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BROWN OF CALAVERAS
A subdued tone of conversation； and the absence of cigar smoke and
boot heels at the windows of the Wingdam stagecoach； made it
evident that one of the inside passengers was a woman。 A
disposition on the part of loungers at the stations to congregate
before the window； and some concern in regard to the appearance of
coats； hats； and collars； further indicated that she was lovely。
All of which Mr。 Jack Hamlin； on the box seat； noted with the smile
of cynical philosophy。 Not that he depreciated the sex； but that
he recognized therein a deceitful element； the pursuit of which
sometimes drew mankind away from the equally uncertain
blandishments of pokerof which it may be remarked that Mr。 Hamlin
was a professional exponent。
So that when he placed his narrow boot on the wheel and leaped
down； he did not even glance at the window from which a green veil
was fluttering； but lounged up and down with that listless and
grave indifference of his class； which was； perhaps； the next thing
to good breeding。 With his closely buttoned figure and self…
contained air he was a marked contrast to the other passengers；
with their feverish restlessness and boisterous emotion； and even
Bill Masters； a graduate of Harvard； with his slovenly dress； his
overflowing vitality； his intense appreciation of lawlessness and
barbarism； and his mouth filled with crackers and cheese； I fear
cut but an unromantic figure beside this lonely calculator of
chances； with his pale Greek face and Homeric gravity。
The driver called 〃All aboard！〃 and Mr。 Hamlin returned to the
coach。 His foot was upon the wheel； and his face raised to the
level of the open window； when； at the same moment； what appeared
to him to be the finest eyes in the world suddenly met his。 He
quietly dropped down again； addressed a few words to one of the
inside passengers； effected an exchange of seats； and as quietly
took his place inside。 Mr。 Hamlin never allowed his philosophy to
interfere with decisive and prompt action。
I fear that this irruption of Jack cast some restraint upon the
other passengersparticularly those who were making themselves
most agreeable to the lady。 One of them leaned forward； and
apparently conveyed to her information regarding Mr。 Hamlin's
profession in a single epithet。 Whether Mr。 Hamlin heard it； or
whether he recognized in the informant a distinguished jurist from
whom； but a few evenings before； he had won several thousand
dollars； I cannot say。 His colorless face betrayed no sign； his
black eyes； quietly observant； glanced indifferently past the legal
gentleman； and rested on the much more pleasing features of his
neighbor。 An Indian stoicismsaid to be an inheritance from his
maternal ancestorstood him in good service； until the rolling
wheels rattled upon the river gravel at Scott's Ferry； and the
stage drew up at the International Hotel for dinner。 The legal
gentleman and a member of Congress leaped out； and stood ready to
assist the descending goddess； while Colonel Starbottle； of
Siskiyou； took charge of her parasol and shawl。 In this
multiplicity of attention there was a momentary confusion and
delay。 Jack Hamlin quietly opened the OPPOSITE door of the coach；
took the lady's handwith that decision and positiveness which a
hesitating and undecided sex know how to admireand in an instant
had dexterously and gracefully swung her to the ground； and again
lifted her to the platform。 An audible chuckle on the box； I fear；
came from that other cynic； 〃Yuba Bill；〃 the driver。 〃Look
keerfully arter that baggage； Kernel；〃 said the expressman； with
affected concern； as he looked after Colonel Starbottle； gloomily
bringing up the rear of the triumphant procession to the waiting…
room。
Mr。 Hamlin did not stay for dinner。 His horse was already saddled；
and awaiting him。 He dashed over the ford； up the gravelly hill；
and out into the dusty perspective of the Wingdam road； like one
leaving pleasant fancy behind him。 The inmates of dusty cabins by
the roadside shaded their eyes with their hands and looked after
him； recognizing the man by his horse； and speculating what 〃was up
with Comanche Jack。〃 Yet much of this interest centered in the
horse； in a community where the time made by 〃French Pete's〃 mare
in his run from the Sheriff of Calaveras eclipsed all concern in
the ultimate fate of that worthy。
The sweating flanks of his gray at length recalled him to himself。
He checked his speed； and； turning into a by…road； sometimes used
as a cutoff； trotted leisurely along； the reins hanging listlessly
from his fingers。 As he rode on； the character of the landscape
changed and became more pastoral。 Openings in groves of pine and
sycamore disclosed some rude attempts at cultivationa flowering
vine trailed over the porch of one cabin； and a woman rocked her
cradled babe under the roses of another。 A little farther on Mr。
Hamlin came upon some barelegged children wading in the willowy
creek； and so wrought upon them with a badinage peculiar to himself
that they were emboldened to climb up his horse's legs and over his
saddle； until he was fain to develop an exaggerated ferocity of
demeanor； and to escape； leaving behind some kisses and coin。 And
then； advancing deeper into the woods； where all signs of
habitation failed； he began to singuplifting a tenor so
singularly sweet； and shaded by a pathos so subduing and tender；
that I wot the robins and linnets stopped to listen。 Mr。 Hamlin's
voice was not cultivated； the subject of his song was some
sentimental lunacy borrowed from the Negro minstrels； but there
thrilled through all some occult quality of tone and expression
that was unspeakably touching。 Indeed； it was a wonderful sight to
see this sentimental blackleg； with a pack of cards in his pocket
and a revolver at his back； sending his voice before him through
the dim woods with a plaint about his 〃Nelly's grave〃 in a way that
overflowed the eyes of the listener。 A sparrow hawk； fresh from
his sixth victim； possibly recognizing in Mr。 Hamlin a kindred
spirit； stared at him in surprise； and was fain to confess the
superiority of man。 With a superior predatory capacity； HE
couldn't sing。
But Mr。 Hamlin presently found himself again on the highroad； and
at his former pace。 Ditches and banks of gravel； denuded
hillsides； stumps； and decayed trunks of trees； took the place of
woodland and ravine； and indicated his approach to civilization。
Then a church steeple came in sight； and he knew that he had
reached home。 In a few moments he was clattering down the single
narrow street that lost itself in a chaotic ruin of races； ditches；
and tailings at the foot of the hill； and dismounted before the
gilded windows of the 〃Magnolia〃 saloon。 Passing through the long
barroom； he pushed open a green…baize door； entered a dark passage；
opened another door with a passkey； and found himself in a dimly
lighted room whose furniture； though elegant and costly for the
locality； showed signs of abuse。 The inlaid center table was
overlaid with stained disks that were not contemplated in the
original design。 The embroidered armchairs were discolored； and
the green velvet lounge； on which Mr。 Hamlin threw himself； was
soiled at the foot with the red soil of Wingdam。
Mr。 Hamlin did not sing in his cage。 He lay still； looking at a
highly colored painting above him representing a young creature of
opulent charms。 It occurred to him then； for the first time； that
he had never seen exactly that kind of a woman； and that if he
should； he would not； probably； fall in love with her。 Perhaps he
was thinking of another style of beauty。 But just then someone
knocked at the door。 Without rising； he pulled a cord that
apparently shot back a bolt； for the door swung open； and a man
entered。
The newcomer was broad…shouldered and robusta vigor not borne out
in the face； which； though handsome； was singularly weak； and
disfigured by dissipation。 He appeared to be also under the
influence of liquor； for he started on seeing Mr。 Hamlin； and said；
〃I thought Kate was here；〃 stammered； and seemed confused and
embarrassed。
Mr。 Hamlin smiled the smile which he had before worn on the Wingdam
coach； and sat up； quite refreshed and ready for business。
〃You didn't come up on the stage；〃 continued the newcomer； 〃did
you？〃
〃No；〃 replied Hamlin； 〃I left it at Scott's Ferry。 It isn't due
for half an hour yet。 But how's luck； Brown？〃
Damn bad；〃 said Brown； his face suddenly assuming an expression of
weak despair； 〃I'm cleaned out again； Jack；〃 he continued； in a
whining tone that formed a pitiable contrast to his bulky figure；
〃can't you help me with a hundred till tomorrow's cleanup？ You see
I've got to send money home to the old woman； andyou've won
twenty times that amount from me。〃
The conclusion