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with lemon soda。〃
Clarence had previously resolved to take whiskey； like the others； but a
little doubtful of the politeness of countermanding his guest's order； and
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perhaps slightly embarrassed by the fact that all the other customers
seemed to have gathered round him and his party with equally immovable
faces； he said hurriedly：
〃Lemon soda for me； please。〃
〃The Commodore；〃 said the barkeeper with impassive features； as he
bent forward and wiped the counter with professional deliberation； 〃is
right。 No matter how much a man may be accustomed all his life to
liquor； when he is changing climate； gentlemen； he says 'Lemon soda for
me' all the time。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Clarence； brightening； 〃you will join too？〃
〃I shall be proud on this occasion； sir。〃
〃I think；〃 said the tall man； still as ceremoniously unbending as before；
〃that there can be but one toast here； gentlemen。 I give you the health of
the Commodore。 May his shadow never be less。〃
The health was drunk solemnly。 Clarence felt his cheeks tingle and
in his excitement drank his own health with the others。 Yet he was
disappointed that there was not more joviality； he wondered if men always
drank together so stiffly。 And it occurred to him that it would be
expensive。 Nevertheless； he had his purse all ready ostentatiously in his
hand； in fact； the paying for it out of his own money was not the least
manly and independent pleasure he had promised himself。 〃How much？〃
he asked； with an affectation of carelessness。
The barkeeper cast his eye professionally over the barroom。 〃I think
you said treats for the crowd； call it twenty dollars to make even change。〃
Clarence's heart sank。 He had heard already of the exaggeration of
California prices。 Twenty dollars！ It was half his fortune。 Nevertheless；
with an heroic effort； he controlled himself； and with slightly nervous
fingers counted out the money。 It struck him； however； as curious； not to
say ungentlemanly； that the bystanders craned their necks over his
shoulder to look at the contents of his purse； although some slight
explanation was offered by the tall man。
〃The Commodore's purse； gentlemen； is really a singular one。 Permit
me；〃 he said； taking it from Clarence's hand with great politeness。 〃It is
one of the new pattern； you observe； quite worthy of inspection。〃 He
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handed it to a man behind him； who in turn handed it to another； while a
chorus of 〃suthin quite new；〃 〃the latest style；〃 followed it in its passage
round the room； and indicated to Clarence its whereabouts。 It was
presently handed back to the barkeeper； who had begged also to inspect it；
and who； with an air of scrupulous ceremony insisted upon placing it
himself in Clarence's side pocket； as if it were an important part of his
function。 The driver here called 〃all aboard。〃 The passengers hurriedly
reseated themselves； and the episode abruptly ended。 For； to Clarence's
surprise； these attentive friends of a moment ago at once became interested
in the views of a new passenger concerning the local politics of San
Francisco； and he found himself utterly forgotten。 The bonnetless
woman had changed her position； and her head was no longer visible。
The disillusion and depression that overcame him suddenly were as
complete as his previous expectations and hopefulness had been
extravagant。 For the first time his utter unimportance in the world and
his inadequacy to this new life around him came upon him crushingly。
The heat and jolting of the stage caused him to fall into a slight
slumber and when he awoke he found his two neighbors had just got out at
a wayside station。 They had evidently not cared to waken him to say
〃Good…by。〃 From the conversation of the other passengers he learned
that the tall man was a well…known gambler； and the one who looked like a
farmer was a ship captain who had become a wealthy merchant。
Clarence thought he understood now why the latter had asked him if he
came off a voyage； and that the nickname of 〃Commodore〃 given to him；
Clarence； was some joke intended for the captain's understanding。 He
missed them； for he wanted to talk to them about his relative at
Sacramento； whom he was now so soon to see。 At last； between sleeping
and waking； the end of his journey was unexpectedly reached。 It was
dark； but； being 〃steamer night；〃 the shops and business places were still
open； and Mr。 Peyton had arranged that the stage…driver should deliver
Clarence at the address of his relative in 〃J Street；〃an address which
Clarence had luckily remembered。 But the boy was somewhat
discomfited to find that it was a large office or banking… house。 He；
however； descended from the stage； and with his small pack in his hand
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entered the building as the stage drove off； and； addressing one of the busy
clerks； asked for 〃Mr。 Jackson Brant。〃
There was no such person in the office。 There never had been any
such person。 The bank had always occupied that building。 Was there
not some mistake in the number？ No； the name； number； and street had
been deeply engrafted in the boy's recollection。 Stop！ it might be the
name of a customer who had given his address at the bank。 The clerk
who made this suggestion disappeared promptly to make inquiries in the
counting…room。 Clarence； with a rapidly beating heart； awaited him。
The clerk returned。 There was no such name on