Bob Hampton of Placer

"Well, there has"; and Moffat forgot his natural caution in a sudden

excess of anger. "No invitations was sent them fellers. Do you mean

to say they come in through the roof?"

Mason straightened up, his face darkening, his clinched fist thrashing

the air just in front of Moffat's nose.

"I say they come in yere, right through this door! An' every mother's

son of 'em, hed a cyard. I know what I 'm a-talkin' about, you

miserable third-class idiot, an' if you give me any more of your lip I

'll paste you good an' proper. Go back thar whar you belong, an' tind

to your part of this fandango; I'm a runnin' mine."

Moffat hesitated, his brow black as a thunder cloud, but the crowd was

manifestly growing restless over the delay, calling "Time!" and "Play

ball!" and stamping their feet. Besides, Buck was never known to be

averse to a quarrel, and Moffat's bump of caution was well developed.

He went back, nursing his wrath and cursing silently. The crowd

greeted his reappearance with prolonged applause, and some of the

former consciousness of victory returned. He glanced down into the

questioning eyes of Miss Spencer, cleared his throat, then grasped her

hand, and, as they stood there together, all his confidence came

surging back.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of Glencaid," he began gracefully, "as president

of the Bachelor Miners' Pleasure Club, it affords me extreme

gratification to welcome you to this the most important social event

ever pulled off in this Territory. It's going to be a swell affair

from the crack of the starter's pistol to the last post, and you can

bet on getting your money's worth every time. That's the sort of

hairpins we are--all wool and a yard wide. Now, ladies and gents,

while it is not designed that the pleasure of this evening be marred by

any special formalities, any such unnatural restrictions as disfigure

such functions in the effete East [applause], and while I am only too

anxious to exclaim with the poet, 'On with the dance, let joy be

unconfined' [great applause], yet it must be remembered that this

high-toned outfit has been got up for a special, definite purpose, as a

fit welcome to one who has come among us with the high and holy object

of instructing our offspring and elevating the educational ideals of

this community. We, of this Bachelors' Club, may possess no offspring

to instruct, but we sympathize with them others who have, and desire to

show our interest in the work. We have here with us to-night one of

the loveliest of her sex, a flower of refinement and culture plucked

from the Eastern hills, who, at the stern call of duty, has left her

home and friends to devote her talents to this labor of love. In her

honor we meet, in her honor this room has been decorated with the

colors of our beloved country, and to her honor we now dedicate the

fleeting hours of this festal night. It is impossible for her to greet

you all personally, much as she wishes to do so, but as president of

the Bachelor Miners' Pleasure Club, and also," with a deep bow to his

blushing and embarrassed companion, "I may venture to add, as an

intimate friend of our fair guest, I now introduce to you Glencaid's

new schoolmistress--Miss Phoebe Spencer. Hip! Hip! Hurrah!"