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two men in the middle seats turned at a whisper from the lady and
regarded him curiously。 Clarence blushed slightly and became silent。
Presently the vehicle began to slacken its speed。 They were ascending a
hill； on either bank grew huge cottonwoods； from which occasionally
depended a beautiful scarlet vine。
〃Ah！ eet ees pretty；〃 said the lady； nodding her black…veiled head
towards it。 〃Eet is good in ze hair。〃
One of the men made an awkward attempt to clutch a spray from the
window。 A brilliant inspiration flashed upon Clarence。 When the stage
began the ascent of the next hill； following the example of an outside
passenger； he jumped down to walk。 At the top of the hill he rejoined the
stage； flushed and panting； but carrying a small branch of the vine in his
scratched hands。 Handing it to the man on the middle seat； he said； with
grave； boyish politeness 〃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
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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
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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
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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