father, who greeted him with a twinkle. Why, that was the very
thing lacking--his mother! Of course it was. And now----!

"Do you think it will be Christmas present enough for you?" queried his
father. "They'll have just about time to get here for Christmas, we
figure."

Surely nothing, not even another Golden West mine, could be half so
good for a Christmas present.

Time fairly dragged, despite the busy days. Development work
proceeded, but better far and more interesting were the two cabins that
were being put up, in readiness for the great day. And suddenly (for
all things come to him who waits!) Charley and Billy found themselves
actually delegated to go down to San Francisco--just they two--and meet
two Somebodies at the steamer pier!

It seemed great to be sent on such an errand; and it gave one rather an
important feeling to be alone and responsible in a city like San
Francisco. By way of Sacramento and the river and bay they landed
there--two real miners from the hills, clad in their miner costumes.

They had intended to put up at the Parker-house; but at Sacramento
rumors of a great fire reached them, and sure enough, they found San
Francisco still smouldering. For in the middle of December fire had
swept through all the flimsy buildings of down town. The whole of
Portsmouth Square lay in ashes. However, already new buildings were
going up as fast as hands could work. Nobody seemed discouraged, but
toiled with a cheer. The floor beams of another Parker-house had been
placed--and this new Parker-house was to be of brick! Good for San
Francisco!

That night Charley and Billy slept in a large tent that had been
erected by the Parker-house to take care of what patrons it could.
Charley had tried to show his partner the "sights," but in only those
few months San Francisco had changed amazingly. It had doubled in
population since that date when the steamer California had landed the
Adams party in the bay, and its people had changed, too. Why, there
were as well-dressed men and women on the streets as in St. Louis; and
some of the stores which had not burned were like Eastern stores!

A new scheme had been invented. On top of a high hill called Telegraph
Hill, overlooking the Golden Gate, a signal had been installed. It
consisted of a tall post equipped with wooden paddles, like arms, that
flourished in a system of wigwags. The positions of the arms signaled
"brig," "bark," "side-wheel steam