good style, I can tell you.'

By this time I was quite awake. 'Well, what particular style does His
Majesty affect this morning?'

He pulled out a showbill. 'Peculiarly gaudy and effective, is it not?'

The items announced were sufficiently attractive. The 'Frisco Opera
Company were to produce the 'screaming farce,' 'The Gay and Giddy Dude';
after which there was to be a 'Grand Ball,' during which the 'Kalifornia
Female Kickers' were to do some fancy figures; the whole to be followed
by a 'big supper' with 'two free drinks to every man and one to the
lady,' and all for the insignificant sum of two dollars.

'Can't you go one better?' I said.

He looked inquiringly and a little disgustedly at me.

'What can you do against free drinks and a dance, not to speak of the
"High Kickers"?' he groaned.

'No!' he continued; 'it's a clean beat for us today. The miners and
lumbermen will have in their pockets ten thousand dollars, and every
dollar burning a hole; and Slavin and his gang will get most of it.
But,' he added, 'you must have breakfast. You'll find a tub in the
kitchen; don't be afraid to splash. It is the best I have to offer you.'

The tub sounded inviting, and before many minutes had passed I was in
a delightful glow, the effect of cold water and a rough towel, and that
consciousness of virtue that comes to a man who has had courage to face