arkable about that, of course. Any man might have
business at the Hibernia Bank. Then again, it's worth the trip from
Moore's Flat just to stand on the seashore an hour."

"Yes," said Keeler with enthusiasm, "there's a noble sight."

"But," continued Palmer, "I'm too old a man for pleasure trips. And for
that matter, I'm about through with business, too. I went to San
Francisco for a special reason."

Keeler looked up from his coffee inquiringly.

"I went to see an old sweetheart."

Here Keeler smiled. It seemed odd to think of old man Palmer going upon
such a mission.

"I suppose I ought to say that the woman snubbed me when I was young,
and later cared more for my money than she did for me. But I loved that
woman thirty years ago, and was fool enough to think I might win her if
I could strike it rich here in California. I'm older now, and wiser, I
hope. If a woman won't marry a man 'for richer or poorer'--especially
poorer--she oughtn't to marry him at all. There's my nephew who was out
here ten years ago. Married without a dollar and got the best wife in
the world. No, Keeler; I may be a fool; but I'm not the kind of fool to
marry an old woman because she hankers after my money.

"I went to San Francisco because I pity the woman, and because I thought
I might help her to become more decent and self-respecting."

Here the old man paused. Keeler noticed that he was much embarrassed.

"I would have kept this affair to myself, Keeler; but we must get the
rascals who shot Cummins, so you ought to know the whole story.

"Harriet Chesney was a pretty girl thirty years ago. Rather too proud of
her good looks, and a selfish minx. But a young man who has had a good
mother thinks all women are good, I guess. I was terribly cut up when
she refused me; but I hate to think now what might have happened if she
had accepted me!"

"Why, here ten years back, a brother of mine in Michigan wrote to warn
me that Harriet Chesney was coming to California to murder me. He said
she had burned two houses for the insurance; had got mixed up with
several men and had robbed them."

"A regular she-devil," remarked Keeler.

"Well, sure enough, she turned up here in California, nearly ten years
ago. And very likely she would have killed me if she could have got hold
of my property. And if all the gold I ever mined could have saved her
from the sin and misery of these past ten years, she would have been
welcome to it. But I couldn't bu