f your vaqueros, who is, however, an
American, was round there an hour ago bucking against faro, and put up
and LOST, not only the mare he was riding, but a horse which I have
just learned is yours. Now we reckon, over there, that we can make
enough money playing a square game, without being obliged to take
property from a howling drunkard, to say nothing of it not belonging to
him, and I've come here, Don Jose, to say that if you'll send over and
bring away your man and your horse, you can have 'em both."

"If I have comprehended, honest Hamlin," said Don Jose slowly, "this
Roberto, who was my vaquero and is my brother, has approached this faro
game by himself unsolicited?"

"He certainly didn't seem shy of it," said Mr. Hamlin with equal
gravity. "To the best of my knowledge he looked as if he'd been there
before."

"And if he had won, excellent Hamlin, you would have given him the
equal of his mare and horse?"

"A hundred dollars for each, yes, certainly."

"Then I see not why I should send for the property which is truly no
longer mine, nor for my brother who will amuse himself after the
fashion of his country in the company of so honorable a caballero as
yourself? Stay! oh imbecile that I am. I have not remembered. You
would possibly say that he has no longer of horses! Play him; play
him, admirable yet prudent Hamlin. I have two thousand horses! Of a
surety he cannot exhaust them in four hours. Therefore play him, trust
to me for recompensa, and have no fear."

A quick flush covered the stranger's cheek, and his eyebrows
momentarily contracted. He walked carelessly to the window, however,
glanced out, and then turned to Don Jose.

"May I ask, then," he said with almost sepulchral gravity, "is anybody
taking care of you?"

"Truly," returned Don Jose cautiously, "there is my brother and friend
Roberto."

"Ah! Roberto, certainly," said Mr. Hamlin profoundly.

"Why do you ask, considerate friend?"

"Oh! I only thought, with your kind of opinions, you must often feel
lonely in California. Good-bye." He shook Don Jose's hand heartily,
took up his hat, inclined his head with graceful seriousness, and
passed out of the room. In the hall he met the landlord.

"Well," said Jenkinson, with a smile half anxious, half insinuating,
"you saw him? What do you think of him?"

Mr. Hamlin paused and regarded Jenkinson with a calmly contemplative
air, as if he were trying to remember first who he was, and