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your hesitation proceeds from any doubt as to the propriety of your attire； I
beg you to dismiss it from your mind at once。 The tyranny of custom； it
is true； compels your friend and myself to dress peculiarly； but I assure
you nothing could be finer than the way that the olive green of your coat
melts in the delicate yellow of your cravat； or the pearl gray of your
trousers blends with the bright blue of your waistcoat； and lends additional
brilliancy to that massive oroide watch…chain which you wear。〃
To my surprise； the Man from Solano did not strike him。 He looked
at the ironical Dashboard with grave earnestness； and then said quietly：
〃Then I reckon you wouldn't mind showin' me in thar？〃
Dashboard was； I admit； a little staggered at this。 But he recovered
himself； and； bowing ironically； led the way to the box。 I followed him and
the Man from Solano。
Now； the belle in question happened to be a gentlewomandescended
from gentlewomenand after Dashboard's ironical introduction； in which
the Man from Solano was not spared； she comprehended the situation
instantly。 To Dashboard's surprise she drew a chair to her side； made the
Man from Solano sit down； quietly turned her back on Dashboard； and in
full view of the brilliant audience and the focus of a hundred lorgnettes；
entered into conversation with him。
Here； for the sake of romance； I should like to say he became animated；
and exhibited some trait of excellence；some rare wit or solid sense。 But
the fact is he was dull and stupid to the last degree。 He persisted in
keeping the conversation upon the subject of the lost baggage…checks； and
every bright attempt of the lady to divert him failed signally。 At last； to
everybody's relief； he rose； and leaning over her chair； said：
〃I calklate to stop over here some time； miss； and you and me bein'
sorter strangers here； maybe when there's any show like this goin' on you'll
let me〃
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Miss X。 said somewhat hastily that the multiplicity of her engagements
and the brief limit of her stay in New York she feared would； etc。； etc。
The two other ladies had their handkerchiefs over their mouths； and were
staring intently on the stage； when the Man from Solano continued：
〃Then； maybe； miss； whenever there is a show goin' on that you'll
attend； you'll just drop me word to Earle's Hotel； to this yer address；〃 and
he pulled from his pocket a dozen well…worn letters； and taking the buff
envelope from one； handed it to her with something like a bow。
〃Certainly；〃 broke in the facetious Dashboard； 〃Miss X。 goes to the
Charity Ball to…morrow night。 The tickets are but a trifle to an opulent
Californian； and a man of your evident means； and the object a worthy one。
You will； no doubt； easily secure an invitation。〃
Miss X。 raised her handsome eyes for a moment to Dashboard。 〃By
all means；〃 she said； turning to the Man from Solano； 〃and as Mr。
Dashboard is one of the managers and you are a stranger； he will； of
course； send you a complimentary ticket。 I have known Mr。 Dashboard
long enough to know that he is invariably courteous to strangers and a
gentleman。〃 She settled herself in her chair again and fixed her eyes
upon the stage。
The Man from Solano thanked the Man of New York； and then； after
shaking hands with every body in the box； turned to go。 When he had
reached the door he looked back to Miss X。； and said；
〃It WAS one of the queerest things in the world； miss； that my findin'
them checks〃
But the curtain had just then risen on the garden scene in 〃Faust；〃 and
Miss X。 was absorbed。 The Man from Solano carefully shut the box door
and retired。 I followed him。
He was silent until he reached the lobby； and then he said； as if
renewing a previous conversation； 〃She IS a mighty peart gal that's so。
She's just my kind； and will make a stavin' good wife。〃
I thought I saw danger ahead for the Man from Solano； so I hastened
to tell him that she was beset by attentions； that she could have her pick
and choice of the best of society； and finally； that she was； most probably；
engaged to Dashboard。
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〃That's so；〃 he said quietly； without the slightest trace of feeling。 〃It
would be mighty queer if she wasn't。 But I reckon I'll steer down to the
ho…tel。 I don't care much for this yellin'。〃 （He was alluding to a
cadenza of that famous cantatrice； Signora Batti Batti。） 〃What's the
time？〃
He pulled out his watch。 It was such a glaring chain； so obviously
bogus； that my eyes were fascinated by it。 〃You're looking at that
watch；〃 he said； 〃it's purty to look at； but she don't go worth a cent。 And
yet her price was 125； gold。 I gobbled her up in Chatham Street day
before yesterday； where they were selling 'em very cheap at auction。〃
〃You have been outrageously swindled；〃 I said； indignantly。 〃Watch
and chain are not worth twenty dollars。〃
〃Are they worth fifteen？〃 he asked； gravely。
〃Possibly。〃
〃Then I reckon it's a fair trade。 Ye see； I told 'em I was a Californian
from Solano； and hadn't anything about me of greenbacks。 I had three
slugs with me。 Ye remember them slugs？〃 （I did； the 〃slug〃 was a
〃token〃 issued in the early daysa hexagonal piece of gold a little over
twice the size of a twenty… dollar gold pieceworth and accepted for fifty
dollars。）
〃Well； I handed them that； and they handed me the watch。 You see
them slugs I had made myself outer brass filings and iron pyrites； and used
to slap 'em down on the boys for a bluff in a game of draw poker。 You
see； not being reg'lar gov…ment money； it wasn't counterfeiting。 I reckon
they cost me； counting time and anxiety； about fifteen dollars。 So； if this
yer watch is worth that； it's about a square game； ain't it？〃
I began to understand the Man from Solano； and said it was。 He
returned his watch to his pocket； toyed playfully with the chain； and
remarked； 〃Kinder makes a man look fash'nable and wealthy； don't it？〃
I agreed with him。 〃But what do you intend to do here？〃 I asked。
〃Well； I've got a cash capital of nigh on seven hundred dollars。 I
guess until I get into reg'lar business I'll skirmish round Wall Street； and
sorter lay low。〃 I was about to give him a few words of warning； but I
remembered his watch； and desisted。 We shook hands and parted。
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A few days after I met him on Broadway。 He was attired in another
new suit； but I think I saw a slight improvement in his general appearance。
Only five distinct colors were visible in his attire。 But this； I had reason