Intwohoursmoretheyhadovertakenthetrain，alreadyonthemarch，andwereinthemidstofthegroupofoutriders。JudgePeyton\'sface，albeitatrifleperplexed，turnedtowardsClarencewithakindly，half-tolerantlookofwelcome。Theboy\'sheartinstantlymeltedwithforgiveness。
\"Well，myboy，let\'shearYOURstory。Whathappened?\"
Clarencecastahurriedglancearound，andsawJim，withfaceaverted，ridinggloomilybehind。Thennervouslyandhurriedlyhetoldhowhehadbeenthrownintothegullyonthebackofthewoundedbuffalo，andthemannerofhisescape。Anaudibletitterranthroughthecavalcade。Mr。Peytonregardedhimgravely。\"Buthowdidthebuffalogetsoconvenientlyintothegully?\"heasked。
\"JimHookerlamedhimwithashotgun，andhefellover，\"saidClarencetimidly。
AroarofHomericlaughterwentupfromtheparty。Clarencelookedup，stungandstartled，butcaughtasingleglimpseofJimHooker\'sfacethatmadehimforgethisownmortification。Initshopeless，heart-sick，andutterlybeatendejection——thefirstandonlyrealexpressionhehadseenonit——hereadthedreadfultruth。Jim\'sREPUTATIONhadruinedhim!Theonegenuineandstrikingepisodeofhislife，theonetrustworthyaccounthehadgivenofit，hadbeenunanimouslyacceptedasthebiggestandmostconsummatelieofhisrecord!
CHAPTERVII
Withthisincidentofthehuntclosed，toClarence，thelastrememberedepisodeofhisjourney。Buthedidnotknowuntillongafterthatithadalsoclosedtohimwhatmighthavebeentheopeningofanewcareer。ForithadbeenJudgePeyton\'sintentioninadoptingSusytoincludeacertainguardianshipandprotectionoftheboy，providedhecouldgettheconsentofthatvaguerelationtowhomhewasconsigned。ButithadbeenpointedoutbyMrs。PeytonandherbrotherthatClarence\'sassociationwithJimHookerhadmadehimadoubtfulcompanionforSusy，andeventheJudgehimselfwasforcedtoadmitthattheboy\'sapparenttasteforevilcompanywasinconsistentwithhisallegedbirthandbreeding。
Unfortunately，Clarence，intheconvictionofbeinghopelesslymisunderstood，andthatdoggedacquiescencetofatewhichwasoneofhischaracteristics，wastooproudtocorrecttheimpressionbyanyofthehypocraciesofchildhood。HehadalsoacloudyinstinctofloyaltytoJiminhisdisgrace，without，however，experiencingeitherthesympathyofanequalorthezealofapartisan，butrather——ifitcouldbesaidofaboyofhisyears——withthepatronageandprotectionofasuperior。SoheacceptedwithoutdemurtheintimationthatwhenthetrainreachedCaliforniahewouldbeforwardedfromStocktonwithanoutfitandaletterofexplanationtoSacramento，itbeingunderstoodthatintheeventofnotfindinghisrelativehewouldreturntothePeytonsinoneofthesouthernvalleys，wheretheyelectedtopurchaseatractofland。
Withthisoutlook，andtheprospectofchange，independence，andalltherichpossibilitiesthattotheimaginationofyouthareincludedinthem，Clarencehadfoundthedaysdragging。ThehaltatSaltLake，thetransitofthedrearyAlkalidesert，eventhewildpassageoftheSierras，werebutablurredpictureinhismemory。Thesightofeternalsnowsandtherollingofendlessranksofpines，thefirstglimpseofahillsideofwildoats，thespectacleofarushingyellowriverthattohisfancyseemedtingedwithgold，weremomentaryexcitements，quicklyforgotten。Butwhen，onemorning，haltingattheoutskirtsofastrugglingsettlement，hefoundtheentirepartyeagerlygatheredaroundapassingstranger，whohadtakenfromhissaddle-bagsasmallbuckskinpouchtoshowthemadoublehandfulofshiningscalesofmetal，Clarencefeltthefirstfeverishandovermasteringthrillofthegold-seekers。Breathlesslyhefollowedthebreathlessquestionsandcarelessreplies。Thegoldhadbeendugoutofaplaceronlythirtymilesaway。Itmightbeworth，say，ahundredandfiftydollars；itwasonlyHISshareofaweek\'sworkwithtwopartners。Itwasnotmuch；\"thecountrywasgettingplayedoutwithfresharrivalsandgreenhorns。\"Allthisfallingcarelesslyfromtheunshavenlipsofadusty，roughlydressedman，withalong-handledshovelandpickaxestrappedonhisback，andafrying-
pandependingfromhissaddle。ButnopanopliedorarmedknighteverseemedsoheroicorindependentafiguretoClarence。Whatcouldbefinerthanthenoblescornconveyedinhiscriticalsurveyofthetrain，withitscomfortablecoveredwagonsandappliancesofcivilization?\"Ye\'llhevtogetridofthemtherfixin\'sifyergoin\'inforplacerdiggin\'!\"WhatacorroborationofClarence\'srealthoughts!Whatapictureofindependencewasthis!Thepicturesquescout，theall-powerfulJudgePeyton，thedaringyoungofficer，allcrumbledontheirclayeypedestalsbeforethisheroinaredflannelshirtandhigh-toppedboots。Tostrollaroundintheopenairallday，andpickupthoseshiningbitsofmetal，withoutstudy，withoutmethodorroutine——thiswasreallylife；tosomedaycomeuponthatlargenugget\"youcouldn\'tlift，\"thatwasworthasmuchasthetrainandhorses——suchaoneasthestrangersaidwasfoundtheotherdayatSawyer\'sBar——thiswasworthgivingupeverythingfor。Thatroughman，withhissmileofcarelesssuperiority，wasthelivinglinkbetweenClarenceandtheThousandandOneNights；inhimwereAladdinandSindbadincarnate。
TwodayslatertheyreachedStockton。HereClarence，whosesinglesuitofclotheshadbeenreinforcedbypatching，oddsandendsfromPeyton\'sstores，andanextraordinarycostumeofarmycloth，gotupbytheregimentaltailoratFortRidge，wastakentoberefittedatageneralfurnishing\"emporium。\"Butalas!intheselectionoftheclothingforthatadultlocalityscantprovisionseemedtohavebeenmadeforaboyofClarence\'syears，andhewaswithdifficultyfittedfromanoldcondemnedGovernmentstoreswith\"aboy\'s\"
seamansuitandabrass-buttonedpea-jacket。TothisoutfitMr。
Peytonaddedasmallsumofmoneyforhisexpenses，andaletterofexplanationtohiscousin。Thestage-coachwastostartatnoon。
ItonlyremainedforClarencetotakeleaveoftheparty。ThefinalpartingwithSusyhadbeendiscountedonthetwopreviousdayswithsometears，smallfrightsandclingings，andtheexpresseddeterminationonthechild\'spart\"togowithhim；\"butintheexcitementofthearrivalatStocktonitwasstillfurthermitigated，andundertheinfluenceofalittlepresentfromClarence——hisfirstdisbursementofhissmallcapital——hadatlasttakentheformandpromiseofmerelytemporaryseparation。
Nevertheless，whentheboy\'sscantypackwasdepositedunderthestage-coachseat，andhehadbeenleftalone，heranrapidlybacktothetrainforonemomentmorewithSusy。Pantingandalittlefrightened，hereachedMrs。Peyton\'scar。
\"Goodness!You\'renotgoneyet，\"saidMrs。Peytonsharply。\"Doyouwanttolosethestage?\"
Aninstantbefore，inhisloneliness，hemighthaveanswered，\"Yes。\"ButunderthecruelstingofMrs。Peyton\'sevidentannoyanceathisreappearancehefelthislegssuddenlytremble，andhisvoicelefthim。HedidnotdaretolookatSusy。Buthervoicerosecomfortablyfromthedepthsofthewagonwhereshewassitting。
\"Thestagewillbegoneaway，Kla\'uns。\"
Shetoo!Shameathisfoolishweaknesssenttheyearningbloodthathadsettledroundhisheartflyingbackintohisface。
\"Iwaslookingfor——for——forJim，ma\'am，\"hesaidatlast，boldly。
HesawalookofdisgustpassoverMrs。Peyton\'sface，andfeltamalicioussatisfactionasheturnedandranbacktothestage。Buthere，tohissurprise，heactuallyfoundJim，whomhereallyhadn\'tthoughtof，darklywatchingthelaststrappingofluggage。Withamannercalculatedtoconveytheimpressiontotheotherpassengersthathewaspartingfromabrothercriminal，probablyonhiswaytoastateprison，JimshookhandsgloomilywithClarence，andeyedtheotherpassengersfurtivelybetweenhismatedlocks。
\"Efyehearo\'anythin\'happenin\'，ye\'llknowwhat\'sup，\"hesaid，inalow，hoarse，butperfectlyaudiblewhisper。\"Meandthem\'sboundtopartcompanyaforelong。TellthefellowsatDeadman\'sGulchtolookoutformeatanytime。\"
AlthoughClarencewasnotgoingtoDeadman\'sGulch，knewnothingofit，andhadafaintsuspicionthatJimwasequallyignorant，yetasoneortwoofthepassengersglancedanxiouslyatthedemure，gray-
eyedboywhoseemedbookedforsuchabalefuldestination，hereallyfeltthehalf-delighted，half-frightenedconsciousnessthathewasstartinginlifeunderfascinatingimmoralpretenses。Buttheforwardspringofthefine-spiritedhorses，thequickenedmotion，theglitteringsunlight，andthethoughtthathereallywasleavingbehindhimalltheshacklesofdependenceandcustom，andplungingintoalifeoffreedom，droveallelsefromhismind。Heturnedatlastfromthishopeful，blissfulfuture，andbegantoexaminehisfellowpassengerswithboyishcuriosity。Wedgedinbetweentwosilentmenonthefrontseat，oneofwhomseemedafarmer，andtheother，byhisblackattire，aprofessionalman，Clarencewasfinallyattractedbyablack-mantled，dark-haired，bonnetlesswomanonthebackseat，whoseattentionseemedtobemonopolizedbythejoculargallantriesofhercompanionsandthetwomenbeforeherinthemiddleseat。Fromherpositionhecouldseelittlemorethanherdarkeyes，whichoccasionallyseemedtomeethisfrankcuriosityinanamusedsortofway，buthewaschieflystruckbytheprettyforeignsoundofhermusicalvoice，whichwasunlikeanythinghehadeverheardbefore，and——alasfortheinconstancyofyouth——muchfinerthanMrs。Peyton\'s。Presentlyhisfarmercompanion，castingapatronizingglanceonClarence\'spea-jacketandbrassbuttons，saidcheerily——
\"Jestoffavoyage，sonny?\"
\"No，sir，\"stammeredClarence；\"Icameacrosstheplains。\"
\"ThenIreckonthat\'stherig-outforthecrewofaprairieschooner，eh?\"TherewasalaughatthiswhichperplexedClarence。
Observingit，thehumoristkindlycondescendedtoexplainthat\"prairieschooner\"wasthecurrentslangforanemigrantwagon。
\"Icouldn\'t，\"explainedClarence，naivelylookingatthedarkeyesonthebackseat，\"getanyclothesatStocktonbutthese；Isupposethefolksdidn\'tthinkthere\'deverbeboysinCalifornia。\"
Thesimplicityofthisspeechevidentlyimpressedtheothers，forthetwomeninthemiddleseatsturnedatawhisperfromtheladyandregardedhimcuriously。Clarenceblushedslightlyandbecamesilent。Presentlythevehiclebegantoslackenitsspeed。Theywereascendingahill；oneitherbankgrewhugecottonwoods，fromwhichoccasionallydependedabeautifulscarletvine。
\"Ah!eeteespretty，\"saidthelady，noddingherblack-veiledheadtowardsit。\"Eetisgoodinzehair。\"
Oneofthemenmadeanawkwardattempttoclutchasprayfromthewindow。AbrilliantinspirationflasheduponClarence。Whenthestagebegantheascentofthenexthill，followingtheexampleofanoutsidepassenger，hejumpeddowntowalk。Atthetopofthehillherejoinedthestage，flushedandpanting，butcarryingasmallbranchofthevineinhisscratchedhands。Handingittothemanonthemiddleseat，hesaid，withgrave，boyishpoliteness——
\"Please——forthelady。\"
AslightsmilepassedoverthefaceofClarence\'sneighbors。Thebonnetlesswomannoddedapleasantacknowledgment，andcoquettishlywoundthevineinherglossyhair。Thedarkmanathisside，whohadn\'tspokenyet，turnedtoClarencedryly。
\"Ifyou\'regoin\'tokeepupthisgait，sonny，Ireckonyewon\'tfindmuchtroublegettin\'aman\'ssuittofityoubythetimeyoureachSacramento。\"
Clarencedidn\'tquiteunderstandhim，butnoticedthatasingulargravityseemedtoovertakethetwojocularmenonthemiddleseat，andtheladylookedoutofthewindow。Hecametotheconclusionthathehadmadeamistakeaboutalludingtohisclothesandhissize。Hemusttryandbehavemoremanly。Thatopportunityseemedtobeofferedtwohourslater，whenthestagestoppedatawaysidehotelorrestaurant。
Twoorthreepassengershadgotdowntorefreshthemselvesatthebar。Hisrightandlefthandneighborswere，however，engagedinadrawlingconversationonthecomparativemeritsofSanFranciscosandhillandwaterlots；thejocularoccupantsofthemiddleseatwerestillengrossedwiththelady。Clarenceslippedoutofthestageandenteredthebar-roomwithsomeostentation。Thecompleteignoringofhispersonbythebarkeeperandhiscustomers，however，somewhatdisconcertedhim。Hehesitatedamoment，andthenreturnedgravelytothestagedoorandopenedit。
\"Wouldyoumindtakingadrinkwithme，sir?\"saidClarencepolitely，addressingthefarmer-lookingpassengerwhohadbeenmostciviltohim。Adeadsilencefollowed。Thetwomenonthemiddleseatfacedentirelyaroundtogazeathim。
\"TheCommodoreasksifyou\'lltakeadrinkwithhim，\"explainedoneofthementoClarence\'sfriendwiththegreatestseriousness。
\"Eh?Oh，yes，certainly，\"returnedthatgentleman，changinghisastonishedexpressiontooneofthedeepestgravity，\"seeingit\'stheCommodore。\"
\"Andperhapsyouandyourfriendwilljoin，too?\"saidClarencetimidlytothepassengerwhohadexplained；\"andyoutoo，sir?\"headdedtothedarkman。
\"Really，gentlemen，Idon\'tseehowwecanrefuse，\"saidthelatter，withthegreatestformality，andappealingtotheothers。
\"Acomplimentofthiskindfromourdistinguishedfriendisnottobetakenlightly。\"
\"Ihaveobserved，sir，thattheCommodore\'sheadislevel，\"
returnedtheothermanwithequalgravity。
Clarencecouldhavewishedtheyhadnottreatedhisfirsthospitableeffortquitesoformally，butastheysteppedfromthecoachwithunbendingfacesheledthem，alittlefrightened，intothebar-room。Here，unfortunately，ashewasbarelyabletoreachoverthecounter，thebarkeeperwouldhaveagainoverlookedhimbutforaquickglancefromthedarkman，whichseemedtochangeeventhebarkeeper\'sperfunctorysmilingfaceintosupernaturalgravity。
\"TheCommodoreisstandingtreat，\"saidthedarkman，withunbrokenseriousness，indicatingClarence，andleaningbackwithanairofrespectfulformality。\"Iwilltakestraightwhiskey。TheCommodore，onaccountofjustchangingclimate，will，Ibelieve，forthepresentcontenthimselfwithlemonsoda。\"
Clarencehadpreviouslyresolvedtotakewhiskey，liketheothers，butalittledoubtfulofthepolitenessofcountermandinghisguest\'sorder，andperhapsslightlyembarrassedbythefactthatalltheothercustomersseemedtohavegatheredroundhimandhispartywithequallyimmovablefaces，hesaidhurriedly:
\"Lemonsodaforme，please。\"
\"TheCommodore，\"saidthebarkeeperwithimpassivefeatures，ashebentforwardandwipedthecounterwithprofessionaldeliberation，\"isright。Nomatterhowmuchamanmaybeaccustomedallhislifetoliquor，whenheischangingclimate，gentlemen，hesays\'Lemonsodaforme\'allthetime。\"
\"Perhaps，\"saidClarence，brightening，\"youwilljointoo?\"
\"Ishallbeproudonthisoccasion，sir。\"
\"Ithink，\"saidthetallman，stillasceremoniouslyunbendingasbefore，\"thattherecanbebutonetoasthere，gentlemen。IgiveyouthehealthoftheCommodore。Mayhisshadowneverbeless。\"
Thehealthwasdrunksolemnly。Clarencefelthischeekstingleandinhisexcitementdrankhisownhealthwiththeothers。Yethewasdisappointedthattherewasnotmorejoviality；hewonderedifmenalwaysdranktogethersostiffly。Anditoccurredtohimthatitwouldbeexpensive。Nevertheless，hehadhispurseallreadyostentatiouslyinhishand；infact，thepayingforitoutofhisownmoneywasnottheleastmanlyandindependentpleasurehehadpromisedhimself。\"Howmuch?\"heasked，withanaffectationofcarelessness。
Thebarkeepercasthiseyeprofessionallyoverthebarroom。\"I
thinkyousaidtreatsforthecrowd；callittwentydollarstomakeevenchange。\"
Clarence\'sheartsank。HehadheardalreadyoftheexaggerationofCaliforniaprices。Twentydollars!Itwashalfhisfortune。
Nevertheless，withanheroiceffort，hecontrolledhimself，andwithslightlynervousfingerscountedoutthemoney。Itstruckhim，however，ascurious，nottosayungentlemanly，thatthebystanderscranedtheirnecksoverhisshouldertolookatthecontentsofhispurse，althoughsomeslightexplanationwasofferedbythetallman。
\"TheCommodore\'spurse，gentlemen，isreallyasingularone。
Permitme，\"hesaid，takingitfromClarence\'shandwithgreatpoliteness。\"Itisoneofthenewpattern，youobserve，quiteworthyofinspection。\"Hehandedittoamanbehindhim，whointurnhandedittoanother，whileachorusof\"suthinquitenew，\"
\"thelateststyle，\"followeditinitspassageroundtheroom，andindicatedtoClarenceitswhereabouts。Itwaspresentlyhandedbacktothebarkeeper，whohadbeggedalsotoinspectit，andwho，withanairofscrupulousceremonyinsisteduponplacingithimselfinClarence\'ssidepocket，asifitwereanimportantpartofhisfunction。Thedriverherecalled\"allaboard。\"Thepassengershurriedlyreseatedthemselves，andtheepisodeabruptlyended。
For，toClarence\'ssurprise，theseattentivefriendsofamomentagoatoncebecameinterestedintheviewsofanewpassengerconcerningthelocalpoliticsofSanFrancisco，andhefoundhimselfutterlyforgotten。Thebonnetlesswomanhadchangedherposition，andherheadwasnolongervisible。Thedisillusionanddepressionthatovercamehimsuddenlywereascompleteashispreviousexpectationsandhopefulnesshadbeenextravagant。Forthefirsttimehisutterunimportanceintheworldandhisinadequacytothisnewlifearoundhimcameuponhimcrushingly。
Theheatandjoltingofthestagecausedhimtofallintoaslightslumberandwhenheawokehefoundhistwoneighborshadjustgotoutatawaysidestation。Theyhadevidentlynotcaredtowakenhimtosay\"Good-by。\"Fromtheconversationoftheotherpassengershelearnedthatthetallmanwasawell-knowngambler，andtheonewholookedlikeafarmerwasashipcaptainwhohadbecomeawealthymerchant。Clarencethoughtheunderstoodnowwhythelatterhadaskedhimifhecameoffavoyage，andthatthenicknameof\"Commodore\"giventohim，Clarence，wassomejokeintendedforthecaptain\'sunderstanding。Hemissedthem，forhewantedtotalktothemabouthisrelativeatSacramento，whomhewasnowsosoontosee。Atlast，betweensleepingandwaking，theendofhisjourneywasunexpectedlyreached。Itwasdark，but，being\"steamernight，\"theshopsandbusinessplaceswerestillopen，andMr。Peytonhadarrangedthatthestage-drivershoulddeliverClarenceattheaddressofhisrelativein\"JStreet，\"——anaddresswhichClarencehadluckilyremembered。Buttheboywassomewhatdiscomfitedtofindthatitwasalargeofficeorbanking-
house。He，however，descendedfromthestage，andwithhissmallpackinhishandenteredthebuildingasthestagedroveoff，and，addressingoneofthebusyclerks，askedfor\"Mr。JacksonBrant。\"
Therewasnosuchpersonintheoffice。Thereneverhadbeenanysuchperson。Thebankhadalwaysoccupiedthatbuilding。Wastherenotsomemistakeinthenumber?No；thename，number，andstreethadbeendeeplyengraftedintheboy\'srecollection。Stop!
itmightbethenameofacustomerwhohadgivenhisaddressatthebank。Theclerkwhomadethissuggestiondisappearedpromptlytomakeinquiriesinthecounting-room。Clarence，witharapidlybeatingheart，awaitedhim。Theclerkreturned。Therewasnosuchnameonthebooks。JacksonBrantwasutterlyunknowntoeveryoneintheestablishment。
Foraninstantthecounteragainstwhichtheboywasleaningseemedtoyieldwithhisweight；hewasobligedtosteadyhimselfwithbothhandstokeepfromfalling。Itwasnothisdisappointment，whichwasterrible；itwasnotathoughtofhisfuture，whichseemedhopeless；itwasnothisinjuredprideatappearingtohavewillfullydeceivedMr。Peyton，whichwasmoredreadfulthanallelse；butitwasthesudden，sickeningsensethatHEhimselfhadbeendeceived，tricked，andfooled!Foritflasheduponhimforthefirsttimethatthevaguesenseofwrongwhichhadalwayshauntedhimwasthis——thatthiswasthevileculminationofaplantoGETRIDOFHIM，andthathehadbeendeliberatelylostandledastraybyhisrelativesashelplesslyandcompletelyasauselesscatordog!
Perhapstherewassomethingofthisinhisface，fortheclerk，staringathim，badehimsitdownforamoment，andagainvanishedintothemysteriousinterior。Clarencehadnoconceptionhowlonghewasabsent，orindeedanythingbuthisownbreathlessthoughts，forhewasconsciousofwonderingafterwardswhytheclerkwasleadinghimthroughadoorinthecounterintoaninnerroomofmanydesks，andagainthroughaglassdoorintoasmalleroffice，whereapreternaturallybusy-lookingmansatwritingatadesk。
Withoutlookingup，butpausingonlytoapplyablotting-padtothepaperbeforehim，themansaidcrisply——
\"Soyou\'vebeenconsignedtosomeonewhodon\'tseemtoturnup，andcan\'tbefound，eh?Nevermindthat，\"asClarencelaidPeyton\'sletterbeforehim。\"Can\'treaditnow。Well，IsupposeyouwanttobeshippedbacktoStockton?\"
\"No!\"saidtheboy，recoveringhisvoicewithaneffort。
\"Eh，that\'sbusiness，though。Knowanybodyhere?\"
\"Notalivingsoul；that\'swhytheysentme，\"saidtheboy，insuddenrecklessdesperation。Hewasthemorefuriousthatheknewthetearswerestandinginhiseyes。
Theideaseemedtostrikethemanamusingly。\"Looksalittlelikeit，don\'tit?\"hesaid，smilinggrimlyatthepaperbeforehim。
\"Gotanymoney?\"
\"Alittle。\"
\"Howmuch?\"
\"Abouttwentydollars，\"saidClarencehesitatingly。Themanopenedadrawerathisside，mechanically，forhedidnotraisehiseyes，andtookouttwoten-dollargoldpieces。\"I\'llgotwentybetter，\"
hesaid，layingthemdownonthedesk。\"That\'llgiveyouachancetolookaround。Comebackhere，ifyoudon\'tseeyourwayclear。\"
Hedippedhispenintotheinkwithasignificantgestureasifclosingtheinterview。
Clarencepushedbackthecoin。\"I\'mnotabeggar，\"hesaiddoggedly。
Themanthistimeraisedhisheadandsurveyedtheboywithtwokeeneyes。\"You\'renot，hey?Well，doIlooklikeone?\"
\"No，\"stammeredClarence，asheglancedintotheman\'shaughtyeyes。
\"Yet，ifIwereinyourfix，I\'dtakethatmoneyandbegladtogetit。\"
\"Ifyou\'llletmepayyoubackagain，\"saidClarence，alittleashamed，andconsiderablyfrightenedathisimpliedaccusationofthemanbeforehim。
\"Youcan，\"saidtheman，bendingoverhisdeskagain。
Clarencetookupthemoneyandawkwardlydrewouthispurse。Butitwasthefirsttimehehadtoucheditsinceitwasreturnedtohiminthebar-room，anditstruckhimthatitwasheavyandfull——
indeed，sofullthatonopeningitafewcoinsrolledoutontothefloor。Themanlookedupabruptly。
\"Ithoughtyousaidyouhadonlytwentydollars?\"heremarkedgrimly。
\"Mr。Peytongavemeforty，\"returnedClarence，stupefiedandblushing。\"Ispenttwentydollarsfordrinksatthebar——and，\"hestammered，\"I——I——Idon\'tknowhowtherestcamehere。\"
\"YouspenttwentydollarsforDRINKS?\"saidtheman，layingdownhispen，andleaningbackinhischairtogazeattheboy。
\"Yes——thatis——Itreatedsomegentlemenofthestage，sir，atDavidson\'sCrossing。\"
\"Didyoutreatthewholestagecompany?\"
\"No，sir，onlyaboutfourorfive——andthebar-keeper。Buteverything\'ssodearinCalifornia。Iknowthat。\"
\"Evidently。Butitdon\'tseemtomakemuchdifferencewithYOU，\"
saidtheman，glancingatthepurse。
\"Theywantedmypursetolookat，\"saidClarencehurriedly，\"andthat\'showthethinghappened。SomebodyputHISOWNMONEYbackintoMYpursebyaccident。\"
\"Ofcourse，\"saidthemangrimly。
\"Yes，that\'sthereason，\"saidClarence，alittlerelieved，butsomewhatembarrassedbytheman\'spersistenteyes。
\"Then，ofcourse，\"saidtheotherquietly，\"youdon\'trequiremytwentydollarsnow。\"
\"But，\"returnedClarencehesitatingly，\"thisisn\'tMYmoney。I
mustfindoutwhoitbelongsto，andgiveitbackagain。Perhaps，\"
headdedtimidly，\"Imightleaveitherewithyou，andcallforitwhenIfindtheman，orsendhimhere。\"
WiththegreatestgravityhehereseparatedthesurplusfromwhatwasleftofPeyton\'sgiftandthetwentydollarshehadjustreceived。Thebalanceunaccountedforwasfortydollars。Helaiditonthedeskbeforetheman，who，stilllookingathim，roseandopenedthedoor。
\"Mr。Reed。\"
TheclerkwhohadshownClarenceinappeared。
\"Openanaccountwith——\"HestoppedandturnedinterrogativelytoClarence。
\"ClarenceBrant，\"saidClarence，coloringwithexcitement。
\"WithClarenceBrant。Takethatdeposit\"——pointingtothemoney——
\"andgivehimareceipt。\"Hepausedastheclerkretiredwithawonderinggazeatthemoney，lookedagainatClarence，said，\"I
thinkYOU\'LLdo，\"andreenteredtheprivateoffice，closingthedoorbehindhim。
IhopeitwillnotbedeemedinconceivablethatClarence，onlyafewmomentsbeforecrushedwithbitterdisappointmentandthehopelessrevelationofhisabandonmentbyhisrelatives，nowfelthimselfliftedupsuddenlyintoanimaginaryheightofindependenceandmanhood。Hewasleavingthebank，inwhichhestoodaminutebeforeafriendlessboy，notasasuccessfulbeggar，forthisimportantmanhaddisclaimedtheidea，butabsolutelyasacustomer!adepositor!abusinessmanlikethegrown-upclientswhowerethrongingtheouteroffice，andbeforetheeyesoftheclerkwhohadpitiedhim!Andhe，Clarence，hadbeenspokentobythisman，whosenamehenowrecognizedastheonethatwasonthedoorofthebuilding——amanofwhomhisfellow-passengershadspokenwithadmiringenvy——abankerfamousinallCalifornia!Willitbedeemedincrediblethatthisimaginativeandhopefulboy，forgettingallelse，theobjectofhisvisit，andeventhefactthatheconsideredthismoneywasnothisown，actuallyputhishatalittleononesideashestrolledoutonhiswaytothestreetsandprospectivefortune?
Twohourslaterthebankerhadanothervisitor。Itchancedtobethefarmer-lookingmanwhohadbeenClarence\'sfellow-passenger。
Evidentlyaprivilegedperson，hewasatonceusheredas\"CaptainStevens\"intothepresenceofthebanker。Attheendofafamiliarbusinessinterviewthecaptainaskedcarelessly——
\"Anylettersforme?\"
Thebusybankerpointedwithhispentotheletter\"S\"inarowofalphabeticallylabeledpigeon-holesagainstthewall。Thecaptain，havingselectedhiscorrespondence，pausedwithaletterinhishand。
\"Lookhere，Carden，therearelettershereforsomechapcalled\'JohnSilsbee。\'TheywereherewhenIcalled，tenweeksago。\"
\"Well?\"
\"That\'sthenameofthatPikeCountymanwhowaskilledbyInjinsintheplains。The\'Friscopapershadalltheparticularslastnight；maybeit\'sforthatfellow。Ithasn\'tgotapostmark。Wholeftithere?\"
Mr。Cardensummonedaclerk。ItappearedthattheletterhadbeenleftbyacertainBrantFauquier，tobecalledfor。
CaptainStevenssmiled。\"Brant\'sbeentoobusydealin\'farotothinkof\'emagin，andsincethatshootin\'affairatAngels\'Ihearhe\'sskippedtothesoutherncoastsomewhere。CalJohnson，hisoldchum，wasintheupstagefromStocktonthisafternoon。\"
\"DidyoucomebytheupstagefromStocktonthisafternoon?\"saidCarden，lookingup。
\"Yes，asfarasTen-mileStation——rodetherestofthewayhere。\"
\"Didyounoticeaqueerlittleold-fashionedkid——aboutsohigh——
likearunawayschool-boy?\"
\"DidI?ByG——d，sir，hetreatedmetodrinks。\"
Cardenjumpedfromhischair。\"Thenhewasn\'tlying!\"
\"No!Welethimdoit；butwemadeitgoodforthelittlechapafterwards。Hello!What\'sup?\"
ButMr。CardenwasalreadyintheouterofficebesidetheclerkwhohadadmittedClarence。
\"YourememberthatboyBrantwhowashere?\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Wheredidhego?\"
\"Don\'tknow，sir。\"
\"Goandfindhimsomewhereandsomehow。Gotoallthehotels，restaurants，andgin-millsnearhere，andhunthimup。Takesomeonewithyou，ifyoucan\'tdoitalone。Bringhimbackhere，quick!\"
Itwasnearlymidnightwhentheclerkfruitlesslyreturned。Itwasthefiercehighnoonof\"steamernights\"；lightflashedbrilliantlyfromshops，counting-houses，drinking-saloons，andgambling-hells。
Thestreetswereyetfullofeager，hurryingfeet——swiftoffortune，ambition，pleasure，orcrime。Butfromamongthesedeeperharsherfootfallstheechoofthehomelessboy\'slight，innocenttreadseemedtohavediedoutforever。
CHAPTERVIII
WhenClarencewasoncemoreinthebusystreetbeforethebank，itseemedcleartohisboyishmindthat，beingnowcastadriftupontheworldandresponsibletonoone，therewasnoreasonwhyheshouldnotatonceproceedtothenearestgoldmines!TheideaofreturningtoMr。PeytonandSusy，asadisownedandabandonedoutcast，wasnottobethoughtof。Hewouldpurchasesomekindofanoutfit，suchashehadseentheminerscarry，andstartoffassoonashehadgothissupper。Butalthoughoneofhismostdelightfulanticipationshadbeentheunfetteredfreedomoforderingamealatarestaurant，onenteringthefirstonehefoundhimselftheobjectofsomuchcuriosity，partlyfromhissizeandpartlyfromhisdress，whichtheunfortunateboywasbeginningtosuspectwasreallypreposterous，andheturnedawaywithastammeredexcuse，anddidnottryanother。Furtheronhefoundabaker\'sshop，whereherefreshedhimselfwithsomegingerbreadandlemonsoda。Atanadjacentgroceryhepurchasedsomeherrings，smokedbeef，andbiscuits，asfutureprovisionsforhis\"pack\"orkit。Thenbeganhisrealquestforanoutfit。Inanhourhehadsecured——ostensiblyforsomefriend，toavoidcuriousinquiry——apan，ablanket，ashovelandpick，allofwhichhedepositedatthebaker\'s，hisunostentatiousheadquarters，withtheexceptionofapairofdisguisinghighbootsthathalfhidhissailortrousers，whichhekepttoputonatthelast。Eventohisinexperiencethecostofthesearticlesseemedenormous；whenhispurchaseswerecomplete，ofhisentirecapitalscarcelyfourdollarsremained!
Yetinthefondillusionsofboyhoodtheserudeappointmentsseemedpossessedoffarmorevaluethanthegoldhehadgiveninexchangeforthem，andhehadenjoyedachild\'sdelightintestingthetransformingmagicofmoney。
Meanwhile，thefeverishcontactofthecrowdedstreethad，strangetosay，increasedhisloneliness，whiletheruderjovialityofitsdissipationsbegantofillhimwithvagueuneasiness。Thepassingglimpseofdancinghallsandgaudilywhirledfiguresthatseemedonlyfeminineintheirapparel；theshoutsandboisterouschorusesfromconcertrooms；thegroupsofdrunkenroisterersthatcongregatedaroundthedoorsofsaloonsor，hilariouslychargingdownthestreets，elbowedhimagainstthewall，orhumorouslyinsistedonhiscompany，discomposedandfrightenedhim。Hehadknownrudecompanionshipbefore，butitwasserious，practical，andundercontrol。Therewassomethinginthisvulgardegradationofintellectandpower——qualitiesthatClarencehadalwaysboyishlyworshiped——whichsickenedanddisillusionedhim。Lateronapistolshotinacrowdbeyond，therushofeagermenpasthim，thedisclosureofalimpandhelplessfigureagainstthewall，theclosingofthecrowdagainaroundit，althoughitstirredhimwithafearfulcuriosity，actuallyshockedhimlesshopelesslythantheirbrutishenjoymentsandabandonment。
Itwasinoneoftheserushesthathehadbeencrushedagainstaswingingdoor，which，givingwaytohispressure，disclosedtohiswonderingeyesalong，glitteringlyadorned，andbrightlylitroom，denselyfilledwithasilent，attentivethronginattitudesofdecorousabstractionandpreoccupation，thateventheshoutsandtumultatitsverydoorscouldnotdisturb。Menofallranksandconditions，plainlyorelaboratelyclad，weregroupedtogetherunderthismagicspellofsilenceandattention。Thetablesbeforethemwerecoveredwithcardsandlooseheapsofgoldandsilver。A
clicking，therattlingofanivoryball，andthefrequent，formal，lazyreiterationofsomeunintelligiblesentencewasallthatheheard。ButbyasuddeninstinctheUNDERSTOODitall。Itwasagamblingsaloon!
Encouragedbythedecorousstillness，andthefactthateverybodyappearedtoomuchengagedtonoticehim，theboydrewtimidlybesideoneofthetables。Itwascoveredwithanumberofcards，onwhichwereplacedcertainsumsofmoney。Lookingdown，Clarencesawthathewasstandingbeforeacardthatasyethadnothingonit。Asingleplayerathissidelookedup，glancedatClarencecuriously，andthenplacedhalfadozengoldpiecesonthevacantcard。Absorbedinthegeneralaspectoftheroomandtheplayers，Clarencedidnotnoticethathisneighborwontwice，andevenTHRICE，uponthatcard。Becomingaware，however，thattheplayerwhilegatheringinhisgains，wassmilinglyregardinghimhemovedinsomeembarrassmenttotheotherendofthetable，wherethereseemedanothergapinthecrowd。Itsochancedthattherewasalsoanothervacantcard。ThepreviousneighborofClarenceinstantlyshovedasumofmoneyacrossthetableonthevacantcardandwon!