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returning to Mr。 Peyton and Susy； as a disowned and abandoned
outcast； was not to be thought of。 He would purchase some kind of
an outfit； such as he had seen the miners carry； and start off as
soon as he had got his supper。 But although one of his most
delightful anticipations had been the unfettered freedom of
ordering a meal at a restaurant； on entering the first one he found
himself the object of so much curiosity； partly from his size and
partly from his dress； which the unfortunate boy was beginning to
suspect was really preposterous； and he turned away with a
stammered excuse； and did not try another。 Further on he found a
baker's shop； where he refreshed himself with some gingerbread and
lemon soda。 At an adjacent grocery he purchased some herrings；
smoked beef； and biscuits； as future provisions for his 〃pack〃 or
kit。 Then began his real quest for an outfit。 In an hour he had
securedostensibly for some friend； to avoid curious inquirya
pan； a blanket； a shovel and pick； all of which he deposited at the
baker's； his unostentatious headquarters； with the exception of a
pair of disguising high boots that half hid his sailor trousers；
which he kept to put on at the last。 Even to his inexperience the
cost of these articles seemed enormous； when his purchases were
complete； of his entire capital scarcely four dollars remained！
Yet in the fond illusions of boyhood these rude appointments seemed
possessed of far more value than the gold he had given in exchange
for them； and he had enjoyed a child's delight in testing the
transforming magic of money。
Meanwhile； the feverish contact of the crowded street had； strange
to say； increased his loneliness； while the ruder joviality of its
dissipations began to fill him with vague uneasiness。 The passing
glimpse of dancing halls and gaudily whirled figures that seemed
only feminine in their apparel； the shouts and boisterous choruses
from concert rooms； the groups of drunken roisterers that
congregated around the doors of saloons or； hilariously charging
down the streets； elbowed him against the wall； or humorously
insisted on his company； discomposed and frightened him。 He had
known rude companionship before； but it was serious； practical； and
under control。 There was something in this vulgar degradation of
intellect and powerqualities that Clarence had always boyishly
worshipedwhich sickened and disillusioned him。 Later on a pistol
shot in a crowd beyond； the rush of eager men past him； the
disclosure of a limp and helpless figure against the wall； the
closing of the crowd again around it； although it stirred him with
a fearful curiosity； actually shocked him less hopelessly than
their brutish enjoyments and abandonment。
It was in one of these rushes that he had been crushed against a
swinging door； which； giving way to his pressure； disclosed to his
wondering eyes a long； glitteringly adorned； and brightly lit room；
densely filled with a silent； attentive throng in attitudes of
decorous abstraction and preoccupation； that even the shouts and
tumult at its very doors could not disturb。 Men of all ranks and
conditions； plainly or elaborately clad； were grouped together
under this magic spell of silence and attention。 The tables before
them were covered with cards and loose heaps of gold and silver。 A
clicking； the rattling of an ivory ball； and the frequent； formal；
lazy reiteration of some unintelligible sentence was all that he
heard。 But by a sudden instinct he UNDERSTOOD it all。 It was a
gambling saloon！
Encouraged by the decorous stillness； and the fact that everybody
appeared too much engaged to notice him； the boy drew timidly
beside one of the tables。 It was covered with a number of cards；
on which were placed certain sums of money。 Looking down； Clarence
saw that he was standing before a card that as yet had nothing on
it。 A single player at his side looked up； glanced at Clarence
curiously； and then placed half a dozen gold pieces on the vacant
card。 Absorbed in the general aspect of the room and the players；
Clarence did not notice that his neighbor won twice； and even
THRICE； upon that card。 Becoming aware； however； that the player
while gathering in his gains； was smilingly regarding him he moved
in some embarrassment to the other end of the table； where there
seemed another gap in the crowd。 It so chanced that there was also
another vacant card。 The previous neighbor of Clarence instantly
shoved a sum of money across the table on the vacant card and won！
At this the other players began to regard Clarence singularly； one
or two of the spectators smiled； and the boy； coloring； moved
awkwardly away。 But his sleeve was caught by the successful
player； who； detaining him gently； put three gold pieces into his
hand。
〃That's YOUR share； sonny；〃 he whispered。
〃Sharefor what？〃 stammered the astounded Clarence。
〃For bringing me 'the luck；'〃 said the man。
Clarence stared。 〃Am Itoto play with it？〃 he said； glancing at
the coins and then at the table； in ignorance of the stranger's
meaning。
〃No； no！〃 said the man hurriedly； 〃don't do that。 You'll lose it；
sonny； sure！ Don't you see； YOU BRING THE LUCK TO OTHERS； not to
yourself。 Keep it； old man； and run home！〃
〃I don't want it！ I won't have it！〃 said Clarence with a swift
recollection of the manipulation of his purse that morning； and a
sudden distrust of all mankind。
〃There！〃 He turned back to the table and laid the money on the
first vacant card he saw。 In another moment； as it seemed to him；
it was raked away by the dealer。 A sense of relief came over him。
〃There！〃 said the man； with an awed voice and a strange； fatuous
look in his eye。 〃What did I tell you？ You see； it's allus so！
Now；〃 he added roughly； 〃get up and get out o' this； afore you lose
the boots and shirt off ye。〃
Clarence did not wait for a second command。 With another glance
round the room； he began to make his way through the crowd towards
the front。 But in that parting glance he caught a glimpse of a
woman presiding over a 〃wheel of fortune〃 in a corner； whose face
seemed familiar。 He looked again； timidly。 In spite of an
extraordinary head…dress or crown that she wore as the 〃Goddess of
Fortune；〃 he recognized； twisted in its tinsel； a certain scarlet
vine which he had seen before； in spite of the hoarse formula which
she was continually repeating； he recognized the foreign accent。
It was the woman of the stage…coach！ With a sudden dread that she
might recognize him； and likewise demand his services 〃for luck；〃
he turned and fled。
Once more in the open air； there came upon him a vague loathing and
horror of the restless madness and feverish distraction of this
half…civilized city。 It was the more powerful that it was vague；
and the outcome of some inward instinct。 He found himself longing
for the pure air and sympathetic loneliness of the plains and
wilderness； he began to yearn for the companionship of his humble
associatesthe teamster； the scout Gildersleeve； and even Jim
Hooker。 But above all and before all was the wild desire to get
away from these maddening streets and their bewildering occupants。
He ran back to the baker's； gathered his purchases together； took
advantage of a friendly doorway to strap them on his boyish
shoulders； slipped into a side street； and struck out at once for
the outskirts。
It had been his first intention to take stage to the nearest mining
district； but the diminution of his small capital forbade that
outlay； and he decided to walk there by the highroad； of whose
general direction he had informed himself。 In half an hour the
lights of the flat； struggling city； and their reflection in the
shallow； turbid river before it； had sunk well behind him。 The air
was cool and soft； a yellow moon swam in the slight haze that rose
above the tules； in the distance a few scattered cottonwoods and
sycamores marked like sentinels the road。 When he had walked some
distance he sat down beneath one of them to make a frugal supper
from the dry rations in his pack； but in the absence of any spring
he was forced to quench his thirst with a glass of water in a
wayside tavern。 Here he was good…humoredly offered something
stronger； which he declined； and replied to certain curious
interrogations by saying that he expected to overtake his friends
in a wagon further on。 A new distrust of mankind had begun to make
the boy an adept in innocent falsehood； the more deceptive as his
careless； cheerful manner； the result of his relief at leaving the
city； and his perfect ease in the loving companionship of night and
nature； certainly gave no indication of his homelessness and
poverty。
It was long past midnight； when； weary in body； but still hopeful
and happy in mind； he turned off the dusty road into a vast rolling
expanse of wild oats； with the same sense of security of rest as a
traveler to his inn。 Here； completely screened from view by the
tall stalks of grain that rose thickly around him to the height of
a man's shoulder； he beat down a few of them for a bed； on which he
deposited his blanket。 Placing his pack for a pillow； he curled
himself