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riding；in style； too；and out on the road I offered to do the
square thing； just as if she'd been a lady；offered to marry her
then and there。 And what did she do？〃 said Jack with a hysterical
laugh。 〃Why； blank it all！ OFFERED ME TWENTY…FIVE DOLLARS A WEEK
ALLOWANCEPAY TO BE STOPPED WHEN I WASN'T AT HOME！〃 The roar of
laughter that greeted this frank confession was broken by a quiet
voice asking； 〃And what did YOU say？〃〃Say？〃 screamed Jack； 〃I
just told her to go to with her money。〃〃They say；〃 continued
the quiet voice； 〃that you asked her for the loan of two hundred
and fifty dollars to get you to Sacramentoand that you got it。〃
〃Who says so roared Jack。 〃Show me the blank liar。〃 There was a
dead silence。 Then the possessor of the quiet voice； Mr。 Jack
Hamlin； languidly reached under the table； took the chalk； and；
rubbing the end of his billiard…cue； began with gentle gravity： 〃It
was an old friend of mine in Sacramento； a man with a wooden leg； a
game eye； three fingers on his right hand； and a consumptive cough。
Being unable； naturally； to back himself； he leaves things to me。
So； for the sake of argument；〃 continued Hamlin； suddenly laying
down his cue； and fixing his wicked black eyes on the speaker； 〃say
it's ME！〃
I am afraid that this story； whether truthful or not； did not tend
to increase Peg's popularity in a community where recklessness and
generosity condoned for the absence of all the other virtues； and
it is possible； also； that Red Dog was no more free from prejudice
than other more civilized but equally disappointed matchmakers。
Likewise； during the following year； she made several more foolish
ventures； and lost heavily。 In fact； a feverish desire to increase
her store at almost any risk seemed to possess her。 At last it was
announced that she intended to reopen the infelix Rockville Hotel；
and keep it herself。
Wild as this scheme appeared in theory； when put into practical
operation there seemed to be some chance of success。 Much；
doubtless； was owing to her practical knowledge of hotel…keeping；
but more to her rigid economy and untiring industry。 The mistress
of millions； she cooked； washed； waited on table； made the beds；
and labored like a common menial。 Visitors were attracted by this
novel spectacle。 The income of the house increased as their
respect for the hostess lessened。 No anecdote of her avarice was
too extravagant for current belief。 It was even alleged that she
had been known to carry the luggage of guests to their rooms； that
she might anticipate the usual porter's gratuity。 She denied
herself the ordinary necessaries of life。 She was poorly clad； she
was ill…fedbut the hotel was making money。
A few hinted of insanity； others shook their heads； and said a
curse was entailed on the property。 It was believed； also； from
her appearance； that she could not long survive this tax on her
energies； and already there was discussion as to the probable final
disposition of her property。
It was the particular fortune of Mr。 Jack Hamlin to be able to set
the world right on this and other questions regarding her。
A stormy December evening had set in when he chanced to be a guest
of the Rockville Hotel。 He had； during the past week； been engaged
in the prosecution of his noble profession at Red Dog； and had； in
the graphic language of a coadjutor； 〃cleared out the town； except
his fare in the pockets of the stage…driver。〃 〃The Red Dog
Standard〃 had bewailed his departure in playful obituary verse；
beginning； 〃Dearest Johnny； thou hast left us；〃 wherein the rhymes
〃bereft us〃 and 〃deplore〃 carried a vague allusion to 〃a thousand
dollars more。〃 A quiet contentment naturally suffused his
personality； and he was more than usually lazy and deliberate in
his speech。 At midnight； when he was about to retire； he was a
little surprised； however； by a tap on his door； followed by the
presence of Mistress Peg Moffat； heiress； and landlady of Rockville
hotel。
Mr。 Hamlin； despite his previous defence of Peg； had no liking for
her。 His fastidious taste rejected her uncomeliness； his habits of
thought and life were all antagonistic to what he had heard of her
niggardliness and greed。 As she stood there； in a dirty calico
wrapper； still redolent with the day's cuisine； crimson with
embarrassment and the recent heat of the kitchen range； she
certainly was not an alluring apparition。 Happily for the lateness
of the hour； her loneliness； and the infelix reputation of the man
before her； she was at least a safe one。 And I fear the very
consciousness of this scarcely relieved her embarrassment。
〃I wanted to say a few words to ye alone； Mr。 Hamlin；〃 she began；
taking an unoffered seat on the end of his portmanteau； 〃or I
shouldn't hev intruded。 But it's the only time I can ketch you； or
you me； for I'm down in the kitchen from sunup till now。〃
She stopped awkwardly； as if to listen to the wind； which was
rattling the windows； and spreading a film of rain against the
opaque darkness without。 Then； smoothing her wrapper over her
knees； she remarked； as if opening a desultory conversation；
〃Thar's a power of rain outside。〃
Mr。 Hamlin's only response to this meteorological observation was a
yawn； and a preliminary tug at his coat as he began to remove it。
〃I thought ye couldn't mind doin' me a favor；〃 continued Peg； with
a hard； awkward laugh； 〃partik'ly seein' ez folks allowed you'd
sorter bin a friend o' mine； and hed stood up for me at times when
you hedn't any partikler call to do it。 I hevn't〃 she continued；
looking down on her lap； and following with her finger and thumb a
seam of her gown；〃I hevn't so many friends ez slings a kind word
for me these times that I disremember them。〃 Her under lip
quivered a little here； and； after vainly hunting for a forgotten
handkerchief； she finally lifted the hem of her gown； wiped her
snub nose upon it； but left the tears still in her eyes as she
raised them to the man； Mr。 Hamlin； who had by this time divested
himself of his coat； stopped unbuttoning his waistcoat； and looked
at her。
〃Like ez not thar'll be high water on the North Fork； ef this rain
keeps on；〃 said Peg； as if apologetically； looking toward the
window。
The other rain having ceased； Mr。 Hamlin began to unbutton his
waistcoat again。
〃I wanted to ask ye a favor about Mr。aboutJack Folinsbee；〃
began Peg again hurriedly。 〃He's ailin' agin； and is mighty low。
And he's losin' a heap o' money here and thar； and mostly to YOU。
You cleaned him out of two thousand dollars last nightall he
had。〃
〃Well？〃 said the gambler coldly。
〃Well； I thought ez you woz a friend o' mine； I'd ask ye to let up
a little on him；〃 said Peg； with an affected laugh。 〃You kin do
it。 Don't let him play with ye。〃
〃Mistress Margaret Moffat；〃 said Jack； with lazy deliberation；
taking off his watch； and beginning to wind it up； 〃ef you're that
much stuck after Jack Folinsbee； YOU kin keep him off of me much
easier than I kin。 You're a rich woman。 Give him enough money to
break my bank； or break himself for good and all； but don't keep
him forlin' round me in hopes to make a raise。 It don't pay；
Mistress Moffatit don't pay！〃
A finer nature than Peg's would have misunderstood or resented the
gambler's slang； and the miserable truths that underlaid it。 But
she comprehended him instantly； and sat hopelessly silent。
〃Ef you'll take my advice；〃 continued Jack； placing his watch and
chain under his pillow； and quietly unloosing his cravat； 〃you'll
quit this yer forlin'； marry that chap； and hand over to him the
money and the money…makin' that's killin' you。 He'll get rid of it
soon enough。 I don't say this because I expect to git it； for；
when he's got that much of a raise； he'll make a break for 'Frisco；
and lose it to some first…class sport THERE。 I don't say； neither；
that you mayn't be in luck enough to reform him。 I don't say；
neitherand it's a derned sight more likely！that you mayn't be
luckier yet； and he'll up and die afore he gits rid of your money。
But I do say you'll make him happy NOW； and； ez I reckon you're
about ez badly stuck after that chap ez I ever saw an