The Gray Dawn

s at the Bella Union, and having been unceremoniously dismissed by Mrs. Sherwood, strol

uth were set in firm lines; his eye, while dancing and mischievous, had depths of capability and reserves of forcefulness. But Sherwood was, by inclination and by the necessities of his profession, a close observer of men. Another, less practised, might have seen here merely an eager, rather talkative, apparently volatile, v

desperadoes; long-haired men from the trapping countries; hard-fisted, sardonic state of Maine men fresh from their rivers; and Indian fighters from the Western Reserve; grasping, shrewd commercial Yankees; fire-eating Southern politicians; lawyers, doctors, merchants, chiefs, and thiefs, the well-educated and the ignorant, the high-minded and the scalawags, all dumped down together on a sand hill to work out their destinies; a city whose precedents, whose morals, whose laws, were made or adapted on the spot; where might in some form or another--revolver, money, influence--made its only right; whose history ranged in three years the gamut of human passion, strife, and development; whose background was the fabled El Dorado whence the gold in unending floods poured through its sluices. To the outside world tales of these things had come. They did not lose in the journey. The vast loom of actual occurrences rose above the horizon like mira

heatre stood-- before the fire--just opposite? I thought so! And the bay used to come up to Montgomery Street, only a block down! You see, I know it all! And when we came in, and I saw all those idle ships lyin

as vastly amused and greatly t

goes in this new market make the money--the fastest clip

uty in staying near his wife and his great desire to slip the leash, that Sherw

s around here?

o slow. You must remember that such a movement makes enemies, arouses opposition. A g

tioned ot

f the bar." He glanced at a large watch. "Just at this hour we

nothing bette

y to require immediate attendance

weather on shipboard--three weeks of it from Panama--Nan's

e, carried on a drum. This could be slacked off at need to accommodate as high as a hundred men or as few as would suffice to move her. So far this engine differed in no manner from those Keith had seen in the East. But this machine belonged to a volunteer company, one of many and all rivals. It was gayly coloured. On the sides of its waterbox were scenic paintings of some little merit. The woodwork was all mahogany. Its brass ornamentation was heavy and brought to

ls in everything, political and social, as well as in the line of regular business, so to speak. Mighty efficient. You'll have to join a company, of course; an

mfortably fitted with chairs, tables, books, and papers. A double door showed

s," said h

ersation and laughter. Several groups of men were gathered in littl

the names, but he liked the hearty, instant cordiality. Remarking on the beauty and order of the machines, loud cries arose f

eatrical significance of that term, suh. He is motheh, fatheh, guardeen, and dry nurse to every stick, stone, and brick, every piece of wood, brass, or rubbah, every inch of hose, and every man _and_ Irishman on these premises." Taylor had turned an embarr

was so plainly embarrassed and anxious to depart that Keith racked his brains for somethin

unaman engine, sir," said he.

iano-box type--of the sort made by Smi

inion is still-suspended," re

d nearer, and his s

minutes. I assure you we have gone into the subject thoroughly--this Hunaman cost us over five thousand

his predicament. In less than the five minutes the claims of the piano box were utterly demolished. Followed a dissertation on methods of fighting fire; and then a history of the Monumental Company--its members, its

sting!" protested Keith, in

ratus. We couldn't get along without him, but it's someti

nd as yet he had no interests to come into conflict with those of any one present. More drinks were ordered and fresh cigars lighted.

indoors!" mourned the dark So

es, local patriotism was much stronger than it is now. And something about the air's wine of the Pacific slope has always, and probably will always, make of every man an earnest proselyte for whatever patch of soil he calls home. B

rs was going to be worth fabulous sums; unlikely looking spots where historic things had stood or had happened--all these were pointed out to him. He was called upon to exercise the eye of faith; to reconstruct; to eliminate the unfinished, the mean, the sordid; to overlook the inadequate; to build the city as it was sure to be; and to concern himself with that and that only. He admired Mount Tamalpais over the way. He was taken up a high hill--a laborious journey--to gaze on the spot where he would have been able to

usly accomplished, each newcomer insiste

s just the hour for

postulation, the invitatio

ers--such matters were common to all. In addition, certain of the more pretentious boasted special attractions. Thus, one place supported its ceiling on crystal pillars; another--and this was crowded--had dashing young women to serve the drinks, though the mixing was done by men; a third offered one of the new large musical boxes capable of playing several very noisy tunes; a fourth had imported a marvellous piece of mechanism: a piece of machinery run by clockwork, exhibiting the sea in motion, a ship tossing on its bosom; on shore, a w

spirit of play. His heart warmed to them mightily; and over and over he told himself that he had made no mistake in his long voyage to new fields of endeavour. On the other hand, he, too, made a good impression. Naturally the numerous drinks had something to do with this

ter of introductio

point, insisting on telling everybod

he exclaimed, "and never knew who he was, and all

s of the drinks he had had. Keith possessed a strong head. Some of the oth

gh fog that had, since two o'clock, been flying before it, n

ranch and have a good dinner, and then drift around to Belle's

ry elaborate, pompous, elderly Southerner, who

his absence, and the fact that, not only had he not yet settled his wife in rooms of her own, but had

erwood leave

ma't time ago,

arted to

n you," said he, "but

postulation we

ersisted Keith. "I don't know even

him obdurate, perhaps a little panicky over

us later in the e

idea

n't afford to lose us. The best life of this glorious commonwealth is as yet a sealed book to him. It is our sacred duty, gentlemen,

g, trying to disengage himself from the detaining hands, broke i

ted. "How would it be to appoint a committe

t this brilliant idea was about to take. But Ben Sansome

ally that he get