"I should think you'd be up there."

"I don't want any better gold mine than the old Parker House," said he
comfortably.

We paid him twenty-four dollars.

By now it was late in the afternoon. The wind had dropped, but over the
hills to seaward rolled a soft beautiful bank of fog. The sun was
blotted out behind it and a chill fell. The crowds about the Plaza
thinned.

We economized our best at supper, but had to pay some eight dollars for
the four of us. The bill was a la carte and contained such items as
grizzly steak, antelope, elk, and wild duck and goose. Grizzly steak, I
remember, cost a dollar and a quarter. By the time we had finished, it
had grown dark. The lamps were alight, and the crowds were beginning to
gather. All the buildings and the big tent next door were a blaze of
illumination. The sounds of music and singing came from every side. A
holiday spirit was in the air.

Johnny and I were crazy to be up and doing, but Talbot sternly repressed
us, and Yank agreed with his decision by an unusually emphatic nod.

"It is all a lot of fun, I'll admit," said he; "but this is business.
And we've got to face it. Sit down here on the edge of this veranda, and
let's talk things over. How much money have you got, Yank?"

"Two hundred and twenty dollars," replied Yank promptly.

"You're partners with me, Frank, so I know our assets," said Talbot with
tact. "Johnny?"

"Hanged if I know," replied that youth. "I've got quite a lot. I keep it
in my pack."

"Well, go find out," advised Talbot.

Johnny was gone for some time. We smoked and listened to the rather
blatantly mingled strains of music, and watched the figures of men
hurrying by in the spangled darkness.

Johnny returned very much excited.

"I've been robbed!" he cried.

"Robbed? Is your money all gone?"

"No, there's a little left, but----"

Talbot laughed quietly.

"Sit down, Johnny, and cool off," he advised. "If anybody had robbed
you, they'd have taken the whole kit and kaboodle. Did you come out
ahead on those _monte_ games?"

Johnny blushed, and laughed a little.

"I see what you're at, but you're away off there. I just played for
small stakes."

"And lost a lot of them. I sort of look-out your game. But that's all
right. How much did the 'robbers' leave you?"

"Twelve dollars, besides what I have in my clothes--twenty-one dollars
in all," said Johnny.

"Well, that's pretty good. You beat Frank and me to death. There's our
to