Hespokefortenminuteswithafluencyandcomprehensivebusiness-
　　likedirectnessthatsurprisedGrant.Hewasnotthere,hesaid,toglorifywhathadbeendonebyhimself,hisfamily,orhisfriendsinTasajara.Otherswhoweretofollowhimmightdothat,oratleastmightbebetterabletoexplainandexpatiateupontheadvantagesoftheinstitutiontheyhadjustopened,anditssocial,moral,andreligiouseffectuponthecommunity.Hewasthereasabusinessmantodemonstratetothem——ashehadalwaysdoneandalwayshopedtodo——themoneyvalueofimprovement;theprofit——iftheymightchoosetocallit——ofwell-regulatedandproperlycalculatedspeculation.Theplotoflanduponwhichtheystood,ofwhichthebuildingoccupiedonlyoneeighth,wasboughttwoyearsbeforefortenthousanddollars.Whentheplansofthebuildingwerecompletedamonthafterwards,thevalueoftheremainingseveneighthshadrisenenoughtodefraythecostoftheentireconstruction.Hewasinapositiontotellthemthatonlythatmorningtheadjacentproperty,subdividedandlaidoutinstreetsandbuilding-plots,hadbeenadmittedintothecorporatelimitsofthecity;andthatonthenextanniversaryofthebuildingtheywouldapproachitthroughanavenueoffinisheddwellings!Anoutburstofapplausefollowedthespeaker'spracticalclimax;thefreshyoungfacesofhisauditorsglowedwithinvincibleenthusiasm;theafternoontrade-winds,fresheningoverthelimitlessplainbeyond,tossedthebrightbannersatthewindowsaswithsympatheticrejoicing,andafewodorouspineshavings,overlookedinacornerinthehurryofpreparation,touchedbyaneddyingzephyr,creptoutandrolledinyellowringletsacrossthefloor.
　　TheReverendDoctorPilsburyaroseinamoredecoroussilence.Hehadlistenedapprovingly,admiringly,hemightsayevenreverently,totheprecedingspeaker.Butalthoughhisdistinguishedfriendhad,withhisusualmodesty,madelightofhisownservicesandthoseofhischarmingfamily,he,thespeaker,hadnotrisentosinghispraises.No;itwasnotinthisHall,projectedbyhisforesightandraisedbyhisliberality;inthistown,calledintoexistencebyhisenergyandstampedbyhisattributes;inthiscounty,developedbyhisgeniusandsustainedbyhiscapital;ay,inthisveryStatewhosegrandeurwasmadepossiblebysuchgiantsashe,——itwasnotinanyoftheseplacesthatitwasnecessarytopraiseDanielHarcourt,orthatapanegyricofhimwouldbemorethanidlerepetition.Norwouldhe,asthatdistinguishedmanhadsuggested,enlargeuponthesocial,moral,andreligiousbenefitsoftheimprovementtheywerenowcelebrating.Itwaswrittenonthehappy,innocentfaces,inthefestivegarb,inthedecorousdemeanor,intheintelligenteyesthatsparkledaroundhim,inthepresenceofthoseofhisparishionerswhomhecouldmeetasfreelyhereto-dayasinhisownchurchonSunday.Whatthencouldhesay?Whatthenwastheretosay?Perhapsheshouldsaynothingifitwerenotforthepresenceoftheyoungbeforehim——HestoppedandfixedhiseyespaternallyontheyouthfulJohnnyBillings,whowithahalfdozenotherSunday-schoolscholarshadbeenmarshaledbeforethereverendspeaker——AndwhatwastobethelessonTHEY
　　weretolearnfromit?Theyhadheardwhathadbeenachievedbylabor,enterprise,anddiligence.Perhapstheywouldbelieve,andnaturallytoo,thatwhatlabor,enterprise,anddiligencehaddonecouldbedoneagain.Butwasthatall?Wastherenothingbehindthesequalities——which,afterall,werewithinthereachofeveryonehere?Hadtheyeverthoughtthatbackofeverypioneer,everyexplorer,everypathfinder,everyfounderandcreator,therewasstillanother?Therewasnoterraincognitasorareastobeunknowntoone;nowildernesssoremoteastobebeyondagreaterkenthantheirs;nowastesotracklessbutthatonehadalreadypassedthatway!Didtheyeverreflectthatwhenthedullseaebbedandflowedinthetulesovertheveryspotwheretheywerenowstanding,whoitwasthatalsoforesaw,conceived,andordainedthemightychangethatwouldtakeplace;whoevenguidedanddirectedthefeeblemeansemployedtoworkit;whosespiritmoved,asinstillolderdaysofwhichtheyhadread,overthefaceofthestagnantwaters?Perhapstheyhad.WhothenwastherealpioneerofTasajara,——backoftheHarcourts,thePeterses,theBillingses,andWingates?Thereverendgentlemangentlypausedforareply.
　　Itwasgivenintheclearbutstartledaccentsofthehalffrightened,half-fascinatedJohnnyBillings,inthreewords:——
　　"'LigeCurtis,sir!"
　　CHAPTERVI
　　Thetradewind,that,blowingdirectlyfromtheGoldenGate,seemedtoconcentrateitsfullforceuponthewesternslopeofRussianHill,mighthavedismayedanyclimberlesshopefulandsanguinethanthatmostimaginativeofnewspaperreportersandmostyouthfulofhusbands,JohnMiltonHarcourt.Butforallthatitwasanhonestwind,anditsdry,practicalenergyandsalt-pervadingbreathonlyseemedtostinghimtogreaterandmoreenthusiasticexertions,until,quiteatthesummitofthehillandlastofastragglinglineoflittlecottageshalfsubmergedindriftingsand,hestooduponhisownhumbleporch.
　　"Iwasthinking,comingupthehill,Loo,"hesaid,burstingintothesitting-room,pantingly,"ofwritingsomethingaboutthefutureofthehill!Howitwilllookfiftyyearsfromnow,allterracedwithhousesandgardens!——andrightuphereakindofAcropolis,don'tyouknow.Ihadquiteapictureofitinmymindjustnow."
　　Aplainly-dressedyoungwomanwithaprettyface,that,however,lookedasifithadbeenprematurelysappedofcolorandvitality,herelaidasidesomewhitesewingshehadinherlap,andsaid:——
　　"Butyoudidthatoncebefore,Milty,andyouknowthe"Herald"
　　wouldn'ttakeitbecausetheysaiditwasafreenoticeofMr.
　　Boorem'sbuildinglots,andhedidn'tadvertiseinthe"Herald."I
　　alwaystoldyouthatyououghttohaveseenBooremfirst."
　　Theyoungfellowblinkedhiseyeswithamomentaryarrestofthatbuoyanthopefulnesswhichwastheirpeculiarcharacteristic,butneverthelessrepliedwithundauntedcheerfulness,"Iforgot.
　　Anyhow,it'sallthesame,forIworkeditintothat'SundayWalk.'
　　Andit'sjustaseasytowriteittheotherway,yousee,——lookingback,DOWNTHEHILL,youknow.SomethingabouttheoldPadrestoilingthroughthesandjustbeforetheAngelus;orasfarbackasSirFrancisDrake'stime,andhavearunawayboat'screw,comingashoretolookforgoldthattheMexicanshadtalkedof.Lord!
　　that'seasyenough!Itellyouwhat,Loo,it'sworthlivingupherejustfortheinspiration."Evenwhileboyishlyexhalingthisenthusiasmhewasalsodivestinghimselfofcertainbundleswhosecontentsseemedtoimplythathehadbroughthisdinnerwithhim,——
　　theyouthfulMrs.Harcourtsettingthetableinaperfunctory,listlesswaythatcontrastedoddlywithherhusband'scheerfulenergy.
　　"Youhaven'theardofanyregularsituationyet?"sheaskedabstractedly.
　　"No,——notexactly,"hereplied."But[buoyantly]it'sagreatdealbetterformenottotakeanythinginahurryandtiemyselftoanyparticularline.Now,I'mquitefree."
　　"AndIsupposeyouhaven'tseenthatMr.Fletcheragain?"shecontinued.
　　"No.Heonlywantedtoknowsomethingaboutme.That'sthewaywiththemall,Loo.WheneverIapplyforworkanywhereit'salways:'Soyou'reDan'lHarcourt'sson,eh?Quarreledwiththeoldman?Badjob;bettermakeitup!You'llmakemorestickin'tohim.He'sworthmillions!'EverybodyseemstothinkeverythingofHIM,asifIhadnoindividualitybeyondthat,I'veagoodmindtochangemyname."
　　"Andpraywhatwouldminebethen?"
　　Therewassomuchirritationinhervoicethathedrewnearerherandgentlyputhisarmaroundherwaist."Why,whateverminewas,darling,"hesaidwithatendersmile."Youdidn'tfallinlovewithanyparticularname,didyou,Loo?"
　　"No,butImarriedaparticularone,"shesaidquickly.
　　Hiseyelidsquiveredagain,asifhewasavoidingsomeunpleasantlystaringsuggestion,andshestopped.
　　"YouknowwhatImean,dear,"shesaid,withaquicklittlelaugh.
　　"Justbecauseyourfather'sanoldcrosspatch,YOUhaven'tlostyourrightstohisnameandproperty.Andthosepeoplewhosayyououghttomakeitupperhapsknowwhat'sforthebest."
　　"Butyourememberwhathesaidofyou,Loo?"saidtheyoungmanwithaflashingeye."DoyouthinkIcaneverforgetthat?"
　　"ButyouDOforgetit,dear;youforgetitwhenyougointownamongfreshfacesandpeople;whenyouarelookingforwork.Youforgetitwhenyou'reatworkwritingyourcopy,——forI'veseenyousmileasyouwrote.Youforgetitclimbingupthedreadfulsand,foryouwerethinkingjustnowofwhathappenedyearsago,oristohappenyearstocome.AndIwanttoforgetittoo,Milty.Idon'twanttosithereallday,thinkingofit,withthewinddrivingthesandagainstthewindow,andnothingtolookatbutthosewhitetombsinLoneMountainCemetery,andthosewhitecapsthatmightbegravestonestoo,andnotasoultotalktoorevenseepassbyuntilIfeelasifIweredeadandburiedalso.Ifyouwereme——
　　you——you——you——couldn'thelpcryingtoo!"
　　Indeedhewasverynearitnow.Forashecaughtherinhisarms,suddenlyseeingwithalover'ssympathyandthepoet'sswifterimaginationallthatshehadseenandevenmore,hewasaghastatthevisionconjured.Inherdelicatehealthandlonelinesshowdreadfulmusthavebeenthesemonotonousdays,andthisglittering,cruelsea!Whataselfishbrutehewas!Yetashestoodthereholdingher,silentlyandrhythmicallymarkinghistendernessandremorsefulfeelingsbyrockingherfromsidetosidelikealanguidmetronome,shequietlydisengagedherwetlashesfromhisshoulderandsaidinquiteanothertone:——
　　"SotheywereallatTasajaralastweek?"
　　"Who,dear?"
　　"Yourfatherandsisters."
　　"Yes,"saidJohnMilton,hesitatingly.
　　"Andthey'vetakenbackyoursisterafterherdivorce?"
　　Thestaringobtrusivenessofthisfactapparentlymadeherhusband'sbrightsympatheticeyeblinkasbefore.
　　"Andifyouweretodivorceme,YOUwouldbetakenbacktoo,"sheaddedquickly,suddenlywithdrawingherselfwithapettishmovementandwalkingtothewindow.
　　Buthefollowed."Don'ttalkinthatway,Loo!Don'tlookinthatway,dear!"hesaid,takingherhandgently,yetnotwithoutasenseofsomeinconsistencyinherconductthatjarreduponhisownsimpledirectness."Youknowthatnothingcanpartusnow.Iwaswrongtoletmylittlegirlworryherselfallalonehere,butI——I——
　　thoughtitwasallso——sobrightandfreeoutonthishill,——
　　lookingfarawaybeyondtheGoldenGate,——asfarasCathay,youknow,andsuchachangefromthosedismalflatsofTasajaraandthatawfulstretchoftules.Butit'sallrightnow.AndnowthatIknowhowyoufeel,we'llgoelsewhere."
　　Shedidnotreply.Perhapsshefounditdifficulttokeepupherinjuredattitudeinthefaceofherhusband'sgentleness.Perhapsherattentionhadbeenattractedbytheunusualspectacleofastranger,whohadjustmountedthehillandwasnowslowlypassingalongthelineofcottageswithahesitatingairofinquiry."Hemaybelookingforthishouse,——foryou,"shesaidinanentirelynewtoneofinterest."Runoutandsee.Itmaybesomeonewhowants"——
　　"Anarticle,"saidMiltoncheerfully."ByJove!heIScominghere."
　　Thestrangerwasindeedapproachingthelittlecottage,andwithapparentlysomeconfidence.Hewasawell-dressed,well-mademan,whoseagelookeduncertainfromthecontrastbetweenhisheavybrownmoustacheandhishair,that,curlingunderthebrimofhishat,wasalmostwhiteincolor.Theyoungmanstarted,andsaid,hurriedly:"IreallybelieveitisFletcher,——theysayhishairturnedwhitefromthePanamafever."
　　ItwasindeedMr.Fletcherwhoenteredandintroducedhimself,——
　　agentlereservedman,withsomethingofthatcolorlessnessofprematureageinhisspeechwhichwasobservableinhishair.HehadheardofMr.Harcourtfromafriendwhohadrecommendedhimhighly.AsMr.Harcourthadprobablybeentold,he,thespeaker,wasabouttoembarksomecapitalinafirst-classnewspaperinSanFrancisco,andshouldselectthestaffhimself.Hewantedtosecureonlyfirst-ratetalent,——butaboveall,youthfulness,directness,andoriginality.The"Clarion,"forthatwastobeitsname,wastohavenothing"oldfogy"aboutit.No.ItwasdistinctlytobetheorganofYoungCalifornia!Thisandmuchmorefromthegravelipsoftheelderlyyoungman,whosespeechseemedtobedividedbetweenthepretty,butequallyfaded,youngwife,andtheonepersonificationofinvincibleyouthpresent,——herhusband.
　　"ButIfearIhaveinterruptedyourhouseholdduties,"hesaidpleasantly."Youwerepreparingdinner.Praygoon.Andletmehelpyou,——I'mnotabadcook,——andyoucangivememyrewardbylettingmeshareitwithyou,fortheclimbupherehassharpenedmyappetite.Wecantalkaswegoon."
　　Itwasinvaintoprotest;therewassomethingpaternalaswellaspracticalinthecamaraderieofthisactualcapitalistandpossibleMaecenasandpatronashequietlyhunguphishatandovercoat,andhelpedtosetthetablewithapracticedhand.Nor,ashesuggested,didtheconversationfalter,andbeforetheyhadtakentheirseatsatthefrugalboardhehadalreadyengagedJohnMiltonHarcourtasassistanteditorofthe"Clarion"atasalarythatseemedprincelytothissonofamillionaire!Theyoungwifemeantimehadtakenactivepartinthediscussion;whetheritwasvaguelyunderstoodthatthepossessionofpoeticalandimaginativefacultiesprecludedanycapacityforbusiness,orwhetheritwasowingtotheapparentsuperiormaturityofMrs.Harcourtandthestranger,itwascertainthatTHEYarrangedthepracticaldetailsoftheengagement,andthattheyouthfulhusbandsatsilent,merelyofferinghisalwayshopefulandsanguineconsent.
　　"You'lltakeahousenearertotown,Isuppose?"continuedMr.
　　Fletchertothelady,"thoughyou'veacharmingviewhere.I
　　supposeitwasquiteachangefromTasajaraandyourfather-in-
　　law'shouse?Idaresayhehadasfineaplacethere——onhisownhomestead——ashehashere?"
　　YoungHarcourtdroppedhissensitiveeyelidsagain.Itseemedhardthathecouldnevergetawayfromtheseallusionstohisfather!
　　Perhapsitwasonlytothatrelationshipthathewasindebtedforhisvisitor'skindness.Inhissimplehonestyhecouldnotbearthethoughtofsuchamisapprehension."Perhaps,Mr.Fletcher,youdonotknow,"hesaid,"thatmyfatherisnotontermswithme,andthatweneitherexpectanythingnorcouldweevertakeanythingfromhim.Couldwe,Loo?"Headdedtheuselessquestionpartlybecausehesawthathiswife'sfacebetrayedlittlesympathywithhim,andpartlythatFletcherwaslookingathercuriously,asifforconfirmation.ButthiswasanotherofJohnMilton'strialsasanimaginativereporter;nobodyeverseemedtocareforhispracticalopinionsorfacts!
　　"Mr.Fletcherisnotinterestedinourlittlefamilydifferences,Milty,"shesaid,lookingatMr.Fletcher,however,insteadofhim.
　　"You'reDanielHarcourt'sSONwhateverhappens."
　　Thecloudthathadpassedovertheyoungman'sfaceandeyesdidnot,however,escapeMr.Fletcher'sattention,forhesmiled,andaddedgayly,"AndIhopemyvaluedlieutenantinanycase."
　　NeverthelessJohnMiltonwasquitereadytoavailhimselfofaninspirationtofetchsomecigarsforhisguestfromthebaroftheSea-ViewHouseontheslopeofthehillbeyond,andtherebyavoidafatefulsubject.Onceinthefreshairagainhepromptlyrecoveredhisboyishspirits.Thelightflyingscudhadalreadyeffacedthefirstrisingstars;thelowercreepingsea-foghadalreadyblottedoutthewesternshoreandsea;butbelowhimtotheeasttheglitteringlightsofthecityseemedtostartupwithanew,mysterious,anddazzlingbrilliancy.ItwasthevalleyofdiamondsthatSindbadsawlyingalmostathisfeet!Perhapssomewheretherethelightofhisownfameandfortunewasalreadybeginningtotwinkle!
　　Hereturnedtohishumbleroofjoyousandinspired.Asheenteredthehallheheardhiswife'svoiceandhisownnamementioned,followedbythatawkward,meaninglesssilenceonhisentrancewhichsoplainlyindicatedeitherthathehadbeenthesubjectofconversationorthatitwasnotforhisears.ItwasadismalreminderofhisboyhoodatSidonandTasajara.Buthewastoofullofhopeandambitiontoheeditto-night,andlater,whenMr.
　　Fletcherhadtakenhisdeparture,hispent-upenthusiasmburstoutbeforehisyouthfulpartner.Hadsherealizedthattheirstruggleswereovernow,thattheirfuturewassecure?Theyneednolongerfeareverbeingforcedtotakebountyfromthefamily;theywereindependentofthemall!Hewouldmakeanameforhimselfthatshouldbedistinctfromhisfather'sasheshouldmakeafortunethatwouldbetheirsalone.Theyoungwifesmiled."Butallthatneednotpreventyou,dear,fromclaimingyourRIGHTSwhenthetimecomes."
　　"ButifIscorntomaketheclaimortakeapennyofhis,Loo?"
　　"Yousayyouscorntotakethemoneyyouthinkyourfathergotbyameretrick,——atthebest,——anddidn'tearn.Andnowyouwillbeabletoshowyoucanlivewithoutit,andearnyourownfortune.
　　Well,dear,forthatveryreasonwhyshouldyouletyourfatherandothersenjoyandwastewhatisfairlyyourshare?ForitisYOUR
　　sharewhetheritcametoyourfatherfairlyornot;andifnot,itisstillyourduty,believingasyoudo,toclaimitfromhim,thatatleastYOUmaydowithitwhatyouchoose.Youmightwanttorestoreit——to——to——somebody."
　　Theyoungmanlaughed."But,mydearLoo!supposethatIwereweakenoughtoclaimit,doyouthinkmyfatherwouldgiveitup?Hehastheright,andnolawcouldforcehimtoyieldtomemorethanhechooses."
　　"Notthelaw,butYOUcould."
　　"Idon'tunderstandyou,"hesaidquickly.
　　"Youcouldforcehimbysimplytellinghimwhatyouoncetoldme."
　　JohnMiltondrewback,andhishanddroppedlooselyfromhiswife's.Thecolorlefthisfreshyoungface;thelightquiveredforamomentandthenbecamefixedandsetinhiseyes.Forthatmomenthelookedtenyearshersenior."Iwaswrongevertotellevenyouthat,Loo,"hesaidinalowvoice."Youarewrongtoeverremindmeofit.Forgetitfromthismoment,asyouvalueourloveandwantittoliveandberemembered.Andforget,Loo,asI
　　do,——andevershall,——thatyoueversuggestedtometousemysecretinthewayyoudidjustnow."
　　ButhereMrs.Harcourtburstintotears,moretouchedbythealterationinherhusband'smanner,Ifear,thanbyanycontritionforwrongdoing.Ofcourseifhewishedtowithdrawhisconfidencesfromher,justashehadalmostconfessedhewishedtowithdrawhisNAME,shecouldn'thelpit,butitwashardthatwhenshesattherealldaylongtryingtothinkwhatwasbestforthem,sheshouldbeblamed!AtwhichthequietandforgivingJohnMiltonsmiledremorsefullyandtriedtocomforther.Neverthelessanoccasionalodd,indefinablechillseemedtocreepacrossthefeverishenthusiasmwithwhichhewascelebratingthisdayoffortune.Andyetheneitherknewnorsuspecteduntillongafterthathisfoolishwifehadthatnighthalfbetrayedhissecrettothestranger!
　　ThenextdayhepresentedanoteofintroductionfromMr.Fletchertothebusinessmanagerofthe"Clarion,"andthefollowingmorningwasdulyinstalledinoffice.Hedidnotseehisbenefactoragain;
　　thatsinglevisitwasleftinthemysteryandisolationofanangelicepisode.ItlaterappearedthatotherandlargerinterestsintheSanJosevalleyclaimedhispatron'sresidenceandattendance;
　　onlythecapitalandgeneralpurposeofthepaper——todevelopintoapartyorganintheinterestofhispossiblesenatorialaspirationsindueseason——wasfurnishedbyhim.GratefulasJohnMiltonfelttowardshim,hewasrelieved;itseemedprobablethatMr.FletcherHADselectedhimonhisindividualmerits,andnotasthesonofamillionaire.
　　Hethrewhimselfintohisworkwithhisoldhopefulenthusiasm,andperhapsanoriginalityofmethodthatwaspartofhissingularindependence.Withoutthestudent'strainingorrestraint,——forhistwoyears'schoolingatTasajaraduringhisparents'prosperitycametoolatetoactasadiscipline,——hewasunfetteredbyanyrules,andguidedonlybyanunerringinstinctivetastethatbecamenearbeinggenius.Hewasabrilliantandoriginal,ifnotalwaysaprofoundandaccurate,reporter.Bydegreeshebecameanaccustomedinteresttothereadersofthe"Clarion;"thenaninfluence.Actorsthemselvesinmanyafiercedrama,livinglivesofdevotion,emotion,andpicturesqueincident,theyhadsatisfiedthemselveswithonlythebriefestandmostpracticaldailyrecordoftheiradventure,andevenatfirstweredazedandstartledtofindthatmanyofthemhadbeenheroesandsomepoets.ThestealthyboyishreaderofromanticchronicleatSidonhadlearnedbyheartthechivalrousstoryoftheemigration.Thesecondcolumnofthe"Clarion"becamefamousevenwhilethefigureofitsyouthfulwriter,unknownandunrecognized,wasstillnightlyclimbingthesandsofRussianHill,andevenlookingdownasbeforeonthelightsofthegrowingcity,withoutathoughtthathehadaddedtothatglitteringconstellation.
　　Cheerfulandcontentedwiththeexerciseofwork,hewouldhavebeenhappybutforthegradualhauntingofanotherdreadwhichpresentlybegantodraghimatearlierhoursupthesteeppathtohislittlehome;tohalthimbeforethedoorwiththequickenedbreathofananxietyhewouldscarcelyconfesstohimself,andsometimesholdhimaimlesslyawholedaybeneathhisroof.FortheprettybutdelicateMrs.Harcourt,likeothersofherclass,hadaddedaweakandineffectivematernitytotheirotherconjugaltrials,andoneearlydawnababywasbornthatlingeredwiththemscarcelylongerthanthemorningmistandexhaledwiththerisingsun.Theyoungwiferegainedherstrengthslowly,——soslowlythattheyouthfulhusbandbroughthisworkattimestothehousetokeephercompany.Andasingularchangehadcomeoverher.Shenolongertalkedofthepast,norofhisfamily.Asifthelittlelifethathadpassedwiththatmorningmisthadrepresentedsomeascendingexpiatorysacrifice,itseemedtohavebroughtthemintoclosercommunion.
　　Yetherweakconditionmadehimconcealanothertroublethathadcomeuponhim.Itwasinthethirdmonthofhisemploymentonthe"Clarion"thatoneafternoon,whilecorrectingsomeproofsonhischief'sdesk,hecameuponthefollowingeditorialparagraph:——
　　"Theplayed-outcantof'pioneergenius'and'pioneerdiscovery'
　　appearstohavereacheditsclimaxintheattemptofsomeofourcontemporariestoapplyittoDanHarcourt'snewTasajaraJobbeforethelegislature.ItisperfectlywellknowninHarcourt'sowndistrictthat,farfrombeingapioneerandsettlerHIMSELFhesimplysucceededafterafashiontothegenuineworkofoneElijahCurtis,anactualpioneeranddiscoverer,yearsbefore,whileHarcourt,webelieve,waskeepingafrontierdoggeryinSidon,anddispensing'tanglefoot'andsaltjunktothehayfootedPikeCountiansofhisprecinct.Thiswouldmakehimasmuchofthe'pioneerdiscoverer'astherattlesnakewhofirsttakesupboardandlodgingsandthenpossessioninaprairiedog'sburrow.Andifthetraveler'staleistruethattherattlesnakesometimesmakesamealofhislandlord,thestorytoldatSidonmaybeequallycrediblethattheoriginalpioneermysteriouslydisappearedaboutthetimethatDanHarcourtcameintotheproperty.FromwhichitwouldseemthatHarcourtisnotinapositionforhisfriendstoinviteverydeepscrutinyintohis'pioneer'achievements."
　　Stupefaction,avagueterror,andrisinganger,rapidlysucceededeachotherintheyoungman'smindashestoodmechanicallyholdingthepaperinhishand.Itwasthewritingofhischiefeditor,whoseeasybrutalityhehadsometimesevenboyishlyadmired.
　　Withoutstoppingtoconsidertheirrelativepositionshesoughthimindignantlyandlaidtheproofbeforehim.Theeditorlaughed.
　　"Butwhat'sthattoYOU?YOU'REnotontermswiththeoldman."
　　"Butheismyfather!"saidJohnMiltonhotly.
　　"Lookhere,"saidtheeditorgood-naturedly,"I'dliketoobligeyou,butitisn'tBUSINESS,youknow,——andthisIS,youunderstand,——PROPRIETOR'SBUSINESStoo!OfcourseIseeitmightstandinthewayofyourmakinguptotheoldmanafterwardsandcominginforamillion.Well!youcantellhimit'sME.SayI
　　WOULDputitin.SayI'mnasty——andIAM!"
　　"Thenitmustgoin?"saidJohnMiltonwithawhiteface.
　　"Youbet."
　　"ThenImustgoout!"Andwritingouthisresignation,helaiditbeforehischiefandleft.