexpressionbrokeoverit，and——thencametherain!
Ithinkthissimpleactcompletedourutterdemoralization!Wesmiledfeeblyateachotherwiththatassumptionofmasculinesuperioritywhichismiserablyconsciousofitsownhelplessnessatsuchmoments。Welookedoutofthewindow，blewournoses，said:
\"Eh——what？\"and\"Isay，\"vaguelytoeachother，andweregreatlyrelieved，andyetapparentlyastonished，whenYubaBill，whohadturnedhisbackuponthefairspeaker，andwaskickingthelogsinthefireplace，suddenlysweptdownuponusandbundledusallintotheroad，leavingMissMullinsalone。ThenhewalkedasidewithJudgeThompsonforafewmoments；returnedtous，autocraticallydemandedofthepartyacompletereticencetowardsMissMullinsonthesubject-matterunderdiscussion，re-enteredthestation，reappearedwiththeyounglady，suppressedafaintidioticcheerwhichbrokefromusatthespectacleofherinnocentfaceoncemoreclearedandrosy，climbedthebox，andinanothermomentwewereunderway。
\"Thenshedon\'tknowwhatherloverisyet？\"askedtheExpressmaneagerly。
\"No。”
\"AreYOUcertainit\'soneofthegang？\"
\"Can\'tsayFORSURE。ItmoutbeayoungchapfromYolowhobuckedaginthetiger*atSacramento，gotregularlycleanedoutandbusted，andjoinedthegangforaflier。TheysaytharwasanewhandinthatjoboveratKeeley\'s，——andamightygameone，too；andeztherewassomebuckshotonloadedthattrip，hemighthevgothisshare，andthatwouldtallywithwhatthegirlsaidabouthisarm。
See!Efthat\'stheman，I\'veheeredhewasthesonofsomebigpreacherintheStates，andacollegesharptoboot，whoranwildin\'Frisco，andplayedhimselfforallhewasworth。They\'rethewustkindtokickwhentheyoncegetafootoverthetraces。Forstiddy，comf\'blekempany，\"addedBillreflectively，\"giveMEthesonofamanthatwasHANGED!\"
*Gambledatfaro。
\"Butwhatareyougoingtodoaboutthis？\"
\"Thatdependsuponthefellerwhocomestomeether。”
\"Butyouain\'tgoingtotrytotakehim？Thatwouldbeplayingitprettylowdownonthemboth。”
\"Keepyourhairon，Jimmy!TheJudgeandmeareonlygoingtorastlewiththesperritofthatgayyounggaloot，whenhedropsdownforhisgirl——andexhorthimpow\'ful!Efheallowshe\'sconvictedofsinandwillfindtheLord，we\'llmarryhimandthegaloffhandatthenextstation，andtheJudgewillofficiatehimselffornothin\'。We\'regoin\'tohavethisyerelopementdoneonthesquare——andourwaybillclean——youbet!\"
\"Butyoudon\'tsupposehe\'lltrusthimselfinyourhands？\"
\"Pollywillsignaltohimthatit\'sallsquare。”
\"Ah!\"saidtheExpressman。Neverthelessinthosefewmomentsthemenseemedtohaveexchangeddispositions。TheExpressmanlookeddoubtfully，critically，andevencynicallybeforehim。Bill\'sfacehadrelaxed，andsomethinglikeablandsmilebeamedacrossit，ashedroveconfidentlyandunhesitatinglyforward。
Day，meantime，althoughfullblownandradiantonthemountainsummitsaroundus，wasyetnebulousanduncertaininthevalleysintowhichwewereplunging。Lightsstillglimmeredinthecabinsandfewranchbuildingswhichbegantoindicatethethickersettlements。Andtheshadowswereheaviestinalittlecopse，whereanotefromJudgeThompsoninthecoachwashandeduptoYubaBill，whoatonceslowlybegantodrawuphishorses。Thecoachstoppedfinallynearthejunctionofasmallcrossroad。AtthesamemomentMissMullinsslippeddownfromthevehicle，and，withapartingwaveofherhandtotheJudge，whohadassistedherfromthesteps，trippeddownthecrossroad，anddisappearedinitssemi-
obscurity。Tooursurprisethestagewaited，Billholdingthereinslistlesslyinhishands。Fiveminutespassed——aneternityofexpectation，and，astherewasthatinYubaBill\'sfacewhichforbadeidlequestioning，anachingvoidofsilencealso!Thiswasatlastbrokenbyastrangevoicefromtheroad:——
\"Goonwe\'llfollow。”
Thecoachstartedforward。Presentlyweheardthesoundofotherwheelsbehindus。Weallcranedournecksbackwardtogetaviewoftheunknown，butbythegrowinglightwecouldonlyseethatwewerefollowedatadistancebyabuggywithtwofiguresinit。
EvidentlyPollyMullinsandherlover!Wehopedthattheywouldpassus。Butthevehicle，althoughdrawnbyafasthorse，preserveditsdistancealways，anditwasplainthatitsdriverhadnodesiretosatisfyourcuriosity。TheExpressmanhadrecoursetoBill。
\"Isitthemanyouthoughtof？\"heaskedeagerly。
\"Ireckon，\"saidBillbriefly。
\"But，\"continuedtheExpressman，returningtohisformerskepticism，\"what\'stokeepthembothfromlevantingtogethernow？\"
Billjerkedhishandtowardsthebootwithagrimsmile。
\"Theirbaggage。”
\"Oh!\"saidtheExpressman。
\"Yes，\"continuedBill。\"We\'llhangontothatgal\'slittlefrillsandfixin\'suntilthisyerjob\'ssettled，andtheceremony\'sover，jestasefwewazherownfather。And，what\'smore，youngman，\"headded，suddenlyturningtotheExpressman，\"YOU\'LLexpressthemtrunksofhersTHROUGHTOSACRAMENTOwithyourkempany\'slabels，andhandherthereceiptsandchecksforthem，sosheCANGET\'EM
THERE。That\'llkeepHIMoutertemptationandthereacho\'thegang，untiltheygetawayamongwhitemenandcivilizationagain。
Whenyourhoary-headedolegrandfather，or，tospeakplainer，thatpartikleroldwhiskey-soakerknownasYubaBill，wotsitsonthisbox，\"hecontinued，withadiabolicalwinkattheExpressman，\"waltzesintopervideforayoungcouplejeststartin\'inlife，thar\'snothin\'meanabouthisstyle，youbet。Hefillsthebilleverytime!SpeshulProvidencestakeabackseatwhenhe\'saround。”
WhenthestationhotelandstragglingsettlementofSugarPine，nowdistinctandclearinthegrowinglight，atlastrosewithinrifleshotontheplateau，thebuggysuddenlydartedswiftlybyus，soswiftlythatthefacesofthetwooccupantswerebarelydistinguishableastheypassed，andkeepingtheleadbyadozenlengths，reachedthedoorofthehotel。Theyounggirlandhercompanionleapeddownandvanishedwithinaswedrewup。Theyhadevidentlydeterminedtoeludeourcuriosity，andweresuccessful。
Butthematerialappetitesofthepassengers，sharpenedbythekeenmountainair，weremorepotentthantheircuriosity，and，asthebreakfast-bellrangoutatthemomentthestagestopped，amajorityofthemrushedintothedining-roomandscrambledforplaceswithoutgivingmuchheedtothevanishedcoupleortotheJudgeandYubaBill，whohaddisappearedalso。ThethroughcoachtoMarysvilleandSacramentowaslikewisewaiting，forSugarPinewasthelimitofBill\'sministration，andthecoachwhichwehadjustleftwentnofarther。Inthecourseoftwentyminutes，however，therewasaslightandsomewhatceremoniousbustlinginthehallandontheveranda，andYubaBillandtheJudgereappeared。
Thelatterwasleading，withsomeelaborationofmanneranddetail，theshapelyfigureofMissMullins，andYubaBillwasaccompanyinghercompaniontothebuggy。Weallrushedtothewindowstogetagoodviewofthemysteriousstrangerandprobableex-brigandwhoselifewasnowlinkedwithourfairfellow-passenger。Iamafraid，however，thatweallparticipatedinacertainimpressionofdisappointmentanddoubt。Handsomeandevencultivated-looking，heassuredlywas——youngandvigorousinappearance。Buttherewasacertainhalf-shamed，half-defiantsuggestioninhisexpression，yetcoupledwithawatchfullurkinguneasinesswhichwasnotpleasantandhardlybecominginabridegroom——andthepossessorofsuchabride。Butthefrank，joyous，innocentfaceofPollyMullins，resplendentwithasimple，happyconfidence，meltedourheartsagain，andcondonedthefellow\'sshortcomings。Wewavedourhands；
IthinkwewouldhavegiventhreerousingcheersastheydroveawayiftheomnipotenteyeofYubaBillhadnotbeenuponus。Itwaswell，forthenextmomentweweresummonedtothepresenceofthatsoft-heartedautocrat。
WefoundhimalonewiththeJudgeinaprivatesitting-room，standingbeforeatableonwhichtherewasadecanterandglasses。
Aswefiledexpectantlyintotheroomandthedoorclosedbehindus，hecastaglanceofhesitatingtoleranceoverthegroup。
\"Gentlemen，\"hesaidslowly，\"youwasallpresentatthebeginnin\'
ofalittlegamethismornin\'，andtheJudgetharthinksthatyououghterbeletinatthefinish。Idon\'tseethatit\'sanyofYOUR
d——dbusiness——sotospeak；buteztheJudgehereallowsyou\'reallinthesecret，I\'vecalledyouintotakeapartin\'drinktothehealthofMr。andMrs。CharleyByng——ezisnowcomf\'ablyoffontheirbridaltower。WhatYOUknoworwhatYOUsuspectsoftheyounggalootthat\'smarriedthegalain\'tworthshuckstoanybody，andIwouldn\'tgiveittoayallerpuptoplaywith，buttheJudgethinksyououghtalltopromiserightherethatyou\'llkeepitdark。That\'shisopinion。Ezfarasmyopiniongoes，gen\'l\'men，\"
continuedBill，withgreaterblandnessandapparentcordiality，\"I
wantersimplyremark，inakeerless，offhandgin\'ralway，thatefI
ketchanyGod-forsaken，lop-eared，chuckle-headedblatherin\'idjetairin\'HISopinion\"——
\"Onemoment，Bill，\"interposedJudgeThompsonwithagravesmile；
\"letmeexplain。Youunderstand，gentlemen，\"hesaid，turningtous，\"thesingular，andImaysayaffecting，situationwhichourgood-heartedfriendherehasdonesomuchtobringtowhatwehopewillbeahappytermination。Iwanttogivehere，asmyprofessionalopinion，thatthereisnothinginhisrequestwhich，inyourcapacityasgoodcitizensandlaw-abidingmen，youmaynotgrant。Iwanttotellyou，also，thatyouarecondoningnooffenseagainstthestatutes；thatthereisnotaparticleoflegalevidencebeforeusofthecriminalantecedentsofMr。CharlesByng，exceptthatwhichhasbeentoldyoubytheinnocentlipsofhisbetrothed，whichthelawofthelandhasnowsealedforeverinthemouthofhiswife，andthatourownactualexperienceofhisactshavebeeninthemainexculpatoryofanypreviousirregularity——ifnotincompatiblewithit。Briefly，nojudgewouldcharge，nojuryconvict，onsuchevidence。WhenIaddthattheyounggirlisoflegalage，thatthereisnoevidenceofanypreviousundueinfluence，butratherofthereverse，onthepartofthebridegroom，andthatIwascontent，asamagistrate，toperformtheceremony，Ithinkyouwillbesatisfiedtogiveyourpromise，forthesakeofthebride，anddrinkahappylifetothemboth。”
Ineednotsaythatwedidthischeerfully，andevenextortedfromBillagruntofsatisfaction。Themajorityofthecompany，however，whoweregoingwiththethroughcoachtoSacramento，thentooktheirleave，and，asweaccompaniedthemtotheveranda，wecouldseethatMissPollyMullins\'strunkswerealreadytransferredtotheothervehicleundertheprotectingsealsandlabelsoftheall-potentExpressCompany。Thenthewhipcracked，thecoachrolledaway，andthelasttracesoftheadventurousyoungcoupledisappearedinthehangingreddustofitswheels。
ButYubaBill\'sgrimsatisfactionatthehappyissueoftheepisodeseemedtosuffernoabatement。Heevenexceededhisusualdeliberatelyregulatedpotations，and，standingcomfortablywithhisbacktothecentreofthenowdesertedbarroom，wasmorethanusuallyloquaciouswiththeExpressman。\"Yousee，\"hesaid，inblandreminiscence，\"whenyouroldUncleBilltakesholdofajoblikethis，heputsitstraightthroughwithoutchangin\'hosses。
Yettharwasamoment，youngfeller，whenIthoughtIwasstompt!
Itwaswhenwe\'dmadeupourmindtomakethatchaptellthegalfustallwhathewas!Efshe\'draredorkickedinthetraces，orhungbackonlyezmuchezthat，we\'dhevgivenhimjestfiveminits\'lawtogetupandgetandleaveher，andwe\'dhevtotedthatgalandherfixin\'sbacktoherdadagain!Butshejestgavealittlescreamandstart，andthenwentoffinterhysterics，rightonhisbuzzum，laughingandcryin\'andsayin\'thatnothin\'shouldpart\'em。Gosh!ifIdidn\'tthinkHEwozmorecutupthansheaboutit；aminititlookedasefHEdidn\'tallowtomarryherarterall，butthatpassed，andtheywasmarriedhardandfast——youbet!Ireckonhe\'shadenoughofstayin\'outo\'nightstolasthim，andefthevalleysettlementshevn\'tgotholdofaveryshiningmember，atleastthefoothillshevgotshutofonemoreoftheRamonMartinezgang。”
\"What\'sthatabouttheRamonMartinezgang？\"saidaquietpotentialvoice。
Billturnedquickly。ItwasthevoiceoftheDivisionalSuperintendentoftheExpressCompany，——amanofeccentricdeterminationofcharacter，andoneofthefewwhomtheautocraticBillrecognizedasanequal，——whohadjustenteredthebarroom。
Hisdustypongeecloakandsofthatindicatedthathehadthatmorningarrivedonaroundofinspection。
\"Don\'tcareifIdo，Bill，\"hecontinued，inresponsetoBill\'sinvitatorygesture，walkingtothebar。\"It\'salittlerawoutontheroad。Well，whatwereyousayingaboutRamonMartinezgang？
Youhaven\'tcomeacrossoneof\'em，haveyou？\"
\"No，\"saidBill，withaslightblinkingofhiseye，asheostentatiouslyliftedhisglasstothelight。
\"AndyouWON\'T，\"addedtheSuperintendent，leisurelysippinghisliquor。\"Forthefactis，thegangisaboutplayedout。Notfromwantofajobnowandthen，butfromthedifficultyofdisposingoftheresultsoftheirwork。Sincethenewinstructionstotheagentstoidentifyandtracealldustandbullionofferedtothemwentintoforce，yousee，theycan\'tgetridoftheirswag。Allthegangarespottedattheoffices，anditcoststoomuchforthemtopayafenceoramiddlemanofanystanding。Why，allthatflakyrivergoldtheytookfromtheExcelsiorCompanycanbeidentifiedaseasyasifitwasstampedwiththecompany\'smark。Theycan\'tmeltitdownthemselves；theycan\'tgetotherstodoitforthem；
theycan\'tshipittotheMintorAssayOfficesinMarysvilleand\'Frisco，fortheywon\'ttakeitwithoutourcertificateandseals；
andWEdon\'ttakeanyundeclaredfreightWITHINthelinesthatwe\'vedrawnaroundtheirbeat，exceptfrompeopleandagentsknown。
Why，YOUknowthatwellenough，Jim，\"hesaid，suddenlyappealingtotheExpressman，\"don\'tyou？\"
PossiblythesuddennessoftheappealcausedtheExpressmantoswallowhisliquorthewrongway，forhewasovertakenwithafitofcoughing，andstammeredhastilyashelaiddownhisglass，\"Yes——ofcourse——certainly。”
\"No，sir，\"resumedtheSuperintendentcheerfully，\"they\'reprettywellplayedout。Andthebestproofofitisthatthey\'velatelybeenrobbingordinarypassengers\'trunks。Therewasafreightwagon\'heldup\'nearDow\'sFlattheotherday，andalotofbaggagegonethrough。Ihadtogodowntheretolookintoit。Darnediftheyhadn\'tliftedaloto\'woman\'sweddingthingsfromthatrichcouplewhogotmarriedtheotherdayoutatMarysville。Looksasiftheywereplayingitratherlowdown，don\'tit？Comingdowntohardpanandthebedrock——eh？\"
TheExpressman\'sfacewasturnedanxiouslytowardsBill，who，afterahurriedgulpofhisremainingliquor，stillstoodstaringatthewindow。Thenheslowlydrewononeofhislargegloves。\"Yedidn\'t，\"hesaid，withaslow，drawling，butperfectlydistinct，articulation，\"happentoknowold\'Skinner\'Hemmingswhenyouwereoverthere？\"
\"Yes。”
\"Andhisdaughter？\"
\"Hehasn\'tgotany。”
\"Asorto\'mild，innocent，guilelesschildofnature？\"persistedBill，withayellowface，adeadlycalmandSatanicdeliberation。
\"No。ItellyouheHASN\'Tanydaughter。OldmanHemmingsisaconfirmedoldbachelor。He\'stoomeantosupportmorethanone。”
\"Andyoudidn\'thappentoknowanyo\'thatgang，didye？\"continuedBill，withinfiniteprotraction。
\"Yes。Knew\'emall。TherewasFrenchPete，CherokeeBob，KanakaJoe，One-eyedStillson，SoftyBrown，SpanishJack，andtwoorthreeGreasers。”
\"Andyedidn\'tknowamanbythenameofCharleyByng？\"
\"No，\"returnedtheSuperintendent，withaslightsuggestionofwearinessandadistraughtglancetowardsthedoor。
\"Adark，stylishchap，withshiftyblackeyesandacurled-upmerstache？\"continuedBill，withdry，colorlesspersistence。
\"No。Lookhere，Bill，I\'minalittlebitofahurry——butI
supposeyoumusthaveyourlittlejokebeforewepart。Now，whatisyourlittlegame？\"
\"Wotyoumean？\"demandedBill，withsuddenbrusqueness。
\"Mean？Well，oldman，youknowaswellasIdo。You\'regivingmetheverydescriptionofRamonMartinezhimself，ha!ha!No——Bill!
youdidn\'tplaymethistime。You\'remightyspryandclever，butyoudidn\'tcatchonjustthen。”
Henoddedandmovedawaywithalightlaugh。BillturnedastonyfacetotheExpressman。Suddenlyagleamofmirthcameintohisgloomyeyes。Hebentovertheyoungman，andsaidinahoarse，chucklingwhisper:——
\"ButIgotevenafterall!\"
\"How？\"
\"He\'stieduptothatlyinglittleshe-devil，hardandfast!\"
THEREFORMATIONOFJAMESREDDY。
I。
Itwasafreshlyfurrowedfield，solargethattheeyeatfirstscarcelytookinitsmagnitude。Theirregularsurfaceofupturned，oily，wave-shapedclodstooktheappearanceofavast，black，choppingsea，thatreachedfromtheactualshoreofSanFranciscoBaytothelowhillsoftheCoastRange。Thesea-breezethatblewchillyoverthisbleakexpanseaddedtothatfancy，andthelineofstragglingwhitewashedfarmbuildings，thathalfwayacrossliftedthemselvesaboveit，seemedtobeplacedonanislandinitsmidst。
Eventheoneortwohuge，misshapenagriculturalmachines，abandonedinthefurrows，boreanoddresemblancetohulksorbargesadriftuponitswaste。
Thismarinesuggestionwasequallynoticeablefromthedoorofoneofthefarmbuildings——along，detachedwoodenshed——intowhichanumberoffarmlaborerswereslowlyfiling，althoughonemanwasapparentlyenoughimpressedbyittolingerandgazeoverthatrigidsea。Exceptintheirroughdressandthelabor-stainsofsoilontheirhandsandfaces，theyrepresentednoparticulartypeorclass。Theywereyoungandold，robustanddelicate，dullandintelligent；kepttogetheronlybysomephilosophical，careless，orhumorousacceptanceofequallyenforcedcircumstanceintheirlabors，asconvictsmighthavebeen。FortheyhadbeenpickeduponthestreetsandwharvesofSanFrancisco，——dischargedsailors，broken-downminers，helplessnewcomers，unemployedprofessionalmen，andruinedtraders，——toassistinploughingandplantingcertainbroadleaguesofrichalluvialsoilforaspeculativeJointStockCompany，ataweeklywagethatwouldhavemadeanEuropeanpeasantindependentforhalfayear。Yettherewasnoenthusiasmintheirlabor，althoughitwasseldommarkedbyabsolutelazinessorevasion，andwasmoreoftenhinderedbyill-regulated\"spurts\"
andexcessiveeffort，asifthelaborerwasanxioustogetthroughwithit；forinthefewconfidencestheyexchangedtherewaslittleallusiontothepresent，andtheytalkedchieflyofwhattheyweregoingtodowhentheirworkwasover。Theyweregregariousonlyattheirmealsinoneofthesheds，orwhenatnighttheysoughttheir\"bunks\"orberthstogetherinthelargerbuilding。
Themanwhohadlingeredtolookatthedrearyprospecthadasomewhatgloomy，discontentedface，whosesensitivelinesindicatedacertainsusceptibilitytosuchimpressions。Hewasfurtherdistinguishedbyhavingalsolingeredlongerwiththewashingofhishandsandfaceinthebatteredtinbasinonastoolbesidethedoor，andbythecircumstancethattheoperationrevealedthefactthattheywerewhiterthanthoseofhiscompanions。Dryinghisfingersslowlyonthelongroller-towel，hestoodgazingwithakindofhardabstractionacrossthedarkeningfield，thestripoffadedcolorlessshore，andthechillgraysea，tothedividingpointoflandontheoppositecoast，whichinthedyingdaylightwassilhouettedagainstthecoldhorizon。
Heknewthataroundthatpointandbehinditlaythefierce，half-
grown，half-tamedcityofyesterdaythathadworkedhisruin。
Itwasscarcelyayearagothathehadplungedintoitswildestexcesses，——arecklessgambleramongspeculators，ahopelessspeculatoramonggamblers，untilthelittlefortunehehadbroughtthitherhadbeensweptaway。
Fromtimetotimehehadkeptuphisfailingspiritwiththefeverishexaltationofdissipation，until，awakeningfromadrunkard\'sdreamonemorning，hehadfoundhimselfonboardasteamboatcrossingthebay，incompanywithagangoffarmlaborerswithwhomhewashired。Abittersmilecrossedhislipsashiseyeshoveredoverthecold，ruggedfieldsbeforehim。Yetheknewthattheyhadsavedhim。Theunaccustomedmanuallaborintheopenair，theregularhours，thesilent，heavy，passionlessnights，theplainbutwholesomefood，wereallslowlyrestoringhisyouthandstrengthagain。Temptationandpassionhadalikefledtheseunlovelyfieldsandgrimemployment。Yethewasnotgrateful。Henursedhisdrearyconvalescenceashehadhispreviousdissipation，aspartofawrongdonehimbyoneforwhosesake，hewaswonttobelieve，hehadsacrificedhimself。Thatpersonwasawoman。
Turningatlastfromtheprospectandhisbittermemoriestojoinhiscompanions，hefoundthattheyhadallpassedin。Thebenchesbeforethelongtableonwhichsupperwasspreadwerealreadyfilled，andhestoodinhesitation，lookingdownthelineofsilentandhungrilypreoccupiedmenoneitherside。Ayounggirl，whowasstandingnearasmallerserving-table，apparentlyassistinganolderwomanindirectingtheoperationofhalfadozenChinesewaiters，movedforwardandclearedaplaceforhimataside-table，pushingbeforeittheonlychairintheroom，——theoneshehadlatelyvacated。Assheplacedsomeofthedishesbeforehimwithatimidostentation，andherlargebutwell-shapedhandscamesuddenlyincontactwith，andindirestcontrasttohisownwhiterandmoredelicateones，sheblushedfaintly。Heliftedhiseyestohers。
Hehadseenherhalfadozentimesbefore，forshewasthedaughteroftheranchsuperintendent，andoccasionallyassistedhermotherinthisculinarysupervision——whichdidnot，however，bringherintoanyfamiliarassociationwiththemen。Eventheyoungerones，perhapsfromover-consciousnessoftheirinferiorpositionorthepreoccupationoftheirlabor，neverindulgedinanygallantrytowardher，andhehimself，inhisrevulsionoffeelingagainstthewholesex，hadscarcelynoticedthatshewasgood-looking。Butthisnaiveexhibitionofpreferencecouldnotbeoverlooked，eitherbyhiscompanions，whosmiledcynicallyacrossthetable，orbyhimself，fromwhosemorbidfancyitstruckanignoblesuggestion。
Ah，well!thegirlwaspretty——thedaughterofhisemployer，whorumorsaidownedacontrollingshareinthecompany；whyshouldhenotmakethischancepreferenceleadtosomething，ifonlytoameliorate，inwayslikethis，hisdespicablepositionhere。Heknewthevalueofhisowngoodlooks，hissuperioreducation，andacertainrecklessnesswhichwomenliked；whyshouldhenotprofitbythemaswellastheonewomanwhohadbroughthimtothis？Heowedhersexnothing；ifthoseamongthemwhowerenotbadwereonlyfools，therewasnoreasonwhyheshouldnotdeceivethemastheyhadhim。Therewasallthissmallaudacityandcynicalpurposeinhisbrowneyesashedeliberatelyfixedthemonhers。AndIgrievetosaythattheseabominablesentimentsseemedonlytoimparttothemacertainattractivebrilliancy，andadeterminationwhichtheundeterminingsexisapttoadmire。
Sheblushedagain，droppedhereyes，repliedtohissignificantthankswithafewindistinctwords，anddrewawayfromthetablewithasuddentimiditythatwashalfconfession。
Shedidnotapproachhimagainduringthemeal，butseemedtohavetakenasuddeninterestintheefficiencyofthewaiters，generally，whichshehadnotshownbefore。Idonotknowwhetherthiswasmerelyaneffortatconcealment，oranawakenedrecognitionofherduty；but，afterthefashionofhersex，——andperhapsincontrasttohis，——shewaskinderthateveningtotheaveragemanonaccountofHIM。Hedidnot，however，noticeit；nordidherabsenceinterferewithhisnowhealthyappetite；hefinishedhismeal，andonlywhenherosetotakehishatfromthepegabovehimdidheglancearoundtheroom。Theireyesmetagain。Ashepassedout，althoughitwasdark，heputonhishatalittlemoresmartly。
Theairwasclearandcold，buttheoutlinesofthelandscapehadvanished。Hiscompanions，withtheinstinctoftiredanimals，werealreadymakingtheirwayinknotsoftwoorthree，orinsilentfile，acrosstheinterveningspacebetweenthebuildingandtheirdormitory。Afewhadalreadylittheirpipesandwerewalkingleisurely，butthemajoritywerehurryingfromthechillsea-breezetothewarmthandcomfortofthelong，well-litroom，linedwithblanketedberths，andsetwithplainwoodenchairsandtables。Theyoungmanlingeredforamomentonthewoodenplatformoutsidethedining-shed，——partlytoevadethisonlysocialgatheringofhisfellowsastheyretiredforthenight，andpartlyattractedbyastrangefascinationtothefaintdistantglow，beyondthepointofland，whichindicatedthelightsofSanFrancisco。
Therewasaslightrustlebehindhim!Itwastheyounggirlwho，withawhitewoolenscarfthrownoverherheadandshoulders，hadjustlefttheroom。Shestartedwhenshesawhim，andforaninstanthesitated。
\"Youaregoinghome，MissWoodridge？\"hesaidpleasantly。
\"Yes，\"shereturned，inafaint，embarrassedvoice。\"IthoughtI\'drunonaheadofma!\"
\"Willyouallowmetoaccompanyyou？\"
\"It\'sonlyastep，\"sheprotested，indicatingthelightinthewindowofthesuperintendent\'shouse，themostremoteofthegroupofbuildings，yetscarcelyaquarterofamiledistant。
\"Butit\'squitedark，\"hepersistedsmilingly。
Shesteppedfromtheplatformtotheground；heinstantlyfollowedandrangedhimselfatalittledistancefromherside。Sheprotestedstillfeeblyagainsthis\"troublinghimself，\"butinanothermomenttheywerewalkingonquietlytogether。
Nevertheless，afewpacesfromtheplatformtheycameupontheupheavedclodsofthefreshfurrows，andtheirprogressoverthemwasslowanddifficult。
\"ShallIhelpyou？Willyoutakemyarm？\"hesaidpolitely。
\"No，thankyou，Mr。Reddy。”
So!sheknewhisname!Hetriedtolookintohereyes，butthewoolenscarfhidherhead。Afterall，therewasnothingstrangeinherknowinghim；sheprobablyhadthenamesofthemenbeforeherinthedining-room，oronthebooks。Afterapausehesaid:——
\"Youquitestartledme。Onebecomessuchamereworkingmachineherethatonequiteforgetsone\'sownname，——especiallywiththeprefixof\'Mr。\'\"
\"Andifitdon\'thappentobeone\'srealnameeither，\"saidthegirl，withanodd，timidaudacity。
Helookedupquickly——moreattractedbyhermannerthanherwords；
moreamusedthanangry。
\"ButReddyhappenstobemyrealname。”
\"Oh!\"
\"Whatmadeyouthinkitwasnot？\"
TheclodsoverwhichtheywereclamberingweresouneventhatsometimestheyounggirlwasmountingoneatthesamemomentthatReddywasdescendingfromanother。Herreply，halfmuffledinhershawl，wasdeliveredoverhishead。\"Oh，becausepasaysmostofthemenheredon\'tgivetheirrealnames——theydon\'tcaretobeknownafterward。Ashamedoftheirwork，Ireckon。”
Hisfaceflushedamoment，eveninthedarkness。HeWASashamedofhiswork，andperhapsalittleofthepitifulsporthewasbeginning。Butoddlyenough，theaggressivecriticismonlywhettedhispurpose。Thegirlwasevidentlyquiteabletotakecareofherself；whyshouldhebeover-chivalrous？
\"Itisn\'tverypleasanttobedoingtheworkofahorse，anox，oramachine，ifyoucandootherthings，\"hesaidhalfseriously。
\"Butyouneverusedtodoanythingatall，didyou？\"sheasked。
Hehesitated。Herewasachancetogiveheranaffectinghistoryofhisformerexaltedfortuneandposition，andperhapseventostirherevidentlyromanticnaturewithsomesuggestionofhissacrificestooneofherownsex。Womenlikedthatsortofthing。
Itarousedatoncetheiremulationandtheircondemnationofeachother。Heseizedtheopportunity，but——forsomereason，heknewnotwhy——awkwardlyandclumsily，withasimulatedpathosthatwaslachrymose，aself-assertionthatwasboastful，andadramaticmannerthatwasunreal。Suddenlythegirlstoppedhim。
\"Yes，IknowallTHAT；patoldme。Toldmeyou\'dbeengivenawaybysomewoman。”
Hisfaceagainflushed——thistimewithanger。Theutterfailureofhisstorytoexciteherinterest，andherperfectpossessionofherselfandthesituation，——sounlikeherconductafewmomentsbefore，——madehimsavagelysilent，andheclamberedonsullenlyatherside。Presentlyshestopped，balancingherselfwithadexterityhecouldnotimitateononeofthelargerupheavedclods，andsaid: