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.