Commissioner, might be cognisant of the Railroad's
plans, and, at the same time, could give sound legal advice as to what
was to be done should the new rumour prove true.

"Say," remarked Osterman, as the train pulled out of the Bonneville
station, and the two men settled themselves for the long journey, "say
Governor, what's all up with Buck Annixter these days? He's got a bean
about something, sure."

"I had not noticed," answered Magnus. "Mr. Annixter has been away
some time lately. I cannot imagine what should keep him so long in San
Francisco."

"That's it," said Osterman, winking. "Have three guesses. Guess right
and you get a cigar. I guess g-i-r-l spells Hilma Tree. And a little
while ago she quit Quien Sabe and hiked out to 'Frisco. So did Buck.
Do I draw the cigar? It's up to you." "I have noticed her," observed
Magnus. "A fine figure of a woman. She would make some man a good wife."

"Hoh! Wife! Buck Annixter marry! Not much. He's gone a-girling at last,
old Buck! It's as funny as twins. Have to josh him about it when I see
him, sure."

But when Osterman and Magnus at last fell in with Annixter in the
vestibule of the Lick House, on Montgomery Street, nothing could be got
out of him. He was in an execrable humour. When Magnus had broached the
subject of business, he had declared that all business could go to pot,
and when Osterman, his tongue in his cheek, had permitted himself a
most distant allusion to a feemale girl, Annixter had cursed him for a
"busy-face" so vociferously and tersely, that even Osterman was cowed.

"Well," insinuated Osterman, "what are you dallying 'round 'Frisco so
much for?"

"Cat fur, to make kitten-breeches," retorted Annixter with oracular
vagueness.

Two weeks before this time, Annixter had come up to the city and
had gone at once to a certain hotel on Bush Street, behind the First
National Bank, that he knew was kept by a family connection of the
Trees. In his conjecture that Hilma and her parents would stop here, he
was right. Their names were on the register. Ignoring custom, Annixter
marched straight up to their rooms, and before he was well aware of it,
was "eating crow" before old man Tree.

Hilma and her mother were out at the time. Later on, Mrs. Tree returned
alone, leaving Hilma to spend the day with one of her cousins who lived
far out on Stanyan Street in a little house facing the park.

Between Annixter and Hilma's parents, a reconciliation had been
effec