The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-14
ence always sprang to its feet and cheered like mad

ence always SpranS to US rect ana cheered like mad.
 The desire to go to Eldorado was universal and almost irresistible. The ability to go was much more circum- scribed. For one thing, it cost a good deal. of money, and that was where begged down at the first pull. Then, I suppose a majority did have ties of family, business or other responsibili- ties impossible to shake off. But we all joined one or more of the various clubs formed for the purpose of get ting at least some of their members to California. and discussed heatedly the merits of the different routes, and went into minute and fascinating de tails as to processes of which we knew less than nothing, and sang "'Oh, Su- eannah!" and talked ourselves into glorified fever of excitement, and went home with our heads in the clouds. Once in great while some of these clubs came to somethfng-as body, mean-for individual members were constantly working themselves up the summit of resolution to rush headlong and regardless down the other side and out of our sight. When a man had reached certain pitch of excitement he ran amuck. He sold anything, de serted anything, broke through any thing in the way Of family, responsi- bility or financial lacks in order to go. But, as say, occasionally one of these clubs pooled its individual resources and bought some old tub of a whaler or outhtted a wagon train and started off. But generally we got only as far as "Oh, Susannahr' l remember once in coming out from one of our meet ings finding myself next solemn and f0fn Q fTrYf my own village. He walked by my side for several squares lost in a brown study Then suddenly he looked up.
 Frank said be- with conviction, ''I believe I'll go. know most of this talk Is wildly exaggerated, but Pm sensible enough to discount all that sort of thing and to d1sbeIieve absurd stories. 1 shanst go with, the slightest notion of finding the thing true, but will be satisfied if I do reasonably well. In fact, if don't pick up more than a hatful of gold a day I shall be perfectly satisfied"
 Which remark sufficiently indicates about where we all were.
 We had many sorts of men in our club, but nearly all young. One in es- pecia1 early attracted my attention and held it through all the changing vicis-
 
 attracted me. though fascinated would be perhaps the better word, for after the first evening of his attendance l used deliberately so to place myself that could watch him.
 He came always in a rather worn military cape, which on entering the door he promptly threw back in such a manner as to display the red lining. This seemed an appropriate enve1op- ment of his flaming, buoyant personal ity. He walked with his chin up and his back straight and trod directly on and over the ends of his toes so that he seemed fairly to spring with vigor. His body was very erect and tall and pliant, bending easily to every change of balance If I were never to have seen his face at all I should have placed him as one of the laughing spir- it's of the world. His head was rather small, round, well poised, with soft close set ringlets all over it like a cap, in the fashion of some marble gods have seen. He had very regular, hand some features, with a clear, biscuit brown complexion, and close clipped, stubby, light mustache. All these things were interesting and attractive, though no more so than are the vigor and beauty of any perfect animal. But the quality of his eyes placed him, at least to me. in a class apart. They were sober. clear eyes that looked out gray and contenpIative on the world about them, so that one got the 1n- stant impression of soul behind them that weighed and judged Indeed, they were not laughing eyes at all and rather negatived the impression made by the mans general bearing. But somewhere down in them something Gickered like strong burning candle in brisk wind. Occasionally it was almost out: then again it blazed up clear, so that one thought to see it plainly through the steady breeding look. It always fascinated the behold CT, for it was mysterious. Whether it came and went. grew and shrank, fol- lowing dehcately the moods or rcfec- tdons of the spirit within, or whether it was a purely fortuitous effect of light and refraction no man was ever able to say. And some men later made some very bad guesses. I my self think it was the devil of genius a devil behind he steady control of clear brain His name. I soon discov- cred. was Talbot Ward
 At this period I was starting in as an assistant bookkeeper to a large ex- porting firm. They were enterprising people, and already they were laying plans to capture some of the California trade. The office talk heard concern Ing the purchase of ships, the cOnsign- ment of arms, the enga cement of cap- tains and of crews further infamed
 my imagination. received the vast sum of $o per week. As l was quite alone in the world and possessed no ofhor raza11rcnS fhe saving of the S5OO agreed upon as tbe least sum with