conscientiousness he did not consider. "All right," he said
simply. "I reckon we'll go at once."

"And when you talk to Lawyer Cole and Jim, keep that silly stuff
about the pick to yourself. There's no use of putting queer ideas
into other people's heads because you happen to have 'em yourself."

When the hurried arrangements were at last completed, and Mr.
Mulrady and Mamie, accompanied by a taciturn and discreet Chinaman,
carrying their scant luggage, were on their way to the high road to
meet the up stage, the father gazed somewhat anxiously and
wistfully into his daughter's face. He had looked forward to those
few moments to enjoy the freshness and naivete of Mamie's youthful
delight and enthusiasm as a relief to his wife's practical, far-
sighted realism. There was a pretty pink suffusion in her delicate
cheek, the breathless happiness of a child in her half-opened
little mouth, and a beautiful absorption in her large gray eyes
that augured well for him.

"Well, Mamie, how do we like bein' an heiress? How do we like
layin' over all the gals between this and 'Frisco?"

"Eh?"

She had not heard him. The tender beautiful eyes were engaged in
an anticipatory examination of the remembered shelves in the "Fancy
Emporium" at Sacramento; in reading the admiration of the clerks;
in glancing down a little criticisingly at the broad cowhide
brogues that strode at her side; in looking up the road for the
stage-coach; in regarding the fit of her new gloves--everywhere but