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services。 He glanced up； hesitated； and said：
〃However； we will omit the benediction！〃and the next instant there was
a vacancy in the atmosphere where he had stood。
After the first shock； an Oakland minister said：
〃Keep your seats！ There is no better place to die than this〃
And added； after the third：
〃But outside is good enough！〃 He then skipped out at the back door。
Such another destruction of mantel ornaments and toilet bottles as the
earthquake created； San Francisco never saw before。 There was hardly a
girl or a matron in the city but suffered losses of this kind。 Suspended
pictures were thrown down； but oftener still； by a curious freak of the
earthquake's humor； they were whirled completely around with their faces
to the wall！ There was great difference of opinion； at first； as to the
course or direction the earthquake traveled； but water that splashed out
of various tanks and buckets settled that。 Thousands of people were made
so sea…sick by the rolling and pitching of floors and streets that they
were weak and bed…ridden for hours； and some few for even days
afterward。Hardly an individual escaped nausea entirely。
The queer earthquakeepisodes that formed the staple of San Francisco
gossip for the next week would fill a much larger book than this； and so
I will diverge from the subject。
By and by； in the due course of things； I picked up a copy of the
Enterprise one day； and fell under this cruel blow：
NEVADA MINES IN NEW YORK。G。 M。 Marshall； Sheba Hurs and Amos H。
Rose； who left San Francisco last July for New York City； with ores
from mines in Pine Wood District； Humboldt County； and on the Reese
River range； have disposed of a mine containing six thousand feet
and called the Pine Mountains Consolidated； for the sum of
3；000；000。 The stamps on the deed； which is now on its way to
Humboldt County； from New York； for record； amounted to 3；000；
which is said to be the largest amount of stamps ever placed on one
document。 A working capital of 1；000；000 has been paid into the
treasury； and machinery has already been purchased for a large
quartz mill； which will be put up as soon as possible。 The stock in
this company is all full paid and entirely unassessable。 The ores
of the mines in this district somewhat resemble those of the Sheba
mine in Humboldt。 Sheba Hurst； the discoverer of the mines； with
his friends corralled all the best leads and all the land and timber
they desired before making public their whereabouts。 Ores from
there； assayed in this city； showed them to be exceedingly rich in
silver and goldsilver predominating。 There is an abundance of
wood and water in the District。 We are glad to know that New York
capital has been enlisted in the development of the mines of this
region。 Having seen the ores and assays； we are satisfied that the
mines of the District are very valuableanything but wild…cat。
Once more native imbecility had carried the day； and I had lost a
million！ It was the 〃blind lead〃 over again。
Let us not dwell on this miserable matter。 If I were inventing these
things； I could be wonderfully humorous over them； but they are too true
to be talked of with hearty levity； even at this distant day。 ＇True； and
yet not exactly as given in the above figures； possibly。 I saw Marshall；
months afterward； and although he had plenty of money he did not claim to
have captured an entire million。 In fact I gathered that he had not then
received 50；000。 Beyond that figure his fortune appeared to consist of
uncertain vast expectations rather than prodigious certainties。 However；
when the above item appeared in print I put full faith in it； and
incontinently wilted and went to seed under it。＇ Suffice it that I so
lost heart； and so yielded myself up to repinings and sighings and
foolish regrets； that I neglected my duties and became about worthless；
as a reporter for a brisk newspaper。 And at last one of the proprietors
took me aside； with a charity I still remember with considerable respect；
and gave me an opportunity to resign my berth and so save myself the
disgrace of a dismissal。
CHAPTER LIX。
For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era。 C。 H。 Webb had
established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian； but
high merit was no guaranty of success； it languished； and he sold out to
three printers； and Bret Harte became editor at 20 a week； and I was
employed to contribute an article a week at 12。 But the journal still
languished； and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden； a rich man and a
pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive
luxury without much caring about the cost of it。 When he grew tired of
the novelty； he re…sold to the printers； the paper presently died a
peaceful death； and I was out of work again。 I would not mention these
things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs
that characterize life on the Pacific coast。 A man could hardly stumble
into such a variety of queer vicissitudes in any other country。
For two months my sole occupation was avoiding acquaintances； for during
that time I did not earn a penny； or buy an article of any kind； or pay
my board。 I became a very adept at 〃slinking。〃 I slunk from back street
to back street； I slunk away from approaching faces that looked familiar；
I slunk to my meals； ate them humbly and with a mute apology for every
mouthful I robbed my generous landlady of； and at midnight； after
wanderings that were but slinkings away from cheerfulness and light； I
slunk to my bed。 I felt meaner； and lowlier and more despicable than the
worms。 During all this time I had but one piece of moneya silver ten
cent pieceand I held to it and would not spend it on any account； lest
the consciousness coming strong upon me that I was entirely penniless；
might suggest suicide。 I had pawned every thing but the clothes I had
on； so I clung to my dime desperately； till it was smooth with handling。
However； I am forgetting。 I did have one other occupation beside that of
〃slinking。〃 It was the entertaining of a collector （and being
entertained by him；） who had in his hands the Virginia banker's bill for
forty…six dollars which I had loaned my schoolmate； the 〃Prodigal。〃 This
man used to call regularly once a week and dun me； and sometimes oftener。
He did it from sheer force of habit； for he knew he could get nothing。
He would get out his bill； calculate the interest for me； at five per
cent a month； and show me clearly that there was no attempt at fraud in
it and no mistakes； and then plead； and argue and dun with all his might
for any sumany little trifleeven a dollareven half a dollar； on
account。 Then his duty was accomplished and his conscience free。 He
immediately dropped the subject there always； got out a couple of cigars
and divided； put his feet in the window； and then we would have a long；
luxurious talk about everything and everybody； and he would furnish me a
world of curious dunning adventures out of the ample store in his memory。
By and by he would clap his hat on his head； shake hands and say briskly：
〃Well； business is businesscan't stay with you always！〃and was off in
a second。
The idea of pining for a dun！ And yet I used to long for him to come；
and would get as uneasy as any mother if the day went by without his
visit； when I was expecting him。 But he never collected that bill； at
last nor any part of it。 I lived to pay it to the banker myself。
Misery loves company。 Now and then at night； in out…of…the way； dimly
lighted places； I found myself happening on another child of misfortune。
He looked so seedy and forlorn； so homeless and friendless and forsaken；
that I yearned toward him as a brother。 I wanted to claim kinship with
him and go about and enjoy our wretchedness together。 The drawing toward
each other must have been mutual； at any rate we got to falling together
oftener； though still seemingly by accident； and although we did not
speak or evince any recogni