rious advertiser), "you might let ME in. You might say ez how I
used to jest worship that ring with you, and allers wanted to borrow it
on Sundays. If anything comes of it--why--WE'RE PARDNERS!"

A serious question was the outfitting of Cass for what now was felt to
be a diplomatic representation of the community. His garments, it
hardly need be said, were inappropriate to any wooing except that of the
"maiden all forlorn," which the advertiser clearly was not. "He might,"
suggested Fauquier, "drop in jest as he is--kinder as if he'd got
keerless of the world, being lovesick." But Cass objected strongly, and
was borne out in his objection by his younger comrades. At last a pair
of white duck trousers, a red shirt, a flowing black silk scarf, and
a Panama hat were procured at Red Chief, on credit, after a judicious
exhibition of the advertisement. A heavy wedding ring, the property of
Drummond (who was not married), was also lent as a graceful suggestion,
and at the last moment Fauquier affixed to Cass's scarf an enormous
specimen pin of gold and quartz. "It sorter indicates the auriferous
wealth o' this yer region, and the old man (the senior member of Bookham
& Sons) needn't know I won it at draw poker in Frisco," said Fauquier.

"Ef you 'pass' on the gal, you kin hand it back to me and I'LL try
it on." Forty dollars for expenses was put into Cass's hands, and the
entire community accompanied him to the cross roads where he was to meet
the Sacramento coach, which eventually carried him away, followed by a
benediction of waving hats and exploding revolvers.

That Cass did not participate in the extravagant hopes of his comrades,
and that he rejected utterly their matrimonial speculations in his
behalf, need not be said. Outwardly, he kept his own counsel with
good-humored assent. But there was something fascinating in the
situation, and while he felt he had forever abandoned his romantic
dream, he was not displeased to know that it might have proved a
reality. Nor was it distasteful to him to think that Miss Porter would
hear of it and regret her late inability to appreciate his sentiment.
If he really were the object of some opulent maiden's passion, he would
show Miss Porter how he could sacrifice the most brilliant prospects
for her sake. Alone, on the top of the coach, he projected one of those
satisfying conversations in which imaginative people delight, but which
unfortunately never come quite up to rehearsal. "D