e had, the more we need. I'd advise you to take it up again
in moderation."

"Not if it's the death of me! It's nothing or everything with me. The
first cocktail, and I'd be off on a jamboree. Then she'd know, and I'd
blow out my brains with the shame of it. She thinks I'm the finest
fellow in the world now, and so she shall if I suffer the tortures of
the damned."

"Well, I guess you're right. The young fellows talk about dying for the
girls, but I guess we're the ones that would do that for our own if it
came to the scratch."

"It's too bad you have none," said Colonel Belmont, with the sympathy of
his own full measure. And then, although Mr. Polk's iron features did
not move, he looked away hastily.

"I guess I didn't deserve any," Mr. Polk answered harshly. "I don't know
that you did, for that matter, but I certainly didn't. Look at Don
cavorting round with those girls," he added viciously. "It's positively
sickening."

"Not a bit of it. He's making up for what he's missed. And a little of
it would do you good, old fellow. You've never had half enough fun, and
you ought to take a little before it's too late. You haven't a pound of
flesh on you, and are as spry as any of them. Go and make yourself
agreeable to the girls. Even a smile from them goes a long way, I assure
you."

Mr. Polk shook his head. "I couldn't think of a thing to say to them. I
didn't learn when I was young."

IV

When Magdalena drew the dagger out of her hair that night, she laughed a
little and tossed it into her handkerchief box. She had seen men carried
off their feet for the first time, not caring whether the world laughed
or not. She had also noted the exact order of homage that she was to
expect from men. Helena infatuated. The other girls inspired admiration
in varying measure. Respect for her father's millions was her portion.
She had watched and compared all the evening. It would have distressed
and appalled her had she made her debut last winter. As it was, it
mattered little.

Occasionally there is a lively winter in San Francisco. This promised to
be almost brilliant. There were six balls in the next two weeks. At each
Helena's triumphs were reiterated. The men waited in a solid body
between the front door and the staircase, and she had promised, divided,
and subdivided every dance before she had set foot on the lowest step.
It was almost impossible to begin a party until her arrival. Kettledrums
had been inaugurat