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questions asked。 Don't you mind now； I'll see you through。〃
It was necessary here to make some stand against my strange
companion。 I said firmly； yet as politely as I could； that I had proposed
stopping over night with a friend。
〃Whar？〃
I hesitated。 The friend was an eccentric Eastern man； well known in
the locality for his fastidiousness and his habits as a recluse。 A
misanthrope； of ample family and ample means； he had chosen a secluded
but picturesque valley in the Sierras where he could rail against the world
without opposition。 〃Lone Valley；〃 or 〃Boston Ranch；〃 as it was
familiarly called； was the one spot that the average miner both respected
and feared。 Mr。 Sylvester； its proprietor； had never affiliated with 〃the
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boys；〃 nor had he ever lost their respect by any active opposition to their
ideas。 If seclusion had been his object； he certainly was gratified。
Nevertheless； in the darkening shadows of the night； and on a lonely and
unknown trail； I hesitated a little at repeating his name to a stranger of
whom I knew so little。 But my mysterious companion took the matter
out of my hands。
〃Look yar；〃 he said； suddenly； 〃thar ain't but one place twixt yer and
Indian Spring whar ye can stop； and that is Sylvester's。〃
I assented； a little sullenly。
〃Well；〃 said the stranger； quietly； and with a slight suggestion of
conferring a favor on me； 〃ef yer pointed for Sylvester'swhyI DON'T
MIND STOPPING THAR WITH YE。 It's a little off the roadI'll lose
some timebut taking it by and large； I don't much mind。〃
I stated； as rapidly and as strongly as I could； that my acquaintance
with Mr。 Sylvester did not justify the introduction of a stranger to his
hospitality； that he was unlike most of the people here；in short； that he
was a queer man； etc。； etc。
To my surprise my companion answered quietly： 〃Oh； that's all right。
I've heerd of him。 Ef you don't feel like checking me through； or if you'd
rather put 'C。 O。 D。' on my back； why it's all the same to me。 I'll play it
alone。 Only you just count me in。 Say 'Sylvester' all the time。 That's
me！〃
What could I oppose to this man's quiet assurance？ I felt myself
growing red with anger and nervous with embarrassment。 What would
the correct Sylvester say to me？ What would the girls；I was a young
man then； and had won an entree to their domestic circle by my reserve；
known by a less complimentary adjective among 〃the boys；〃what would
they say to my new acquaintance？ Yet I certainly could not object to his
assuming all risks on his own personal recognizances； nor could I resist a
certain feeling of shame at my embarrassment。
We were beginning to descend。 In the distance below us already
twinkled the lights in the solitary rancho of Lone Valley。 I turned to my
companion。 〃But you have forgotten that I don't even know your name。
What am I to call you？〃
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〃That's so；〃 he said； musingly。 〃Now； let's see。 'Kearney' would be
a good name。 It's short and easy like。 Thar's a street in 'Frisco the same
title； Kearney it is。〃
〃But〃 I began impatiently。
〃Now you leave all that to me；〃 he interrupted； with a superb self…
confidence that I could not but admire。 〃The name ain't no account。 It's
the man that's responsible。 Ef I was to lay for a man that I reckoned was
named Jones； and after I fetched him I found out on the inquest that his
real name was Smith； that wouldn't make no matter； as long as I got the
man。〃
The illustration； forcible as it was； did not strike me as offering a
prepossessing introduction； but we were already at the rancho。 The
barking of dogs brought Sylvester to the door of the pretty little cottage
which his taste had adorned。
I briefly introduced Mr。 Kearney。 〃Kearney will doKearney's good
enough for me；〃 commented the soi…disant Kearney half…aloud； to my own
horror and Sylvester's evident mystification； and then he blandly excused
himself for a moment that he might personally supervise the care of his
own beast。 When he was out of ear…shot I drew the puzzled Sylvester
aside。
〃I have picked upI mean I have been picked up on the road by a
gentle maniac； whose name is not Kearney。 He is well armed and quotes
Dickens。 With care； acquiescence in his views on all subjects； and
general submission to his commands； he may be placated。 Doubtless the
spectacle of your helpless family； the contemplation of your daughter's
beauty and innocence； may touch his fine sense of humor and pathos。
Meanwhile； Heaven help you； and forgive me。〃
I ran upstairs to the little den that my hospitable host had kept always
reserved for me in my wanderings。 I lingered some time over my
ablutions； hearing the languid； gentlemanly drawl of Sylvester below；
mingled with the equally cool； easy slang of my mysterious acquaintance。
When I came down to the sitting…room I was surprised； however； to find
the self…styled Kearney quietly seated on the sofa； the gentle May
Sylvester； the 〃Lily of Lone Valley；〃 sitting with maidenly awe and
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unaffected interest on one side of him； while on the other that arrant flirt；
her cousin Kate； was practicing the pitiless archery of her eyes； with an
excitement that seemed almost real。
〃Who is your deliciously cool friend？〃 she managed to whisper to me
at supper； as I sat utterly dazed and bewildered between the enrapt May
Sylvester； who seemed to hang upon his words； and this giddy girl of the
period； who was emptying the battery of her charms in active rivalry upon
him。 〃Of course we know his name isn't Kearney。 But how romantic！
And isn't he perfectly lovely？ And who is he？〃
I replied with severe irony that I was not aware what foreign potentate
was then traveling incognito in the Sierras of California； but that when his
royal highness was pleased to inform me； I should be glad to introduce
him properly。 〃Until then；〃 I added； 〃I fear the acquaintance must be
Morganatic。〃
〃You're only jealous of him；〃 she said pertly。 〃Look at Mayshe is
completely fascinated。 And her father； too。〃 And actually； the languid；
world…sick； cynical Sylvester was regarding him with a boyish interest and
enthusiasm almost incompatible with his nature。 Yet I submit honestly to
the clear…headed reason of my own sex； that I could see nothing more in
the man than I have already delivered to the reader。
In the middle of an exciting story of adventure； of which he； to the
already prejudiced mind of his fair auditors； was evi