is box only
contained some silk curtain decorations we'd ordered, which is only
half a lie. And," still more firmly, "THIS SECRET DOESN'T GO OUT OF THIS
ROOM, GENTLEMEN--or I ain't your president! I'm not going to let you
give yourselves away to that crowd outside--you hear me? Have you ever
allowed your unfettered intellect to consider what they'd say about
this,--what a godsend it would be to every man we'd ever had a 'pull' on
in this camp? Why, it would last 'em a whole year; we'd never hear the
end of it! No, gentlemen! I prefer to live here without shootin' my
fellow man, but I can't promise it if they once start this joke agin
us!"

There was a swift approval of this sentiment, and the five members shook
hands solemnly.

"Now," said the president, "we'll just fold up that dress again, and put
it with the figure in this closet"--he opened a large dressing-chest
in the suite of rooms in which they stood--"and we'll each keep a key.
We'll retain this room for committee purposes, so that no one need see
the closet. See? Now take off the dress! Be careful there! You're not
handlin' pay dirt, though it's about as expensive! Steady!"

Yet it was wonderful to see the solicitude and care with which the dress
was re-covered and folded in its linen wrapper.

"Hold on," exclaimed Trigg,--as the dummy was lifted into the
chest,--"we haven't tried on the other dress!"

"Yes! yes!" repeated the others eagerly; "there's another!"

"We'll keep that for next committee meeting, gentlemen," said the
president decisively. "Lock her up, Trigg."

The three following months wrought a wonderful change in
Excelsior,--wonderful even in that land of rapid growth and progress.
Their organized and matured plans, executed by a full force of workmen
from the county town, completed the twenty cottages for the members, the
bank, and the town hall. Visitors and intending settlers flocked over
the new wagon road to see this new Utopia, whose founders, holding the
land and its improvements as a corporate company, exercised the right
of dictating the terms on which settlers were admitted. The feminine
invasion was not yet potent enough to affect their consideration, either
through any refinement or attractiveness, being composed chiefly of the
industrious wives and daughters of small traders or temporary artisans.
Yet it was found necessary to confide the hotel to the management of Mr.
Dexter Marsh, his wife, and one intelligent but somewha