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walking out with the Sisters and the other scholars； and she didn't
know methough one of the Sisters did。 But they're mumTHEY are；
and don't let on。 Why； now I think of it； YOU were down there；
Jack； presiding in big style as Mr。 Mayor at the exercises。 You
must have noticed her。 Little thing； about ninelot of hair； the
same color as mine； and brown eyes。 White and yellow sash。 Had a
necklace on of real pearls I gave her。 I BOUGHT THEM； you
understand； myself at Tucker'sgave two hundred and fifty dollars
for themand a big bouquet of white rosebuds and lilacs I sent
her。〃
〃I remember her now on the platform；〃 said the Mayor gravely。 〃So
that is your child？〃
〃You betno slouch either。 But that's neither here nor there。
What I want now is you and Harry to look after her and her property
the same as if I didn't live。 More than that； as if I had NEVER
LIVED。 I've come to you two boys； because I reckon you're square
men and won't give me away。 But I want to fix it even firmer than
that。 I want you to take hold of this trust not as Jack
Hammersley； but as the MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO！ And when you make
way for a new Mayor； HE takes up the trust by virtue of his office；
you see； so there's a trustee all along。 I reckon there'll always
be a San Francisco and always a Mayorat least till the child's of
age； and it gives her from the start a father； and a pretty big one
too。 Of course the new man isn't to know the why and wherefore of
this。 It's enough for him to take on that duty with his others；
without asking questions。 And he's only got to invest that money
and pay it out as it's wanted； and consult Harry at times。〃
The two men looked at each other with approving intelligence。 〃But
have you thought of a successor for ME； in case somebody shoots me
on sight any time in the next ten years？〃 asked Pendleton； with a
gravity equal to her own。
〃I reckon； as you're President of the El Dorado Bank； you'll make
that a part of every president's duty too。 You'll get the
directors to agree to it； just as Jack here will get the Common
Council to make it the Mayor's business。〃
The two men had risen to their feet； and； after exchanging glances；
gazed at her silently。 Presently the Mayor said：
〃It can be done； Kate； and we'll do it for youeh； Harry？〃
〃Count me in；〃 said Pendleton； nodding。 〃But you'll want a third
man。〃
〃What's that for？〃
〃The casting vote in case of any difficulty。〃
The woman's face fell。 〃I reckoned to keep it a secret with only
you two；〃 she said half bitterly。
〃No matter。 We'll find some one to act； or you'll think of
somebody and let us know。〃
〃But I wanted to finish this thing right here；〃 she said
impatiently。 She was silent for a moment； with her arched black
brows knitted。 Then she said abruptly； 〃Who's that smart little
chap that let me in？ He looks as if he might be trusted。〃
〃That's Paul Hathaway； my secretary。 He's sensible； but too young。
Stop！ I don't know about that。 There's no legal age necessary； and
he's got an awfully old head on him；〃 said the Mayor thoughtfully。
〃And I say his youth's in his favor；〃 said Colonel Pendleton；
promptly。 〃He's been brought up in San Francisco； and he's got no
dd old…fashioned Eastern notions to get rid of； and will drop
into this as a matter of business； without prying about or
wondering。 I'LL serve with him。〃
〃Call him in！〃 said the woman。
He came。 Very luminous of eye； and composed of lip and brow。 Yet
with the same suggestion of 〃making believe〃 very much； as if to
offset the possible munching of forbidden cakes and apples in his
own room； or the hidden presence of some still in his pocket。
The Mayor explained the case briefly； but with business…like
precision。 〃Your duty； Mr。 Hathaway；〃 he concluded； 〃at present
will be merely nominal and； above all； confidential。 Colonel
Pendleton and myself will set the thing going。〃 As the youthwho
had apparently taken in and 〃illuminated〃 the whole subject with a
single bright…eyed glancebowed and was about to retire； as if to
relieve himself of his real feelings behind the door； the woman
stopped him with a gesture。
〃Let's have this thing over now；〃 she said to the Mayor。 〃You draw
up something that we can all sign at once。〃 She fixed her eyes on
Paul； partly to satisfy her curiosity and justify her predilection
for him； and partly to detect him in any overt act of boyishness。
But the youth simply returned her glance with a cheerful； easy
prescience； as if her past lay clearly open before him。 For some
minutes there was only the rapid scratching of the Mayor's pen over
the paper。 Suddenly he stopped and looked up。
〃What's her name？〃
〃She mustn't have mine； said the woman quickly。 〃That's a part of
my idea。 I give that up with the rest。 She must take a new name
that gives no hint of me。 Think of one； can't you； you two men？
Something that would kind of show that she was the daughter of the
city； you know。〃
〃You couldn't call her 'Santa Francisca；' eh？〃 said Colonel
Pendleton； doubtingly。
〃Not much；〃 said the woman； with a seriousness that defied any
ulterior insinuation。
〃Nor Chrysopolinia？〃 said the Mayor； musingly。
〃But that's only a FIRST name。 She must have a family name；〃 said
the woman impatiently。
〃Can YOU think of something； Paul？〃 said the Mayor； appealing to
Hathaway。 〃You're a great reader； and later from your classics
than I am。〃 The Mayor； albeit practical and Western； liked to be
ostentatiously forgetful of his old Alma Mater； Harvard； on
occasions。
〃How would YERBA BUENA do； sir？〃 responded the youth gravely。
〃It's the old Spanish title of the first settlement here。 It comes
from the name that Father Junipero Serra gave to the pretty little
vine that grows wild over the sandhills； and means 'good herb。' He
called it 'A balm for the wounded and sore。'〃
〃For the wounded and sore？〃 repeated the woman slowly。
〃That's what they say；〃 responded Hathaway。
〃You ain't playing us； eh？〃 she said； with a half laugh that；
however； scarcely curved the open mouth with which she had been
regarding the young secretary。
〃No；〃 said the Mayor； hurriedly。 〃It's true。 I've often heard it。
And a capital name it would be for her too。 YERBA the first name。
BUENA the second。 She could be called Miss Buena when she grows
up。〃
〃Yerba Buena it is；〃 she said suddenly。 Then； indicating the youth
with a slight toss of her handsome head； 〃His head's levelyou can
see that。〃
There was a silence again； and the scratching of the Mayor's pen
continued。 Colonel Pendleton buttoned up his coat； pulled his long
moustache into shape； slightly arranged his collar； and walked to
the window without looking at the woman。 Presently the Mayor arose
from his seat； and； with a certain formal courtesy that had been
wanting in his previous manner； handed her his pen and arranged his
chair for her at the desk。 She took the pen； and rapidly appended
her signature to the paper。 The others followed； and； obedient to
a sign from him； the porter was summoned from the outer office to
witness the signatures。 When this was over； the Mayor turned to
his secretary。 〃That's all just now； Paul。〃
Accepting this implied dismissal with undisturbed gravity； the
newly made youthful guardian bowed and retired。 When the green
baize door had closed upon him； the Mayor turned abruptly to the
woman with the paper in his hand。
〃Look here； Kate； there is still time for you to reconsider your
action； and tear up this solitary record of it。 If you choose to
do so； say so； and I promise you that this interview； and all you
have told us； shall never pass beyond these walls。 No one will be
the wiser for it； and we will give you full credit for having
attempted something that was too much for you to perform。〃
She had half risen from her chair when he began； but fell back
again in her former position and looked impatiently from him to his
companion； who was also regarding her earnestly。
〃What are you talking about？〃 she said sharply。
〃YOU； Kate；〃 said the Mayor。 〃You have given everything you
possess to this child。 What provision have you made for