Justlookmeintheeye，andyou-all’llsavveeImeanbusiness。Themstubsandreceiptsonthetableisallyourn。Goodday。”
Asthedoorshutbehindhim，NathanielLettonsprangforthetelephone，andDowsettinterceptedhim。”Whatareyougoingtodo？”Dowsettdemanded。”Thepolice。It’sdownrightrobbery。Iwon’tstandit。ItellyouI
won’tstandit。”
Dowsettsmiledgrimly，butatthesametimeboretheslenderfinancierbackanddownintohischair。”We’lltalkitover，”hesaid；andinLeonGuggenhammerhefoundananxiousally。
Andnothingevercameofit。Thethingremainedasecretwiththethreemen。NordidDaylightevergivethesecretaway，thoughthatafternoon，leaningbackinhisstateroomontheTwentiethCentury，hisshoesoff，andfeetonachair，hechuckledlongandheartily。NewYorkremainedforeverpuzzledovertheaffair；norcouldithituponarationalexplanation。
Byallrights，BurningDaylightshouldhavegonebroke，yetitwasknownthatheimmediatelyreappearedinSanFranciscopossessinganapparentlyunimpairedcapital。Thiswasevidencedbythemagnitudeoftheenterprisesheengagedin，suchas，forinstance，PanamaMail，bysheerweightofmoneyandfightingpowerwrestingthecontrolawayfromShiftilyandsellingoutintwomonthstotheHarrimaninterestsatarumoredenormousadvance。BurningDaylight:PartII:ChapterVPartIIChapterVBackinSanFrancisco，DaylightquicklyaddedtohisreputationInwaysitwasnotanenviablereputation。Menwereafraidofhim。Hebecameknownasafighter，afiend，atiger。Hisplaywasarippingandsmashingone，andnooneknewwhereorhowhisnextblowwouldfall。Theelementofsurprisewaslarge。Hebalkedontheunexpected，and，freshfromthewildNorth，hismindnotoperatinginstereotypedchannels，hewasableinunusualdegreetodevisenewtricksandstratagems。Andoncehewontheadvantage，hepresseditremorselessly。”AsrelentlessasaRedIndian，”
wassaidofhim，anditwassaidtruly。
Ontheotherhand，hewasknownas”square。”Hiswordwasasgoodashisbond，andthisdespitethefactthatheacceptednobody’sword。Healwaysshiedatpropositionsbasedongentlemen’sagreements，andamanwhoventuredhishonorasagentleman，indealingwithDaylight，inevitablywastreatedtoanunpleasanttime。Daylightnevergavehisownwordunlessheheldthewhip-hand。Itwasacasewiththeotherfellowtakingitornothing。
LegitimateinvestmenthadnoplaceinDaylight’splay。Ittieduphismoney，andreducedtheelementofrisk。Itwasthegamblingsideofbusinessthatfascinatedhim，andtoplayinhisslashingmannerrequiredthathismoneymustbereadytohand。Itwasnevertiedupsaveforshortintervals，forhewasprincipallyengagedinturningitoverandover，raidinghere，there，andeverywhere，averitablepirateofthefinancialmain。Afive-percentsafeinvestmenthadnoattractionforhim；buttoriskmillionsinsharp，harshskirmish，standingtoloseeverythingortowinfiftyorahundredpercent，wasthesavoroflifetohim。Heplayedaccordingtotherulesofthegame，butheplayedmercilessly。Whenhegotamanoracorporationdownandtheysquealed，hegougednolesshard。Appealsforfinancialmercyfellondeafears。Hewasafreelance，andhadnofriendlybusinessassociations。Suchalliancesaswereformedfromtimetotimewerepurelyaffairsofexpediency，andheregardedhisalliesasmenwhowouldgivehimthedouble-crossorruinhimifaprofitablechancepresented。
Inspiteofthispointofview，hewasfaithfultohisallies。Buthewasfaithfuljustaslongastheywereandnolonger。Thetreasonhadtocomefromthem，andthenitwas’WareDaylight。
ThebusinessmenandfinanciersofthePacificcoastneverforgotthelessonofCharlesKlinknerandtheCalifornia&；AltamontTrustCompany。
Klinknerwasthepresident。InpartnershipwithDaylight，thepairraidedtheSanJoseInterurban。ThepowerfulLakePower&；ElectricLightingcorporationcametotherescue，andKlinkner，seeingwhathethoughtwastheopportunity，wentovertotheenemyinthethickofthepitchedbattle。
Daylightlostthreemillionsbeforehewasdonewithit，andbeforehewasdonewithithesawtheCalifornia&；AltamontTrustCompanyhopelesslywrecked，andCharlesKlinknerasuicideinafelon’scell。NotonlydidDaylightlosehisgriponSanJoseInterurban，butinthecrashofhisbattlefronthelostheavilyallalongtheline。Itwasconcededbythosecompetenttojudgethathecouldhavecompromisedandsavedmuch。But，instead，hedeliberatelythrewupthebattlewithSanJoseInterurbanandLakePower，and，apparentlydefeated，withNapoleonicsuddennessstruckatKlinkner。ItwasthelastunexpectedthingKlinknerwouldhavedreamedof，andDaylightknewit。Heknew，further，thattheCalifornia&；AltamontTrustCompanyhasanintrinsicallysoundinstitution，butthatjustthenitwasinaprecariousconditionduetoKlinkner’sspeculationswithitsmoney。Heknew，also，thatinafewmonthstheTrustCompanywouldbemorefirmlyonitsfeetthanever，thankstothosesamespeculations，andthatifheweretostrikehemuststrikeimmediately。”It’sjustthatmuchmoneyinpocketandawholelotmore，”hewasreportedtohavesaidinconnectionwithhisheavylosses。”It’sjustsomuchinsuranceagainstthefuture。
Henceforth，menwhogoinwithmeondealswillthinktwicebeforetheytrytodouble-crossme，andthensome。”
Thereasonforhissavagenesswasthathedespisedthemenwithwhomheplayed。Hehadaconvictionthatnotoneinahundredofthemwasintrinsicallysquare；andasforthesquareones，heprophesiedthat，playinginacrookedgame，theyweresuretoloseandinthelongrungobroke。HisNewYorkexperiencehadopenedhiseyes。Hetoretheveilsofillusionfromthebusinessgame，andsawitsnakedness。Hegeneralizeduponindustryandsocietysomewhatasfollows:——
Society，asorganized，wasavastbuncogame。Thereweremanyhereditaryinefficients——menandwomenwhowerenotweakenoughtobeconfinedinfeeble-mindedhomes，butwhowerenotstrongenoughtobeoughtelsethanhewersofwoodanddrawersofwater。
Thentherewerethefoolswhotooktheorganizedbuncogameseriously，honoringandrespectingit。Theywereeasygamefortheothers，whosawclearlyandknewthebuncogameforwhatitwas。
Work，legitimatework，wasthesourceofallwealth。Thatwastosay，whetheritwasasackofpotatoes，agrandpiano，oraseven-passengertouringcar，itcameintobeingonlybytheperformanceofwork。Wherethebuncocameinwasinthedistributionofthesethingsafterlaborhadcreatedthem。Hefailedtoseethehorny-handedsonsoftoilenjoyinggrandpianosorridinginautomobiles。Howthiscameaboutwasexplainedbythebunco。Bytensofthousandsandhundredsofthousandsmensatupnightsandschemedhowtheycouldgetbetweentheworkersandthethingstheworkersproduced。Theseschemerswerethebusinessmen。Whentheygotbetweentheworkerandhisproduct，theytookawhackoutofitforthemselvesThesizeofthewhackwasdeterminedbynoruleofequity；butbytheirownstrengthandswinishness。Itwasalwaysacaseof”allthetrafficcanbear。”Hesawallmeninthebusinessgamedoingthis。
Oneday，inamellowmoodinducedbyastringofcocktailsandaheartylunch，hestartedaconversationwithJones，theelevatorboy。Joneswasaslender，mop-headed，man-grown，truculentflameofanindividualwhoseemedtogooutofhiswaytoinsulthispassengers。ItwasthisthatattractedDaylight’sinterest，andhewasnotlonginfindingoutwhatwasthematterwithJones。Hewasaproletarian，accordingtohisownaggressiveclassification，andhehadwantedtowriteforaliving。Failingtowinwiththemagazines，andcompelledtofindhimselfinfoodandshelter，hehadgonetothelittlevalleyofPetacha，notahundredmilesfromLosAngeles。Here，toilingintheday-time，heplannedtowriteandstudyatnight。Buttherailroadchargedallthetrafficwouldbear。Petachawasadesertvalley，andproducedonlythreethings:cattle，fire-wood，andcharcoal。ForfreighttoLosAngelesonacarloadofcattletherailroadchargedeightdollars。This，Jonesexplained，wasduetothefactthatthecattlehadlegsandcouldbedriventoLosAngelesatacostequivalenttothechargepercarload。Butfirewoodhadnolegs，andtherailroadchargedjustpreciselytwenty-fourdollarsacarload。
Thiswasafineadjustment，forbyworkinghammer-and-tongsthroughatwelve-hourday，afterfreighthadbeendeductedfromthesellingpriceofthewoodinLosAngeles，thewood-chopperreceivedonedollarandsixtycents。Joneshadthoughttogetaheadofthegamebyturninghiswoodintocharcoa。Hisestimatesweresatisfactory。Buttherailroadalsomadeestimates。
Itissuedarateofforty-twodollarsacaroncharcoal。Attheendofthreemonths，Joneswentoverhisfigures，andfoundthathewasstillmakingonedollarandsixtycentsaday。”SoIquit，”Jonesconcluded。”Iwenthobblingforayear，andIgotbackattherailroads。Leavingoutthelittlethings，IcameacrosstheSierrasinthesummerandtouchedamatchtothesnow-sheds。Theyonlyhadalittlethirty-thousand-dollarfire。
IguessthatsquaredupallbalancesdueonPetacha。””Son，ain’tyouafraidtobeturningloosesuchinformation？”Daylightgravelydemanded。”Notonyourlife，”quothJones。”Theycan’tproveit。YoucouldsayIsaidso，andIcouldsayIdidn’tsayso，andahellofalotthatevidencewouldamounttowithajury。”
Daylightwentintohisofficeandmeditatedawhile。Thatwasit:
allthetrafficwouldbear。Fromtoptobottom，thatwastheruleofthegame；andwhatkeptthegamegoingwasthefactthatasuckerwasborneveryminute。IfaJoneswereborneveryminute，thegamewouldn’tlastverylong。Luckyfortheplayersthattheworkersweren’tJoneses。
Buttherewereotherandlargerphasesofthegame。Littlebusinessmen，shopkeepers，andsuchilktookwhatwhacktheycouldoutoftheproductoftheworker；but，afterall，itwasthelargebusinessmenwhoformedtheworkersthroughthelittlebusinessmen。Whenallwassaidanddone，thelatter，likeJonesinPetachaValley，gotnomorethanwagesoutoftheirwhack。Intruth，theywerehiredmenforthelargebusinessmen。
Stillagain，higherup，werethebigfellows。Theyusedvastandcomplicatedparaphernaliaforthepurpose，onalargescaleofgettingbetweenhundredsofthousandsofworkersandtheirproducts。Thesemenwerenotsomuchmererobbersasgamblers。And，notcontentwiththeirdirectwinnings，beingessentiallygamblers，theyraidedoneanother。TheycalledthisfeatureofthegameHIGHFINANCE。Theywereallengagedprimarilyinrobbingtheworker，buteverylittlewhiletheyformedcombinationsandrobbedoneanotheroftheaccumulatedloot。Thisexplainedthefifty-thousand-dollarraidonhimbyHoldsworthyandtheten-million-dollarraidonhimbyDowsett，Letton，andGuggenhammer。AndwhenheraidedPanamaMailhehaddoneexactlythesamething。Well，heconcluded，itwasfinersportrobbingtherobbersthanrobbingthepoorstupidworkers。
Thus，allunreadinphilosophy，Daylightpreemptedforhimselfthepositionandvocationofatwentieth-centurysuperman。Hefound，withrareandmythicalexceptions，thattherewasnonoblesseobligeamongthebusinessandfinancialsupermen。Asaclevertravelerhadannouncedinanafter-dinnerspeechattheAlta-Pacific，”Therewashonoramongstthieves，andthiswaswhatdistinguishedthievesfromhonestmen。”Thatwasit。Ithitthenailonthehead。Thesemodernsupermenwerealotofsordidbandittiwhohadthesuccessfuleffronterytopreachacodeofrightandwrongtotheirvictimswhichtheythemselvesdidnotpractise。Withthem，aman’swordwasgoodjustaslongashewascompelledtokeepit。THOUSHALTNOTSTEALwasonlyapplicabletothehonestworker。They，thesupermen，wereabovesuchcommandments。
Theycertainlystoleandwerehonoredbytheirfellowsaccordingtothemagnitudeoftheirstealings。
ThemoreDaylightplayedthegame，theclearerthesituationgrew。Despitethefactthateveryrobberwaskeentorobeveryotherrobber，thebandwaswellorganized。Itpracticallycontrolledthepoliticalmachineryofsociety，fromthewardpoliticianuptotheSenateoftheUnitedStates。
Itpassedlawsthatgaveitprivilegetorob。Itenforcedtheselawsbymeansofthepolice，themarshals，themilitiaandregulararmy，andthecourts。Anditwasasnap。Asuperman’schiefestdangerwashisfellow-superman。
Thegreatstupidmassofthepeopledidnotcount。Theywereconstitutedofsuchinferiorclaythattheveriestchicaneryfooledthem。Thesupermanmanipulatedthestrings，andwhenrobberyoftheworkersbecametooslowormonotonous，theyturnedlooseandrobbedoneanother。
Daylightwasphilosophical，butnotaphilosopher。Hehadneverreadthebooks。Hewasahard-headed，practicalman，andfarthestfromhimwasanyintentionofeverreadingthebooks。Hehadlivedlifeinthesimple，wherebookswerenotnecessaryforanunderstandingoflife，andnowlifeinthecomplexappearedjustassimple。Hesawthroughitsfraudsandfictions，andfounditaselementalasontheYukon。Menweremadeofthesamestuff。
Theyhadthesamepassionsanddesires。Financewaspokeronalargerscale。
Themenwhoplayedwerethemenwhohadstakes。Theworkerswerethefellowstoilingforgrubstakes。Hesawthegameplayedoutaccordingtotheeverlastingrules，andheplayedahandhimself。Thegiganticfutilityofhumanityorganizedandbefuddledbythebanditsdidnotshockhim。Itwasthenaturalorder。Practicallyallhumanendeavorswerefutile。Hehadseensomuchofit。HispartnershadstarvedanddiedontheStewart。Hundredsofold-timershadfailedtolocateonBonanzaandEldorado，whileSwedesandchechaquoshadcomeinonthemoose-pastureandblindlystakedmillions。Itwaslife，andlifewasasavagepropositionatbest。Menincivilizationrobbedbecausetheyweresomade。Theyrobbedjustascatsscratched，faminepinched，andfrostbit。
SoitwasthatDaylightbecameasuccessfulfinancier。Hedidnotgoinforswindlingtheworkers。Notonlydidhenothavetheheartforit，butitdidnotstrikehimasasportingproposition。Theworkersweresoeasy，sostupid。Itwasmorelikeslaughteringfathand-rearedpheasantsontheEnglishpreserveshehadheardabout。Thesporttohim，wasinwaylayingthesuccessfulrobbersandtakingtheirspoilsfromthem。Therewasfunandexcitementinthat，andsometimestheyputuptheverydevilofafight。
LikeRobinHoodofold，Daylightproceededtorobtherich；and，inasmallway，todistributetotheneedy。
Buthewascharitableafterhisownfashion。Thegreatmassofhumanmiserymeantnothingtohim。Thatwaspartoftheeverlastingorder。Hehadnopatiencewiththeorganizedcharitiesandtheprofessionalcharitymongers。Nor，ontheotherhand，waswhathegaveaconsciencedole。Heowednoman，andrestitutionwasunthinkable。Whathegavewasalargess，afree，spontaneousgift；anditwasforthoseabouthim。HenevercontributedtoanearthquakefundinJapannortoanopen-airfundinNewYorkCity。
Instead，hefinancedJones，theelevatorboy，forayearthathemightwriteabook。WhenhelearnedthatthewifeofhiswaiterattheSt。Franciswassufferingfromtuberculosis，hesenthertoArizona，andlater，whenhercasewasdeclaredhopeless，hesentthehusband，too，tobewithhertotheend。Likewise，heboughtastringofhorse-hairbridlesfromaconvictinaWesternpenitentiary，whospreadthegoodnewsuntilitseemedtoDaylightthathalftheconvictsinthatinstitutionweremakingbridlesforhim。Heboughtthemall，payingfromtwentytofiftydollarseachforthem。Theywerebeautifulandhonestthings，andhedecoratedalltheavailablewall-spaceofhisbedroomwiththem。
ThegrimYukonlifehadfailedtomakeDaylighthard。Itrequiredcivilizationtoproducethisresult。Inthefierce，savagegamehenowplayed，hishabitualgenialityimperceptiblyslippedawayfromhim，asdidhislazyWesterndrawl。Ashisspeechbecamesharpandnervous，sodidhismentalprocesses。
Intheswiftrushofthegamehefoundlessandlesstimetospendonbeingmerelygood-natured。Thechangemarkedhisfaceitself。”TheCocktailsservedasanInhibiton”
Thelinesgrewsterner。Lessoftenappearedtheplayfulcurlofhislips，thesmileinthewrinklingcornersofhiseyes。Theeyesthemselves，blackandflashing，likeanIndian’s，betrayedglintsofcrueltyandbrutalconsciousnessofpower。Histremendousvitalityremained，andradiatedfromallhisbeing，butitwasvitalityunderthenewaspectoftheman-tramplingman-conqueror。Hisbattleswithelementalnaturehadbeen，inaway，impersonal；
hispresentbattleswerewhollywiththemalesofhisspecies，andthehardshipsofthetrail，theriver，andthefrostmarredhimfarlessthanthebitterkeennessofthestrugglewithhisfellows。
Hestillhadrecrudescenceofgeniality，buttheywerelargelyperiodicalandforced，andtheywereusuallyduetothecocktailshetookpriortomeal-time。IntheNorth，hehaddrunkdeeplyandatirregularintervals；
butnowhisdrinkingbecamesystematicanddisciplined。Itwasanunconsciousdevelopment，butitwasbaseduponphysicalandmentalcondition。Thecocktailsservedasaninhibition。Withoutreasoningorthinkingaboutit，thestrainoftheoffice，whichwasessentiallyduetothedaringandaudacityofhisventures，requiredcheckorcessation；andhefound，throughtheweeksandmonths，thatthecocktailssuppliedthisverything。Theyconstitutedastonewall。Heneverdrankduringthemorning，norinofficehours；buttheinstanthelefttheofficeheproceededtorearthiswallofalcoholicinhibitionathwarthisconsciousness。Theofficebecameimmediatelyaclosedaffair。Itceasedtoexist。Intheafternoon，afterlunch，itlivedagainforoneortwohours，when，leavingit，herebuiltthewallofinhibition。
Ofcourse，therewereexceptionstothis；and，suchwastherigorofhisdiscipline，thatifhehadadinneroraconferencebeforehiminwhich，inabusinessway，heencounteredenemiesoralliesandplannedorprosecutedcampaigns，heabstainedfromdrinking。Buttheinstantthebusinesswassettled，hiseverlastingcallwentoutforaMartini，andforadouble-Martiniatthat，servedinalongglasssoasnottoexcitecomment。BurningDaylight:PartII:ChapterVIPartIIChapterVIIntoDaylight’slifecameDedeMason。Shecameratherimperceptibly。
Hehadacceptedherimpersonallyalongwiththeofficefurnishing，theofficeboy，Morrison，thechief，confidential，andonlyclerk，andalltherestoftheaccessoriesofasuperman’sgamblingplaceofbusiness。
Hadhebeenaskedanytimeduringthefirstmonthsshewasinhisemploy，hewouldhavebeenunabletotellthecolorofhereyes。Fromthefactthatshewasademiblonde，thereresideddimlyinhissubconsciousnessaconceptionthatshewasabrunette。Likewisehehadanideathatshewasnotthin，whiletherewasanabsenceinhismindofanyideathatshewasfat。Astohowshedressed，hehadnoideasatall。Hehadnotrainedeyeinsuchmatters，norwasheinterested。Hetookitforgranted，inthelackofanyimpressiontothecontrary，thatshewasdressedsomehow。
Heknewheras”MissMason，”andthatwasall，thoughhewasawarethatasastenographersheseemedquickandaccurate。Thisimpression，however，wasquitevague，forhehadhadnoexperiencewithotherstenographers，andnaturallybelievedthattheywereallquickandaccurate。
Onemorning，signingupletters，hecameuponanIshall。Glancingquicklyoverthepageforsimilarconstructions，hefoundanumberofIwills。
TheIshallwasalone。Itstoodoutconspicuously。Hepressedthecall-belltwice，andamomentlaterDedeMasonentered。”DidIsaythat，MissMason？”
heasked，extendingthelettertoherandpointingoutthecriminalphrase。
Ashadeofannoyancecrossedherface。Shestoodconvicted。”Mymistake，”shesaid。”Iamsorry。Butit’snotamistake，youknow，”
sheaddedquickly。”Howdoyoumakethatout？”challengedDaylight。”Itsuredon’tsoundright，inmywayofthinking。”
Shehadreachedthedoorbythistime，andnowturnedtheoffendingletterinherhand。”It’srightjustthesame。””ButthatwouldmakeallthoseIwillswrong，then，”heargued。”Itdoes，”washeraudaciousanswer。”ShallIchangethem？””IshallbeovertolookthataffairuponMonday。”Daylightrepeatedthesentencefromtheletteraloud。Hediditwithagrave，seriousair，listeningintentlytothesoundofhisownvoice。Heshookhishead。”Itdon’tsoundright，MissMason。Itjustdon’tsoundright。Why，nobodywritestomethatway。TheyallsayIwill——educatedmen，too，someofthem。Ain’tthatso？””Yes，”sheacknowledged，andpassedouttohermachinetomakethecorrection。
ItchancedthatdaythatamongtheseveralmenwithwhomhesatatluncheonwasayoungEnglishman，aminingengineer。Hadithappenedanyothertimeitwouldhavepassedunnoticed，but，freshfromthetiltwithhisstenographer，DaylightwasstruckimmediatelybytheEnglishman’sIshall。Severaltimes，inthecourseofthemeal，thephrasewasrepeated，andDaylightwascertaintherewasnomistakeaboutit。
AfterluncheonhecorneredMacintosh，oneofthememberswhomheknewtohavebeenacollegeman，becauseofhisfootballreputation。”Lookhere，Bunny，”Daylightdemanded，”whichisright，IshallbeovertolookthataffairuponMonday，orIwillbeovertolookthataffairuponMonday？”
Theex-footballcaptaindebatedpainfullyforaminute。”BlessedifIknow，”heconfessed。”WhichwaydoIsayit？”Oh，Iwill，ofcourse。””Thentheotherisright，dependuponit。Ialwayswasrottenongrammar。”
Onthewaybacktotheoffice，Daylightdroppedintoabookstoreandboughtagrammar；andforasolidhour，hisfeetuponthedesk，hetoiledthroughitspages。”Knockoffmyheadwithlittleapplesifthegirlain’tright，”hecommunedaloudattheendofthesession。Forthefirsttimeitstruckhimthattherewassomethingabouthisstenographer。Hehadacceptedheruptothen，asafemalecreatureandabitofofficefurnishing。Butnow，havingdemonstratedthatsheknewmoregrammarthandidbusinessmenandcollegegraduates，shebecameanindividual。SheseemedtostandoutinhisconsciousnessasconspicuouslyastheIshallhadstoodoutonthetypedpage，andhebegantotakenotice。
Hemanagedtowatchherleavingthatafternoon，andhewasawareforthefirsttimethatshewaswell-formed，andthathermannerofdresswassatisfying。Heknewnoneofthedetailsofwomen’sdress，andhesawnoneofthedetailsofherneatshirt-waistandwell-cuttailorsuit。Hesawonlytheeffectinageneral，sketchyway。Shelookedright。Thiswasintheabsenceofanythingwrongoroutoftheway。”She’satrimlittlegood-looker，”washisverdict，whentheouterofficedoorclosedonher。
Thenextmorning，dictating，heconcludedthathelikedthewayshedidherhair，thoughforthelifeofhimhecouldhavegivennodescriptionofit。Theimpressionwaspleasing，thatwasall。
Shesatbetweenhimandthewindow，andhenotedthatherhairwaslightbrown，withhintsofgoldenbronze。Apalesun，shiningin，touchedthegoldenbronzeintosmoulderingfiresthatwereverypleasingtobehold。
Funny，hethought，thathehadneverobservedthisphenomenonbefore。
Inthemidstoftheletterhecametotheconstructionwhichhadcausedthetroublethedaybefore。Herememberedhiswrestlewiththegrammar，anddictated。”Ishallmeetyouhalfwaythisproposition——”
MissMasongaveaquicklookupathim。Theactionwaspurelyinvoluntary，and，infact，hadbeenhalfastartleofsurprise。Thenextinstanthereyeshaddroppedagain，andshesatwaitingtogoonwiththedictation。
ButinthatmomentofherglanceDaylighthadnotedthathereyesweregray。Hewaslatertolearnthatattimesthereweregoldenlightsinthosesamegrayeyes；buthehadseenenough，asitwas，tosurprisehim，forhebecamesuddenlyawarethathehadalwaystakenherforabrunettewithbrowneyes，asamatterofcourse。”Youwereright，afterall，”heconfessed，withasheepishgrinthatsatincongruouslyonhisstern，Indian-likefeatures。
Againhewasrewardedbyanupwardglanceandanacknowledgingsmile，andthistimeheverifiedthefactthathereyesweregray。”Butitdon’tsoundright，justthesame，”hecomplained。Atthisshelaughedoutright。”Ibegyourpardon，”shehastenedtomakeamends，andthenspoileditbyadding，”butyouaresofunny。”
Daylightbegantofeelaslightawkwardness，andthesunwouldpersistinsettingherhaira-smouldering。”Ididn’tmeantobefunny，”hesaid。”ThatwaswhyIlaughed。Butitisright，andperfectlygoodgrammar。””Allright，”hesighed——”Ishallmeetyouhalfwayinthisproposition——gotthat？”Andthedictationwenton。Hediscoveredthatintheintervals，whenshehadnothingtodo，shereadbooksandmagazines，orworkedonsomesortoffemininefancywork。
Passingherdesk，once，hepickedupavolumeofKipling’spoemsandglancedbepuzzledthroughthepages。”Youlikereading，MissMason？”hesaid，layingthebookdown。”Oh，yes，”washeranswer；”verymuch。”
AnothertimeitwasabookofWells’，TheWheelsofChange。”What’sitallabout？”Daylightasked。”Oh，it’sjustanovel，alove-story。”Shestopped，buthestillstoodwaiting，andshefeltitincumbenttogoon。”It’saboutalittleCockneydraper’sassistant，whotakesavacationonhisbicycle，andfallsinwithayounggirlverymuchabovehim。Hermotherisapopularwriterandallthat。Andthesituationisverycurious，andsad，too，andtragic。Wouldyoucaretoreadit？””Doeshegether？”Daylightdemanded。”No；that’sthepointofit。Hewasn’t——””Andhedoesn’tgether，andyou’vereadallthempages，hundredsofthem，tofindthatout？”Daylightmutteredinamazement。
MissMasonwasnettledaswellasamused。”Butyoureadtheminingandfinancialnewsbythehour，”sheretorted。”ButIsuregetsomethingoutofthat。It’sbusiness，andit’sdifferent。
Igetmoneyoutofit。Whatdoyougetoutofbooks？””Pointsofview，newideas，life。””Notworthacentcash。””Butlife’sworthmorethancash，”sheargued。”Oh，well，”hesaid，witheasymasculinetolerance，”solongasyouenjoyit。That’swhatcounts，Isuppose；andthere’snoaccountingfortaste。”
Despitehisownsuperiorpointofview，hehadanideathatsheknewalot，andheexperiencedafleetingfeelinglikethatofabarbarianfacetofacewiththeevidenceofsometremendousculture。ToDaylightculturewasaworthlessthing，andyet，somehow，hewasvaguelytroubledbyasensethattherewasmoreinculturethanheimagined。
Again，onherdesk，inpassing，henoticedabookwithwhichhewasfamiliar。Thistimehedidnotstop，forhehadrecognizedthecover。Itwasamagazinecorrespondent’sbookontheKlondike，andheknewthatheandhisphotographfiguredinitandheknew，also，ofacertainsensationalchapterconcernedwithawoman’ssuicide，andwithone”ToomuchDaylight。”
Afterthathedidnottalkwithheragainaboutbooks。Heimaginedwhaterroneousconclusionsshehaddrawnfromthatparticularchapter，anditstunghimthemoreinthattheywereundeserved。Ofallunlikelythings，tohavethereputationofbeingalady-killer，——he，BurningDaylight，——andtohaveawomankillherselfoutofloveforhim。Hefeltthathewasamostunfortunatemanandwonderedbywhatluckthatonebookofallthethousandsofbooksshouldhavefallenintohisstenographer’shands。ForsomedaysafterwardhehadanuncomfortablesensationofguiltinesswheneverhewasinMissMason’spresence；andoncehewaspositivethathecaughtherlookingathimwithacurious，intentgaze，asifstudyingwhatmannerofmanhewas。
HepumpedMorrison，theclerk，whohadfirsttoventhispersonalgrievanceagainstMissMasonbeforehecouldtellwhatlittleheknewofher。”ShecomesfromSiskiyouCounty。She’sverynicetoworkwithintheoffice，ofcourse，butshe’sratherstuckonherself——exclusive，youknow。””Howdoyoumakethatout？”Daylightqueried。”Well，shethinkstoomuchofherselftoassociatewiththosesheworkswith，intheofficehere，forinstance。Shewon’thaveanythingtodowithafellow，yousee。I’veaskedheroutrepeatedly，tothetheatreandthechutesandsuchthings。Butnothingdoing。Saysshelikesplentyofsleep，andcan’tstayuplate，andhastogoallthewaytoBerkeley——that’swhereshelives。”
ThisphaseofthereportgaveDaylightadistinctsatisfaction。Shewasabitabovetheordinary，andnodoubtaboutit。ButMorrison’snextwordscarriedahurt。”Butthat’sallhotair。She’srunningwiththeUniversityboys，that’swhatshe’sdoing。Sheneedslotsofsleepandcan’tgotothetheatrewithme，butshecandanceallhourswiththem。I’vehearditprettystraightthatshegoestoalltheirhopsandsuchthings。Ratherstylishandhigh-tonedforastenographer，I’dsay。Andshekeepsahorse，too。Sheridesastridealloverthosehillsoutthere。IsawheroneSundaymyself。Oh，she’sahigh-flyer，andIwonderhowshedoesit。Sixty-fiveamonthdon’tgofar。Thenshehasasickbrother，too。””Livewithherpeople？”Daylightasked。”No；hasn’tgotany。Theywerewelltodo，I’veheard。Theymusthavebeen，orthatbrotherofherscouldn’thavegonetotheUniversityofCalifornia。
Herfatherhadabigcattle-ranch，buthegottofoolingwithminesorsomething，andwentbrokebeforehedied。Hermotherdiedlongbeforethat。
Herbrothermustcostalotofmoney。Hewasahuskyonce，playedfootball，wasgreatonhuntingandbeingoutinthemountainsandsuchthings。Hegothisaccidentbreakinghorses，andthenrheumatismorsomethinggotintohim。Onelegisshorterthantheotherandwitheredupsome。Hehastowalkoncrutches。Isawheroutwithhimonce——crossingtheferry。Thedoctorshavebeenexperimentingonhimforyears，andhe’sintheFrenchHospitalnow，Ithink。”
Allofwhichside-lightsonMissMasonwenttoincreaseDaylight’sinterestinher。Yet，muchashedesired，hefailedtogetacquaintedwithher。
Hehadthoughtsofaskinghertoluncheon，buthiswastheinnatechivalryofthefrontiersman，andthethoughtsnevercametoanything。Heknewaself-respecting，square-dealingmanwasnotsupposedtotakehisstenographertoluncheon。Suchthingsdidhappen，heknew，forheheardthechaffinggossipoftheclub；buthedidnotthinkmuchofsuchmenandfeltsorryforthegirls。Hehadastrangenotionthatamanhadlessrightsoverthoseheemployedthanovermereacquaintancesorstrangers。Thus，hadMissMasonnotbeenhisemployee，hewasconfidentthathewouldhavehadhertoluncheonorthetheatreinnotime。Buthefeltthatitwasanimpositionforanemployer，becauseheboughtthetimeofanemployeeinworkinghours，topresumeinanywayuponanyoftherestofthatemployee’stime。Todosowastoactlikeabully。Thesituationwasunfair。Itwastakingadvantageofthefactthattheemployeewasdependentononeforalivelihood。
Theemployeemightpermittheimpositionthroughfearofangeringtheemployerandnotthroughanypersonalinclinationatall。
Inhisowncasehefeltthatsuchanimpositionwouldbepeculiarlyobnoxious，forhadshenotreadthatcursedKlondikecorrespondent’sbook？
Aprettyideashemusthaveofhim，agirlthatwastoohigh-tonedtohaveanythingtodowithagood-looking，gentlemanlyfellowlikeMorrison。Also，anddownunderallhisotherreasons，Daylightwastimid。Theonlythinghehadeverbeenafraidofinhislifewaswoman，andhehadbeenafraidallhislife。Norwasthattimiditytobeputeasilytoflightnowthathefeltthefirstglimmeringneedanddesireforwoman。Thespecteroftheapron-stringstillhauntedhim，andhelpedhimtofindexcusesforgettingonnoforwarderwithDedeMason。BurningDaylight:PartII:ChapterVIIPartIIChapterVIINotbeingfavoredbychanceingettingacquaintedwithDedeMason，Daylight’sinterestinherslowlywaned。Thiswasbutnatural，forhewasplungeddeepinhazardousoperations，andthefascinationsofthegameandthemagnitudeofitaccountedforalltheenergythatevenhismagnificentorganismcouldgenerate。
Suchwashisabsorptionthattheprettystenographerslowlyandimperceptiblyfadedfromtheforefrontofhisconsciousness。Thus，thefirstfaintspur，inthebestsense，ofhisneedforwomanceasedtoprod。SofarasDedeMasonwasconcerned，hepossessednomorethanacomplacentfeelingofsatisfactioninthathehadaverynicestenographer。And，completelytoputthequietusonanylastlingeringhopeshemighthavehadofher，hewasinthethickofhisspectacularandintenselybitterfightwiththeCoastwiseSteamNavigationCompany，andtheHawaiian，Nicaraguan，andPacific-MexicanSteamship-Company。Hestirredupabiggermussthanhehadanticipated，andevenhewasastoundedatthewideramificationsofthestruggleandattheunexpectedandincongruousintereststhatweredrawnintoit。EverynewspaperinSanFranciscoturneduponhim。Itwastrue，oneortwoofthemhadfirstintimatedthattheywereopentosubsidization，butDaylight’sjudgmentwasthatthesituationdidnotwarrantsuchexpenditure。Uptothistimethepresshadbeenamusinglytolerantandgood-naturedlysensationalabouthim，butnowhewastolearnwhatvirulentscrupulousnessanantagonizedpresswascapableof。Everyepisodeofhislifewasresurrectedtoserveasfoundationsformaliciousfabrications。Daylightwasfranklyamazedatthenewinterpretationputuponallhehadaccomplishedandthedeedshehaddone。FromanAlaskanherohewasmetamorphosedintoanAlaskanbully，liar，desperado，andallaround”badMan。”Notcontentwiththis，liesuponlies，outofwholecloth，weremanufacturedabouthim。Heneverreplied，thoughoncehewenttotheextentofdisburdeninghismindtohalfadozenreporters。”Doyourdamnedest，”hetoldthem。”BurningDaylight’sbuckedbiggerthingsthanyourdirty，lyingsheets。AndIdon’tblameyou，boys……thatis，notmuch。Youcan’thelpit。You’vegottolive。There’samightylotofwomeninthisworldthatmaketheirlivinginsimilarfashiontoyours，becausethey’renotabletodoanythingbetter。Somebody’sgottodothedirtywork，anditmightaswellbeyou。
You’repaidforit，andyouain’tgotthebackbonetorustlecleanerjobs。”
Thesocialistpressofthecityjubilantlyexploitedthisutterance，scatteringitbroadcastoverSanFranciscointensofthousandsofpaperdodgers。Andthejournalists，stungtothequick，retaliatedwiththeonlymeansintheirpower-printer’sinkabuse。Theattackbecamebittererthanever。Thewholeaffairsanktothedeeperdeepsofrancorandsavageness。
ThepoorwomanwhohadkilledherselfwasdraggedoutofhergraveandparadedonthousandsofreamsofpaperasamartyrandavictimtoDaylight’sferociousbrutality。Staid，statisticalarticleswerepublished，provingthathehadmadehisstartbyrobbingpoorminersoftheirclaims，andthatthecapstonetohisfortunehadbeenputinplacebyhistreacherousviolationoffaithwiththeGuggenhammersinthedealonOphir。Andtherewereeditorialswritteninwhichhewascalledanenemyofsociety，possessedofthemannersandcultureofacaveman，afomenterofwastefulbusinesstroubles，thedestroyerofthecity’sprosperityincommerceandtrade，ananarchistofdiremenace；andoneeditorialgravelyrecommendedthathangingwouldbealessontohimandhisilk，andconcludedwiththeferventhopethatsomedayhisbigmotor-carwouldsmashupandsmashhimwithit。
Hewaslikeabigbearraidingabee-hiveand，regardlessofthestings，heobstinatelypersistedinpawingforthehoney。Hegrittedhisteethandstruckback。Beginningwitharaidontwosteamshipcompanies，itdevelopedintoapitchedbattlewithacity，astate，andacontinentalcoastline。
Verywell；theywantedfight，andtheywouldgetit。Itwaswhathewanted，andhefeltjustifiedinhavingcomedownfromtheKlondike，forherehewasgamblingatabiggertablethanevertheYukonhadsupplied。Alliedwithhim，onasplendidsalary，withprincelypickingsthrownin，wasalawyer，LarryHegan，ayoungIrishmanwithareputationtomake，andwhosepeculiargeniushadbeenunrecognizeduntilDaylightpickedupwithhim。
HeganhadCelticimaginationanddaring，andtosuchdegreethatDaylight’scoolerheadwasnecessaryasacheckonhiswildervisions。Hegan’swasaNapoleoniclegalmind，withoutbalance，anditwasjustthisbalancethatDaylightsupplied。Alone，theIrishmanwasdoomedtofailure，butdirectedbyDaylight，hewasonthehighroadtofortuneandrecognition。
Also，hewaspossessedofnomorepersonalorcivicconsciencethanNapoleon。
ItwasHeganwhoguidedDaylightthroughtheintricaciesofmodernpolitics，labororganization，andcommercialandcorporationlaw。ItwasHegan，prolificofresourceandsuggestion，whoopenedDaylight’seyestoundreamedpossibilitiesintwentieth-centurywarfare；anditwasDaylight，rejecting，accepting，andelaborating，whoplannedthecampaignsandprosecutedthem。WiththePacificcoastfromPeugeotSoundtoPanama，buzzingandhumming，andwithSanFranciscofuriouslyabouthisears，thetwobigsteamshipcompanieshadalltheappearanceofwinning。ItlookedasifBurningDaylightwasbeingbeatenslowlytohisknees。Andthenhestruck——atthesteamshipcompanies，atSanFrancisco，atthewholePacificcoast。
Itwasnotmuchofablowatfirst。AChristianEndeavorconventionbeingheldinSanFrancisco，arowwasstartedbyExpressDrivers’UnionNo。927overthehandlingofasmallheapofbaggageattheFerryBuilding。
Afewheadswerebroken，ascoreofarrestsmade，andthebaggagewasdelivered。
NoonewouldhaveguessedthatbehindthispettywranglewasthefineIrishhandofHegan，madepotentbytheKlondikegoldofBurningDaylight。Itwasaninsignificantaffairatbest——orsoitseemed。ButtheTeamsters’
Uniontookupthequarrel，backedbythewholeWaterFrontFederation。
Stepbystep，thestrikebecameinvolved。Arefusalofcooksandwaiterstoservescabteamstersorteamsters’employersbroughtoutthecooksandwaiters。Thebutchersandmeat-cuttersrefusedtohandlemeatdestinedforunfairrestaurants。ThecombinedEmployers’Associationsputupasolidfront，andfoundfacingthemthe40，000organizedlaborersofSanFrancisco。
Therestaurantbakersandthebakerywagondriversstruck，followedbythemilkers，milkdrivers，andchickenpickers。Thebuildingtradesasserteditspositioninunambiguousterms，andallSanFranciscowasinturmoil。
Butstill，itwasonlySanFrancisco。Hegan’sintriguesweremasterly，andDaylight’scampaignsteadilydeveloped。ThepowerfulfightingorganizationknownasthePacificSlopeSeaman’sUnionrefusedtoworkvesselsthecargoesofwhichweretobehandledbyscablongshoremenandfreight-handlers。
Theunionpresenteditsultimatum，andthencalledastrike。ThishadbeenDaylight’sobjectiveallthetime。Everyincomingcoastwisevesselwasboardedbytheunionofficialsanditscrewsentashore。AndwiththeSeamenwentthefiremen，theengineers，andtheseacooksandwaiters。Dailythenumberofidlesteamersincreased。Itwasimpossibletogetscabcrews，forthemenoftheSeaman’sUnionwerefighterstrainedinthehardschoolofthesea，andwhentheywentoutitmeantbloodanddeathtoscabs。ThisphaseofthestrikespreadupanddowntheentirePacificcoast，untilalltheportswerefilledwithidleships，andseatransportationwasatastandstill。Thedaysandweeksdraggedout，andthestrikeheld。TheCoastwiseSteamNavigationCompany，andtheHawaiian，Nicaraguan，andPacific-MexicanSteamshipCompanyweretiedupcompletely。Theexpensesofcombatingthestrikeweretremendous，andtheywereearningnothing，whiledailythesituationwentfrombadtoworse，until”peaceatanyprice”becamethecry。Andstilltherewasnopeace，untilDaylightandhisalliesplayedouttheirhand，rakedinthewinnings，andallowedagoodlyportionofacontinenttoresumebusiness。
Itwasnoted，infollowingyears，thatseveralleadersofworkmenbuiltthemselveshousesandblocksofrentingflatsandtooktripstotheoldcountries，while，moreimmediately，otherleadersand”darkhorses”cametopoliticalprefermentandthecontrolofthemunicipalgovernmentandthemunicipalmoneys。Infact，SanFrancisco’sboss-riddenconditionwasdueingreaterdegreetoDaylight’swidespreadingbattlethanevenSanFranciscoeverdreamed。Fortheparthehadplayed，thedetailsofwhichwerepracticallyallrumorandguesswork，quicklyleakedout，andinconsequencehebecameamuch-execratedandwell-hatedman。NorhadDaylighthimselfdreamedthathisraidonthesteamshipcompanieswouldhavegrowntosuchcolossalproportions。
Buthehadgotwhathewasafter。Hehadplayedanexcitinghandandwon，beatingthesteamshipcompaniesdownintothedustandmercilesslyrobbingthestockholdersbyperfectlylegalmethodsbeforeheletgo。Ofcourse，inadditiontothelargesumsofmoneyhehadpaidover，hisallieshadrewardedthemselvesbygobblingtheadvantageswhichlaterenabledthemtolootthecity。Hisalliancewithagangofcutthroatshadbroughtaboutalotofcutthroating。Buthisconsciencesufferednotwinges。Herememberedwhathehadonceheardanoldpreacherutter，namely，thattheywhorosebytheswordperishedbythesword。Onetookhischanceswhenheplayedwithcuttingthroats，andhis，Daylight’s，throatwasstillintact。
Thatwasit！Andhehadwon。Itwasallgambleandwarbetweenthestrongmen。Thefoolsdidnotcount。Theywerealwaysgettinghurt；andthattheyalwayshadbeengettinghurtwastheconclusionhedrewfromwhatlittleheknewofhistory。SanFranciscohadwantedwar，andhehadgivenitwar。
Itwasthegame。Allthebigfellowsdidthesame，andtheydidmuchworse，too。”Don’ttalktomeaboutmoralityandcivicduty，”herepliedtoapersistentinterviewer。”Ifyouquityourjobtomorrowandwenttoworkonanotherpaper，youwouldwritejustwhatyouweretoldtowrite。It’smoralityandcivicdutynowwithyou；onthenewjobitwouldbebackingupathievingrailroadwith……moralityandcivicduty，Isuppose。Yourprice，myson，isjustaboutthirtyperweek。That’swhatyousellfor。Butyourpaperwouldsellforabitmore。Payitspriceto-day，anditwouldshiftitspresentrottenpolicytosomeotherrottenpolicy；butitwouldneverletuponmoralityandcivicduty。”Andallbecauseasuckerisborneveryminute。Solongasthepeoplestandforit，they’llgetitgoodandplenty，myson。Andtheshareholdersandbusinessinterestsmightaswellshutupsquawkingabouthowmuchthey’vebeenhurt。Youneverheararysquealoutofthemwhenthey’vegottheotherfellowdownandaregouginghim。ThisisthetimeTHEYgotgouged，andthat’sallthereistoit。Talkaboutmollycoddles！Son，thosesamefellowswouldstealcrustsfromstarvingmenandpullgoldfillingsfromthemouthsofcorpses，yep，andsquawklikeSamScratchifsomeblamedcorpsehitback。They’realltarredwiththesamebrush，littleandbig。LookatyourSugarTrust——withallitsmillionsstealingwaterlikeacommonthieffromNewYorkCity，andshort-weighingthegovernmentonitsphoneyscales。
Moralityandcivicduty！Son，forgetit。”BurningDaylight:PartII:ChapterVIIIPartIIChapterVIIIEvenhishumanaffiliationsweredescending。Playingalonehand，contemptuousofmostofthemenwithwhomheplayed，lackinginsympathyorunderstandingofthem，andcertainlyindependentofthem，hefoundlittleincommonwiththosetobeencountered，sayattheAlta-Pacific。Inpointoffact，whenthebattlewiththesteamshipcompanieswasatitsheightandhisraidwasinflictingincalculabledamageonallbusinessinterests，hehadbeenaskedtoresignfromtheAlta-Pacific。Theideahadbeenrathertohisliking，andhehadfoundnewquartersinclubsliketheRiverside，organizedandpracticallymaintainedbythecitybosses。Hefoundthathereallylikedsuchmenbetter。Theyweremoreprimitiveandsimple，andtheydidnotputonairs。Theywerehonestbuccaneers，franklyinthegameforwhattheycouldgetoutofit，onthesurfacemorerawandsavage，butatleastnotglossedoverwithoilyorgracefulhypocrisy。TheAlta-Pacifichadsuggestedthathisresignationbekeptaprivatematter，andthenhadprivilyinformedthenewspapers。Thelatterhadmadegreatcapitaloutoftheforcedresignation，butDaylighthadgrinnedandsilentlygonehisway，thoughregisteringablackmarkagainstmorethanoneclubmemberwhowasdestinedtofeel，inthedaystocome，thecrushingweightoftheKlondiker’sfinancialpaw。
Thestorm-centreofacombinednewspaperattacklastingformonths，Daylight’scharacterhadbeentorntoshreds。Therewasnofactinhishistorythathadnotbeendistortedintoacriminalityoravice。ThispublicmakingofhimoverintoaniniquitousmonsterhadprettywellcrushedanylingeringhopehehadofgettingacquaintedwithDedeMason。Hefeltthattherewasnochanceforherevertolookkindlyonamanofhiscaliber，and，beyondincreasinghersalarytoseventy-fivedollarsamonth，heproceededgraduallytoforgetabouther。TheincreasewasmadeknowntoherthroughMorrison，andlatershethankedDaylight，andthatwastheendofit。
Oneweek-end，feelingheavyanddepressedandtiredofthecityanditsways，heobeyedtheimpulseofawhimthatwaslatertoplayanimportantpartinhislife。Thedesiretogetoutofthecityforawhiffofcountryairandforachangeofscenewasthecause。Yet，tohimself，hemadetheexcuseofgoingtoGlenEllenforthepurposeofinspectingthebrickyardwithwhichHoldsworthyhadgoldbrickedhim。
Hespentthenightinthelittlecountryhotel，andonSundaymorning，astrideasaddle-horserentedfromtheGlenEllenbutcher，rodeoutofthevillage。ThebrickyardwascloseathandontheflatbesidetheSonomaCreek。Thekilnswerevisibleamongthetrees，whenheglancedtotheleftandcaughtsightofaclusterofwoodedknollshalfamileaway，perchedontherollingslopesofSonomaMountain。Themountain，itselfwooded，toweredbehind。Thetreesontheknollsseemedtobeckontohim。
Thedry，early-summerair，shotthroughwithsunshine，waswinetohim。
Unconsciouslyhedrankitindeepbreaths。Theprospectofthebrickyardwasuninviting。Hewasjadedwithallthingsbusiness，andthewoodedknollswerecallingtohim。Ahorsewasbetweenhislegs——agoodhorse，hedecided；
onethatsenthimbacktothecayuseshehadriddenduringhiseasternOregonboyhood。Hehadbeensomewhatofariderinthoseearlydays，andthechampofbitandcreakofsaddle-leathersoundedgoodtohimnow。
Resolvingtohavehisfunfirst，andtolookoverthebrickyardafterward，herodeonupthehill，prospectingforawayacrosscountrytogettotheknolls。Heleftthecountryroadatthefirstgatehecametoandcanteredthroughahayfield。Thegrainwaswaist-highoneithersidethewagonroad，andhesniffedthewarmaromaofitwithdelightednostrils。Larksflewupbeforehim，andfromeverywherecamemellownotes。Fromtheappearanceoftheroaditwaspatentthatithadbeenusedforhaulingclaytothenowidlebrickyard。Salvinghisconsciencewiththeideathatthiswaspartoftheinspection，herodeontotheclay-pit——ahugescarinahillside。
Buthedidnotlingerlong，swingingoffagaintotheleftandleavingtheroad。Notafarm-housewasinsight，andthechangefromthecitycrowdingwasessentiallysatisfying。Herodenowthroughopenwoods，acrosslittleflower-scatteredglades，tillhecameuponaspring。Flatontheground，hedrankdeeplyoftheclearwater，and，lookingabouthim，feltwithashockthebeautyoftheworld。Itcametohimlikeadiscovery；hehadneverrealizeditbefore，heconcluded，andalso，hehadforgottenmuch。
Onecouldnotsitinathighfinanceandkeeptrackofsuchthings。Ashedrankintheair，thescene，andthedistantsongoflarks，hefeltlikeapoker-playerrisingfromanight-longtableandcomingforthfromthepentatmospheretotastethefreshnessofthemorn。
Atthebaseoftheknollsheencounteredatumble-downstake-and-riderfence。Fromthelookofithejudgeditmustbefortyyearsoldatleast——theworkofsomefirstpioneerwhohadtakenupthelandwhenthedaysofgoldhadended。Thewoodswereverythickhere，yetfairlyclearofunderbrush，sothat，whiletheblueskywasscreenedbythearchedbranches，hewasabletoridebeneath。Henowfoundhimselfinanookofseveralacres，wheretheoakandmanzanitaandmadronogavewaytoclustersofstatelyredwoods。Againstthefootofasteep-slopedknollhecameuponamagnificentgroupofredwoodsthatseemedtohavegatheredaboutatinygurglingspring。
Hehaltedhishorse，forbesidethespringuproseawildCalifornialily。Itwasawonderfulflower，growingthereinthecathedralnaveofloftytrees。Atleasteightfeetinheight，itsstemrosestraightandslender，greenandbarefortwo-thirdsitslength，andthenburstintoashowerofsnow-whitewaxenbells。Therewerehundredsoftheseblossoms，allfromtheonestem，delicatelypoisedandethereallyfrail。Daylighthadneverseenanythinglikeit。Slowlyhisgazewanderedfromittoallthatwasabouthim。Hetookoffhishat，withalmostavaguereligiousfeeling。Thiswasdifferent。Noroomforcontemptandevilhere。Thiswascleanandfreshandbeautiful-somethinghecouldrespect。Itwaslikeachurch。Theatmospherewasoneofholycalm。Heremanfeltthepromptingofnoblerthings。MuchofthisandmorewasinDaylight’sheartashelookedabouthim。Butitwasnotaconceptofhismind。Hemerelyfeltitwithoutthinkingaboutitatall。
Onthesteepinclineabovethespringgrewtinymaidenhairferns，whilehigherupwerelargerfernsandbrakes。Great，moss-coveredtrunksoffallentreeslayhereandthere，slowlysinkingbackandmergingintotheleveloftheforestmould。Beyond，inaslightlyclearerspace，wildgrapeandhoneysuckleswungingreenriotfromgnarledoldoaktrees。AgrayDouglassquirrelcreptoutonabranchandwatchedhim。Fromsomewherecamethedistantknockingofawoodpecker。Thissounddidnotdisturbthehushandaweoftheplace。Quietwoods，noisesbelongedthereandmadethesolitudecomplete。Thetinybubblingrippleofthespringandthegrayflashoftree-squirrelwereasyardstickswithwhichtomeasurethesilenceandmotionlessrepose。”Mightbeamillionmilesfromanywhere，”Daylightwhisperedtohimself。
Buteverhisgazereturnedtothewonderfullilybesidethebubblingspring。
Hetetheredthehorseandwanderedonfootamongtheknolls。Theirtopswerecrownedwithcentury-oldsprucetrees，andtheirsidesclothedwithoaksandmadronosandnativeholly。Buttotheperfectredwoodsbelongedthesmallbutdeepcanonthatthreadeditswayamongtheknolls。Herehefoundnopassageoutforhishorse，andhereturnedtothelilybesidethespring。Onfoot，tripping，stumbling，leadingtheanimal，heforcedhiswayupthehillside。Andeverthefernscarpetedthewayofhisfeet，evertheforestclimbedwithhimandarchedoverhead，andeverthecleanjoyandsweetnessstoleinuponhissenses。
Onthecresthecamethroughanamazingthicketofvelvet-trunkedyoungmadronos，andemergedonanopenhillsidethatleddownintoatinyvalley。
Thesunshinewasatfirstdazzlinginitsbrightness，andhepausedandrested，forhewaspantingfromtheexertion。Notofoldhadheknownshortnessofbreathsuchasthis，andmusclesthatsoeasilytiredatastiffclimb。
Atinystreamrandownthetinyvalleythroughatinymeadowthatwascarpetedknee-highwithgrassandblueandwhitenemophila。ThehillsidewascoveredwithMariposaliliesandwildhyacinth，downthroughwhichhishorsedroppedslowly，withcircumspectfeetandreluctantgait。
Crossingthestream，Daylightfollowedafaintcattletrailoveralow，rockyhillandthroughawine-woodedforestofmanzanita，andemergeduponanothertinyvalley，downwhichfilteredanotherspring-fed，meadow-borderedstreamlet。Ajack-rabbitboundedfromabushunderhishorse’snose，leapedthestream，andvanisheduptheoppositehillsideofscrub-oak。Daylightwatcheditadmiringlyasherodeontotheheadofthemeadow。Herehestartledupamany-prongedbuck，thatseemedtosoaracrossthemeadow，andtosoaroverthestake-and-riderfence，and，stillsoaring，disappearedinafriendlycopsebeyond。
Daylight’sdelightwasunbounded。Itseemedtohimthathehadneverbeensohappy。Hisoldwoods’trainingwasaroused，andhewaskeenlyinterestedineverythinginthemossonthetreesandbranches；inthebunchesofmistletoehangingintheoaks；inthenestofawood-rat；inthewater-cressgrowingintheshelterededdiesofthelittlestream；inthebutterfliesdriftingthroughtheriftedsunshineandshadow；inthebluejaysthatflashedinsplashesofgorgeouscoloracrosstheforestaisles；inthetinybirds，likewrens，thathoppedamongthebushesandimitatedcertainminorquail-calls；andinthecrimson-crestedwoodpeckerthatceaseditsknockingandcockeditsheadononesidetosurveyhim。Crossingthestream，hestruckfaintvestigesofawood-road，used，evidently，agenerationback，whenthemeadowhadbeenclearedofitsoaks。Hefoundahawk’snestonthelightning-shatteredtipmosttopofasix-footredwood。Andtocompleteitallhishorsestumbleduponseverallargebroodsofhalf-grownquail，andtheairwasfilledwiththethrumoftheirflight。Hehaltedandwatchedtheyoungones”petrifying”anddisappearingonthegroundbeforehiseyes，andlisteningtotheanxiouscallsoftheoldoneshiddeninthethickets。”ItsurebeatscountryplacesandbungalowsatMenloPark，”hecommunedaloud；”andifeverIgetthehankeringforcountrylife，it’smeforthiseverytime。”
Theoldwood-roadledhimtoaclearing，whereadozenacresofgrapesgrewonwine-redsoil。Acow-path，moretreesandthickets，andhedroppeddownahillsidetothesoutheastexposure。Here，poisedaboveabigforestedcanon，andlookingoutuponSonomaValley，wasasmallfarm-house。Withitsbarnandouthousesitsnuggledintoanookinthehillside，whichprotecteditfromwestandnorth。Itwastheerosionfromthishillside，hejudged，thathadformedthelittlelevelstretchofvegetablegarden。Thesoilwasfatandblack，andtherewaswaterinplenty，forhesawseveralfaucetsrunningwideopen。
Forgottenwasthebrickyard。Nobodywasathome，butDaylightdismountedandrangedthevegetablegarden，eatingstrawberriesandgreenpeas，inspectingtheoldadobebarnandtherustyploughandharrow，androllingandsmokingcigaretteswhilehewatchedtheanticsofseveralbroodsofyoungchickensandthemotherhens。Afoottrailthatleddownthewallofthebigcanyoninvitedhim，andheproceededtofollowit。Awater-pipe，usuallyaboveground，paralleledthetrail，whichheconcludedledupstreamtothebedofthecreek。Thewallofthecanonwasseveralhundredfeetfromtoptobottom，andmagnificentweretheuntouchedtreesthattheplacewasplungedinperpetualshade。Hemeasuredwithhiseyesprucesfiveandsixfeetindiameterandredwoodsevenlarger。Onesuchhepassed，atwisterthatwasatleasttenorelevenfeetthrough。Thetrailledstraighttoasmalldamwherewastheintakeforthepipethatwateredthevegetablegarden。
Here，besidethestream，werealdersandlaureltrees，andhewalkedthroughfern-brakeshigherthanhishead。Velvetymosswaseverywhere，outofwhichgrewmaiden-hairandgold-backferns。
Saveforthedam，itwasavirginwild。Noaxhadinvaded，andthetreesdiedonlyofoldageandstressofwinterstorm。Thehugetrunksofthosethathadfallenlaymoss-covered，slowlyresolvingbackintothesoilfromwhichtheysprang。Somehadlainsolongthattheywerequitegone，thoughtheirfaintoutlines，levelwiththemould，couldstillbeseen。Othersbridgedthestream，andfrombeneaththebulkofonemonsterhalfadozenyoungertrees，overthrownandcrushedbythefall，growingoutalongtheground，stilllivedandprospered，theirrootsbathedbythestream，theirupshootingbranchescatchingthesunlightthroughthegapthathadbeenmadeintheforestroof。
Backatthefarm-house，Daylightmountedandrodeonawayfromtheranchandintothewildercanonsandsteepersteepsbeyond。NothingcouldsatisfyhisholidayspiritnowbuttheascentofSonomaMountain。Andhereonthecrest，threehoursafterward，heemerged，tiredandsweaty，garmentstornandfaceandhandsscratched，butwithsparklingeyesandanunwontedzestfulnessofexpression。Hefelttheillicitpleasureofaschoolboyplayingtruant。
ThebiggamblingtableofSanFranciscoseemedveryfaraway。Buttherewasmorethanillicitpleasureinhismood。Itwasasthoughheweregoingthroughasortofcleansingbath。Noroomhereforallthesordidness，meanness，andviciousnessthatfilledthedirtypoolofcityexistence。
Withoutponderingindetailuponthematteratall，hissensationswereofpurificationanduplift。Hadhebeenaskedtostatehowhefelt，hewouldmerelyhavesaidthathewashavingagoodtime；forhewasunawareinhisself-consciousnessofthepotentcharmofnaturethatwaspercolatingthroughhiscity-rottedbodyandbrain——potent，inthathecameofanabysmalpastofwildernessdwellers，whilehewashimselfcoatedwithbutthethinnestrindofcrowdedcivilization。
TherewerenohousesinthesummitofSonomaMountain，and，allaloneundertheazureCaliforniasky，hereinedinonthesouthernedgeofthepeak。Hesawopenpasturecountry，intersectedwithwoodedcanons，descendingtothesouthandwestfromhisfeet，creaseoncreaseandrollonroll，fromlowerleveltolowerlevel，tothefloorofPetalumaValley，flatasabilliard-table，acardboardaffair，allpatchesandsquaresofgeometricalregularitywherethefatfreeholdswerefarmed。Beyond，tothewest，roserangeonrangeofmountainscuddlingpurplemistsofatmosphereintheirvalleys；andstillbeyond，overthelastrangeofall，hesawthesilversheenofthePacific。Swinginghishorse，hesurveyedthewestandnorth，fromSantaRosatoSt。Helena，andontotheeast，acrossSonomatothechaparral-coveredrangethatshutofftheviewofNapaValley。Here，partwayuptheeasternwallofSonomaValley，inrangeofalineintersectingthelittlevillageofGlenEllen，hemadeoutascaruponahillside。Hisfirstthoughtwasthatitwasthedumpofaminetunnel，butrememberingthathewasnotingold-bearingcountry，hedismissedthescarfromhismindandcontinuedthecircleofhissurveytothesoutheast，where，acrossthewatersofSanPabloBay，hecouldsee，sharpanddistant，thetwinpeaksofMountDiablo。TothesouthwasMountTamalpais，and，yes，hewasright，fiftymilesaway，wherethedraughtywindsofthePacificblewintheGoldenGate，thesmokeofSanFranciscomadealow-lyinghazeagainstthesky。”Iain’tseensomuchcountryallatonceinmanyaday，”hethoughtaloud。
Hewasloathtodepart，anditwasnotforanhourthathewasabletotearhimselfawayandtakethedescentofthemountain。Workingoutanewroutejustforthefunofit，lateafternoonwasuponhimwhenhearrivedbackatthewoodedknolls。Here，onthetopofoneofthem，hiskeeneyescaughtaglimpseofashadeofgreensharplydifferentiatedfromanyhehadseenallday。Studyingitforaminute，heconcludedthatitwascomposedofthreecypresstrees，andheknewthatnothingelsethanthehandofmancouldhaveplantedthemthere。Impelledbycuriositypurelyboyish，hemadeuphismindtoinvestigate。Sodenselywoodedwastheknoll，andsosteep，thathehadtodismountandgouponfoot，attimesevenonhandsandkneesstrugglinghardtoforceawaythroughthethickerunderbrush。
Hecameoutabruptlyuponthecypresses。Theywereenclosedinasmallsquareofancientfence；thepicketshecouldplainlyseehadbeenhewnandsharpenedbyhand。Insidewerethemoundsoftwochildren’sgraves。
Twowoodenheadboards，likewisehand-hewn，toldthestateLittleDavid，born1855，died1859；andLittleRoy，born1853，died1860。”Thepoorlittlekids，”Daylightmuttered。Thegravesshowedsignsofrecentcare。Witheredbouquetsofwildflowerswereonthemounds，andtheletteringontheheadboardswasfreshlypainted。Guidedbytheseclews，Daylightcastaboutforatrail，andfoundoneleadingdownthesideoppositetohisascent。Circlingthebaseoftheknoll，hepickedupwithhishorseandrodeontothefarm-house。Smokewasrisingfromthechimneyandhewasquicklyinconversationwithanervous，slenderyoungman，who，helearned，wasonlyatenantontheranch。Howlargewasit？Amatterofonehundredandeightyacres，thoughitseemedmuchlarger。Thiswasbecauseitwassoirregularlyshaped。Yes，itincludedtheclay-pitandalltheknolls，anditsboundarythatranalongthebigcanonwasoveramilelong。”Yousee，”theyoungmansaid，”itwassoroughandbrokenthatwhentheybegantofarmthiscountrythefarmersboughtinthegoodlandtotheedgeofit。That’swhyitsboundariesareallgougedandjagged。””Oh，yes，heandhiswifemanagedtoscratchalivingwithoutworkingtoohard。Theydidn’thavetopaymuchrent。Hillard，theowner，dependedontheincomefromtheclay-pit。Hillardwaswelloff，andhadbigranchesandvineyardsdownontheflatofthevalley。Thebrickyardpaidtencentsacubicyardfortheclay。Asfortherestoftheranch，thelandwasgoodinpatches，whereitwascleared，likethevegetablegardenandthevineyard，buttherestofitwastoomuchup-and-down。”You’renotafarmer，”Daylightsaid。Theyoungmanlaughedandshookhishead。”No；I’matelegraphoperator。ButthewifeandIdecidedtotakeatwoyears’vacation，and……hereweareButthetime’saboutup。
I’mgoingbackintotheofficethisfallafterIgetthegrapesoff。”
Yes，therewereaboutelevenacresinthevineyard——winegrapes。Thepricewasusuallygood。Hegrewmostofwhattheyate。Ifheownedtheplace，he’dclearapatchoflandontheside-hillabovethevineyardandplantasmallhomeorchard。Thesoilwasgood。Therewasplentyofpasturageallovertheranch，andtherewereseveralclearedpatches，amountingtoaboutfifteenacresinall，wherehegrewasmuchmountainhayascouldbefound。Itsoldforthreetofivedollarsmoreatonthantherank-stalkedvalleyhay。
Daylightlistened，therecametohimasuddenenvyofthisyoungfellowlivingrightinthemidstofallthiswhichDaylighthadtravelledthroughthelastfewhours。”Whatinthunderareyougoingbacktothetelegraphofficefor？”hedemanded。
Theyoungmansmiledwithacertainwistfulness。”Becausewecan’tgetaheadhere……”hehesitatedaninstant，”andbecausethereareaddedexpensescoming。Therent，smallasitis，counts；andbesides，I’mnotstrongenoughtoeffectuallyfarmtheplace。IfIownedit，orifIwerearealhuskylikeyou，I’dasknothingbetter。Norwouldthewife。”Againthewistfulsmilehoveredonhisface。”Yousee，we’recountryborn，andafterbuckingwithcitiesforafewyears，wekindoffeelwelikethecountrybest。We’veplannedtogetahead，though，andthensomedaywe’llbuyapatchoflandandstaywithit。”
Thegravesofthechildren？Yes，hehadreletteredthemandhoedtheweedsout。Ithadbecomethecustom。Whoeverlivedontheranchdidthat。
Foryears，thestoryran，thefatherandmotherhadreturnedeachsummertothegraves。Buttherehadcomeatimewhentheycamenomore，andthenoldHillardstartedthecustom。Thescaracrossthevalley？Anoldmine。
Ithadneverpaid。Themenhadworkedonit，offandon，foryears，fortheindicationshadbeengood。Butthatwasyearsandyearsago。Nopayingminehadeverbeenstruckinthevalley，thoughtherehadbeennoendofprospect-holesputdownandtherehadbeenasortofrushtherethirtyyearsback。
Afrail-lookingyoungwomancametothedoortocalltheyoungmantosupper。Daylight’sfirstthoughtwasthatcitylivinghadnotagreedwithher。Andthenhenotedtheslighttanandhealthyglowthatseemedaddedtoherface，andhedecidedthatthecountrywastheplaceforher。Declininganinvitationtosupper，herodeonforGlenEllensittingslack-kneedinthesaddleandsoftlyhummingforgottensongs。Hedroppeddowntherough，windingroadthroughcoveredpasture，withhereandtherethicketsofmanzanitaandvistasofopenglades。Helistenedgreedilytothequailcalling，andlaughedoutright，once，insheerjoy，atatinychipmunkthatfledscoldingupabank，slippingonthecrumblysurfaceandfallingdown，thendashingacrosstheroadunderhishorse’snoseand，stillscolding，scrabblingupaprotectingoak。
Daylightcouldnotpersuadehimselftokeeptothetravelledroadsthatday，andanothercutacrosscountrytoGlenEllenbroughthimuponacanonthatsoblockedhiswaythathewasgladtofollowafriendlycow-path。
Thisledhimtoasmallframecabin。Thedoorsandwindowswereopen，andacatwasnursingalitterofkittensinthedoorway，butnooneseemedathome。Hedescendedthetrailthatevidentlycrossedthecanon。Partwaydown，hemetanoldmancomingupthroughthesunset。Inhishandhecarriedapailoffoamymilk。Heworenohat，andinhisface，framedwithsnow-whitehairandbeard，wastheruddyglowandcontentofthepassingsummerday。Daylightthoughtthathehadneverseensocontented-lookingabeing。”Howoldareyou，daddy？”hequeried。”Eighty-four，”wasthereply。”Yes，sirree，eighty-four，andspryerthanmost。””Youmusta’takengoodcareofyourself，”Daylightsuggested。”Idon’tknowaboutthat。Iain’tloafednone。IwalkedacrossthePlainswithanox-teamandfitInjunsin’51，andIwasafamilymanthenwithsevenyoungsters。IreckonIwasasoldthenasyouarenow，orprettynighontoit。””Don’tyoufinditlonelyhere？”
Theoldmanshiftedthepailofmilkandreflected。”Thatalldepends，”
hesaidoracularly。”Iain’tneverbeenlonelyexceptwhentheoldwifedied。Somefellersarelonelyinacrowd，andI’moneofthem。That’stheonlytimeI’mlonely，iswhenIgoto’Frisco。ButIdon’tgonomore，thankyou’mosttodeath。Thisisgoodenoughforme。I’vebenrighthereinthisvalleysince’54——oneofthefirstsettlersaftertheSpaniards。”
Daylightstartedhishorse，saying:-”Well，goodnight，daddy。Stickwithit。Yougotalltheyoungbloodsskinned，andIguessyou’vesureburiedamightysightofthem。”
Theoldmanchuckled，andDaylightrodeon，singularlyatpeacewithhimselfandalltheworld。ItseemedthattheoldcontentmentoftrailandcamphehadknownontheYukonhadcomebacktohim。Hecouldnotshakefromhiseyesthepictureoftheoldpioneercomingupthetrailthroughthesunsetlight。Hewascertainlygoingsomeforeighty-four。ThethoughtoffollowinghisexampleenteredDaylight’smind，butthebiggameofSanFranciscovetoedtheidea。”Well，anyway，”hedecided，”whenIgetoldandquitthegame，I’llsettledowninaplacesomethinglikethis，andthecitycangotohell。”BurningDaylight:PartII:ChapterIXPartIIChapterIXInsteadofreturningtothecityonMonday，Daylightrentedthebutcher’shorseforanotherdayandcrossedthebedofthevalleytoitseasternhillstolookatthemine。Itwasdryerandrockierherethanwherehehadbeenthedaybefore，andtheascendingslopessupportedmainlychaparral，scrubbyanddenseandimpossibletopenetrateonhorseback。