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〃Pleasefor the lady。〃
A slight smile passed over the face of Clarence's neighbors。 The
bonnetless woman nodded a pleasant acknowledgment； and coquettishly
wound the vine in her glossy hair。 The dark man at his side； who
hadn't spoken yet； turned to Clarence dryly。
〃If you're goin' to keep up this gait； sonny； I reckon ye won't
find much trouble gettin' a man's suit to fit you by the time you
reach Sacramento。〃
Clarence didn't quite understand him； but noticed that a singular
gravity seemed to overtake the two jocular men on the middle seat；
and the lady looked out of the window。 He came to the conclusion
that he had made a mistake about alluding to his clothes and his
size。 He must try and behave more manly。 That opportunity seemed
to be offered two hours later； when the stage stopped at a wayside
hotel or restaurant。
Two or three passengers had got down to refresh themselves at the
bar。 His right and left hand neighbors were； however； engaged in a
drawling conversation on the comparative merits of San Francisco
sandhill and water lots； the jocular occupants of the middle seat
were still engrossed with the lady。 Clarence slipped out of the
stage and entered the bar…room with some ostentation。 The complete
ignoring of his person by the barkeeper and his customers； however；
somewhat disconcerted him。 He hesitated a moment； and then
returned gravely to the stage door and opened it。
〃Would you mind taking a drink with me； sir？〃 said Clarence
politely； addressing the farmer…looking passenger who had been most
civil to him。 A dead silence followed。 The two men on the middle
seat faced entirely around to gaze at him。
〃The Commodore asks if you'll take a drink with him；〃 explained one
of the men to Clarence's friend with the greatest seriousness。
〃Eh？ Oh； yes； certainly；〃 returned that gentleman； changing his
astonished expression to one of the deepest gravity； 〃seeing it's
the Commodore。〃
〃And perhaps you and your friend will join； too？〃 said Clarence
timidly to the passenger who had explained； 〃and you too； sir？〃 he
added to the dark man。
〃Really； gentlemen； I don't see how we can refuse；〃 said the
latter； with the greatest formality； and appealing to the others。
〃A compliment of this kind from our distinguished friend is not to
be taken lightly。〃
〃I have observed； sir； that the Commodore's head is level；〃
returned the other man with equal gravity。
Clarence could have wished they had not treated his first
hospitable effort quite so formally； but as they stepped from the
coach with unbending faces he led them； a little frightened； into
the bar…room。 Here； unfortunately； as he was barely able to reach
over the counter； the barkeeper would have again overlooked him but
for a quick glance from the dark man； which seemed to change even
the barkeeper's perfunctory smiling face into supernatural gravity。
〃The Commodore is standing treat；〃 said the dark man； with unbroken
seriousness； indicating Clarence； and leaning back with an air of
respectful formality。 〃I will take straight whiskey。 The
Commodore； on account of just changing climate； will； I believe；
for the present content himself with lemon soda。〃
Clarence had previously resolved to take whiskey； like the others；
but a little doubtful of the politeness of countermanding his
guest's order； and perhaps slightly embarrassed by the fact that
all the other customers seemed to have gathered round him and his
party with equally immovable faces； he said hurriedly：
〃Lemon soda for me； please。〃
〃The Commodore；〃 said the barkeeper with impassive features； as he
bent forward and wiped the counter with professional deliberation；
〃is right。 No matter how much a man may be accustomed all his life
to liquor； when he is changing climate； gentlemen； he says 'Lemon
soda for me' all the time。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Clarence； brightening； 〃you will join too？〃
〃I shall be proud on this occasion； sir。〃
〃I think；〃 said the tall man； still as ceremoniously unbending as
before； 〃that there can be but one toast here； gentlemen。 I give
you the health of the Commodore。 May his shadow never be less。〃
The health was drunk solemnly。 Clarence felt his cheeks tingle and
in his excitement drank his own health with the others。 Yet he was
disappointed that there was not more joviality； he wondered if men
always drank together so stiffly。 And it occurred to him that it
would be expensive。 Nevertheless； he had his purse all ready
ostentatiously in his hand； in fact； the paying for it out of his
own money was not the least manly and independent pleasure he had
promised himself。 〃How much？〃 he asked； with an affectation of
carelessness。
The barkeeper cast his eye professionally over the barroom。 〃I
think you said treats for the crowd； call it twenty dollars to make
even change。〃
Clarence's heart sank。 He had heard already of the exaggeration of
California prices。 Twenty dollars！ It was half his fortune。
Nevertheless； with an heroic effort； he controlled himself； and
with slightly nervous fingers counted out the money。 It struck
him； however； as curious； not to say ungentlemanly； that the
bystanders craned their necks over his shoulder to look at the
contents of his purse； although some slight explanation was offered
by the tall man。
〃The Commodore's purse； gentlemen； is really a singular one。
Permit me；〃 he said； taking it from Clarence's hand with great
politeness。 〃It is one of the new pattern； you observe； quite
worthy of inspection。〃 He handed it to a man behind him； who in
turn handed it to another； while a chorus of 〃suthin quite new；〃
〃the latest style；〃 followed it in its passage round the room； and
indicated to Clarence its whereabouts。 It was presently handed
back to the barkeeper； who had begged also to inspect it； and who；
with an air of scrupulous ceremony insisted upon placing it himself
in Clarence's side pocket； as if it were an important part of his
function。 The driver here called 〃all aboard。〃 The passengers
hurriedly reseated themselves； and the episode abruptly ended。
For； to Clarence's surprise； these attentive friends of a moment
ago at once became interested in the views of a new passenger
concerning the local politics of San Francisco； and he found
himself utterly forgotten。 The bonnetless woman had changed her
position； and her head was no longer visible。 The disillusion and
depression that overcame him suddenly were as complete as his
previous expectations and hopefulness had been extravagant。 For
the first time his utter unimportance in the world and his
inadequacy to this new life around him came upon him crushingly。
The heat and jolting of the stage caused him to fall into a slight
slumber and when he awoke he found his two neighbors had just got
out at a wayside station。 They had evidently not cared to waken
him to say 〃Good…by。〃 From the conversation of the other
passengers he learned that the tall man was a well…known gambler；
and the one who looked like a farmer was a ship captain who had
become a wealthy merchant。 Clarence thought he understood now why
the latter had asked him if he came off a voyage； and that the
nickname of 〃Commodore〃 given to him； Clarence； was some joke
intended for the captain's understanding。 He missed them； for he
wanted to talk to them about his relative at Sacramento； whom he
was now so soon to see。 At last； between sleeping and waking； the
end of his journey was unexpectedly reached。 It was dark； but；
being 〃steamer night；〃 the shops and business places were still
open； and Mr。 Peyton had arranged that the stage…driver should
deliver Clarence at the address of his relative in 〃J Street；〃an
address which Clarence had luckily remembered。 But the boy was
somewhat discomfited to find that it was a large office or banking…
house。 He； however； descended from the stage； and with his small
pack in his hand entered the building as the stage drove off； and；
addressing one of the busy clerks； asked for 〃Mr。 Jackson Brant。〃
There was no such person in the office。 There never had been any
such person。 The bank had always occupied that building。 Was
there not some mistake in the number？ No； the name； number； and
street had been deeply engrafted in the boy's recollection。 Stop！
it might be the name of a customer who had given his address at the
bank。 The clerk who made this suggestion disappeared promptly to
make inquiries in the counting…room。 Clarence； with a rapidly
beating heart； awaited him。 The clerk returned。 There was no such
name on the books。 Jackson Brant was utterly unknown to every one
in the establishment。
For an instant the counter against which the boy was leaning seemed
to yield with his weight； he was obliged to steady himself with
both hands to keep from falling。 It was not his disappointment；
which was terrible； it was not a thought of his future； which
seemed hopeless； it was not his injured pride at appearing to have
willfully deceived Mr。 Peyton； which was more dreadful than all
else； but it was the sudden； sickening sense that HE himself had
been deceived； tricked； and fooled！ For it flashed upon him for
the first time