Year: 1871




And very soon, amid the loud vocifera-
tions and subdued chit-chat, caught the
words, " carpet-bag," "six thousand dol
lars in gold" "rascally purser," etc, etc.
l shook off the ashes of my cigar over my
coat-sleeve, and then walked up to the
clothes-brush, fastened by n cord to the
mirror close to the very group whose con-
versation / wished to hear. think must
have passed in the crowd for remarkably
neat individual so perseveringly was that
sleeve brushed and busted. When the op-
Grafton was satisfactorily performed,
wheeled about facing the takers, and qui-
etly scanned their faces to see if one might
prove to be Alden himself. A short thick
set man, with a hard cold face, just then
flushed with some indignant or guilty
emotion, struck me as the man. And |
was right, for presently he said


"The very way that Wilkins looked
when | asked for the bag, stammering and
hcsitating, showed his guilt. He'll find
his game losing one this time, reckon" "


They talked on nearly half an hour,
chiefly of the missing gold. Poor wilkins
would scarcely have remained so passive q
listener had he heard the hard charge
against him. / found Sam, at my office
when returned.


He was simple, good-natured, thorough
ly honest fellow, and l was not surprised
Wilkins had no thought of suspecting him
in regard to the affair. For although had
previously determined to test his honesty
pretty severely, concluded after half an
hours talk with him, that uncounted gold
might safely be trusted to his keeping. In
regard to Alden my mind was undecided.
If his Indignation at the loss was affected,
he proved himself fine actor nevertheless
glance at his head convinced me that his
conscientiousness was scarcely prominent
enough to interfere with pretty underhand-
ed means of gratifying the remarkably full
acquisitiveness.


For the next three weeks Sam and |, in
all sorts of DISCUSSES, reconnoitered the low
billiard rooms and drinking saloons of the
city and its outskirts. All, however, to
no purpose. Then we took hasty glance
at Sacramento and the mining districts
But never a sign or rumor of any such
negro as Sam described reached us. Rath-
er crest-fallen and dispirited, we returned
to San Francisco. 1t was nearly time for
the steamer to return, and l was grieved
enough that poor Wilkins should find us
still as much as ever in the dark.


One day while lounging around a public
house, vainly hoping that something would
"turn up'' to enlghten me, l saw travel
ling wagon from the country drive up to
the door, and like all detectives, was too
much in the habit of noting small events
to refuse to examine its contents.


/ was well repaid this time for my pains
by the glimpse l caught of the charmingly
beautiful face of the Spanish sylph who
lightly brushing aside the arm of her portly
sire, sprang down from the wagon and ran
gracefully up the wooden steps of the ho.
tel.


] confess to possessing my rightful share
of human natures weakness. Isoon threw
away my cigar, and left the porch or piazza
Zone should have new name for such an
odd affair, as it was erected in those days
of hasty Architectural, to enter the receiving
room for guests. There was the Spanish
girl chatting merrily with her father, over
a well-stored luncheon-tray, and displaying
her pearly teeth with the most enchanting
smiles.


The father replied to her gay sallies with
an ailectionate smile, but was too much in
terested in the savory viands before him to
waste much time in talking. Iunfolded a
newspaper, and taking my seat at an op-
poste table, called for lunch likewise, all,
it must be owned, for the sake of watching
that sparkling face.


So much beauty was rarity enough Just
then in San Francisco, but there was some
thing more, an unusual accompaniment of
that style of oriental loveliness, an artless
innocence, and unconscious purity, that
softened the black eyes flashing lustre, and
neutralized the otherwise arch and co.
quettish expression Of the face, so that the
more gazed, the more my first admiration
deepened into respectful interest.


So fingered over my luncheon even af
ter the father, his own wants satisfied, had
gone to the stable to see that his horses
were likewise well attended to. The girl
modestly lowered her veil and averted hel
face when left alone, and l gave my attcn-
ton to the newspaper A newcomer soon
appeared young man, showily dressed,
and with profusion of flashy jewelry, who