her and refused to take any of her dimons； she put a queer sort o'
ring into my hand； and told me with a kind o' mischievious；
bedevilin' smile； that I must keep it to remember her by。 Here it
iswhy； Mollie lass！ are you crazy？〃
She had snatched it from his fingers and was running swiftly from
the cottage out into the tempestuous night。 He followed closely；
until she reached the edge of the rocks。 And only then； in the
struggling； fast…flying moonlight； she raised a passionate hand；
and threw it far into the sea！
As he led her back to the cottage she said she was jealous； and
honest Captain Bunker； with his arm around her； felt himself the
happiest man in the world！
。 。 。 。 。 。
From that day the flag flew regularly over the rocky shelf； and； in
time； bugles and morning drumbeats were wafted from it to the decks
of passing ships。 For the Federal Government had adjudged the land
for its own use； paid Captain Bunker a handsome sum for its
possession； and had discreetly hidden the little cottage of Mrs。
Bunker and its history forever behind bastion and casemate。
THE TRANSFORMATION OF BUCKEYE CAMP
PART I。
The tiny lights that had been far scattered and intermittent as
fireflies all along the dark stream at last dropped out one by one；
leaving only the three windows of 〃Parks' Emporium〃 to pierce the
profoundly wooded banks of the South Fork。 So all…pervading was
the darkness that the mere opening of the 〃Emporium〃 front door
shot out an illuminating shaft which revealed the whole length of
the little main street of 〃Buckeye；〃 while the simple passing of a
single figure before one of the windows momentarily eclipsed a
third of the settlement。 This undue pre…eminence given to the only
three citizens of Buckeye who were still up at ten o 'clock seemed
to be hardly justified by their outward appearance； which was that
of ordinary long…bearded and long…booted river bar miners。 Two sat
upon the counter with their hands upon their knees； the third
leaned beside the open window。
It was very quiet。 The faint； far barking of a dog； or an
occasional subdued murmur from the river shallows； audible only
when the wind rose slightly； helped to intensify their solitude。
So supreme had it become that when the man at the window at last
continued his conversation meditatively； with his face towards it；
he seemed to be taking all Nature into his confidence。
〃The worst thing about it is； that the only way we can keep her out
of the settlement is by the same illegal methods which we deplore
in other camps。 We have always boasted that Buckeye could get
along without Vigilance Committees or Regulators。〃
〃Yes； and that was because we started it on the principle of
original selection； which we are only proposing to continue；〃
replied one of the men on the counter。 〃So there's nothing wrong
about our sending a deputation to wait upon her； to protest against
her settling here； and give her our reasons。〃
〃Yes； only it has all the impudence without the pluck of the
Regulators。 You demand what you are afraid to enforce。 Come；
Parks； you know she has all the rights on her side。 Look at it
squarely。 She proposes to open a store and sell liquor and cigars；
which she serves herself； in the broken…down tienda which was
regularly given to her people by the Spanish grantee of the land
we're squatting on。 It's not her fault but ours if we've adopted a
line of rules； which don't agree with hers； to govern the settlers
on HER land； nor should she be compelled to follow them。 Nor
because we justify OUR squatting here； on the ground that the
Spanish grant isn't confirmed yet； can we forbid her squatting
under the same right。〃
〃But look at the moral question； Brace。 Consider the example； the
influence of such a shop； kept by such a woman； on the community！
We have the right to protect ourselvesthe majority。〃
〃That's the way the lynchers talk；〃 returned Brace。 〃And I'm not
so sure about there being any moral question yet。 You are assuming
too much。 There is no reason why she shouldn't run the tienda as
decentlybarring the liquor sale； which； however； is legal； and
for which she can get a licenseas a man could； and without
interfering with our morals。〃
〃Then what is the use of our rules？〃
〃They were made for those who consented to adopt them； as we all
did。 They still bind US； and if we don't choose to buy her liquor
or cigars that will dispose of her and her tienda much more
effectually than your protest。 It's a pity she's a lone
unprotected woman。 Now if she only had a husband〃
〃She carries a dagger in her garter。〃
This apparently irrelevant remark came from the man who had not yet
spoken； but who had been listening with the languid unconcern of
one who； relinquishing the labor of argument to others； had
consented to abide by their decision。 It was met with a scornful
smile from each of the disputants； perhaps even by an added shrug
of the shoulders from the woman's previous defender！ HE was
evidently not to be taken in by extraneous sentiment。 Nevertheless；
both listened as the speaker； slowly feeling his knees as if they
were his way to a difficult subject； continued with the same
suggestion of stating general fact； but waiving any argument
himself。 〃Clarkson of Angels allows she's got a free； gaudy；
picter…covered style with the boys； but that she can be gilt…edged
when she wants to。 Rowley Meadehim ez hed his skelp pulled over
his eyes at one stroke； foolin' with a she bear over on Black
Mountainallows it would be rather monotonous in him attemptin' any
familiarities with her。 Bulstrode's brother； ez was in Marysville；
said there was a womanlike to her； but not herez made it lively
for the boys with a game called 'Little Monte；' and he dropped a
hundred dollars there afore he came away。 They do say that about
seven men got shot in Marysville on account o' this one； or from
some oneasiness that happened at her shop。 But then；〃 he went on
slowly and deferentially as the faces of the two others were lowered
and became fixed； 〃SHE says she tired o' drunken rowdies；there's a
sameness about 'em； and it don't sell her pipes and cigars； and
that's WHY she's coming here。 Thompson over at Dry Creek sez that
THAT'S where our reputation is playin' us！ 'We've got her as a
reward o' virtoo； and be dd to us。' But；〃 cautiously； 〃Thompson
ain't drawed a sober breath since Christmas。〃
The three men looked in each other's faces in silence。 The same
thought occurred to each； the profane Thompson was right； and the
woman's advent was the logical sequence of their own ethics。 Two
years previously； the Buckeye Company had found gold on the South
Fork； and had taken up claims。 Composed mainly of careful；
provident； and thoughtful men；some of cultivation and
refinement；they had adopted a certain orderly discipline for
their own guidance solely； which； however； commended itself to
later settlers； already weary of the lawlessness and reckless
freedom which usually attended the inception of mining settlements。
Consequently the birth of Buckeye was accompanied with no dangerous
travail； its infancy was free from the diseases of adolescent
communities。 The settlers； without any express prohibition； had
tacitly dispensed with gambling and drinking saloons； following the
unwritten law of example； had laid aside their revolvers； and
mingled together peacefully when their labors were ended； without
a single peremptory regulation against drinking and playing； or
carrying lethal weapons。 Nor had there been any test of fitness or
qualification for citizenship through previous virtue。 There were
one or two gamblers； a skillful duelist； and men who still drank
whiskey who had voluntarily sought the camp。 Of some such
antecedents was the last speaker。 Probably with two wives
elsewhere； and a possible homicidal record； he had modestly held
aloof from obtrusive argument。
〃Well； we must have a meeting and put the question squarely to the
boys to…morrow；〃 said Parks； gazing thoughtfully from the window。
The remark was followed by another long silence。 Beyond； in the
darkness； Buckeye； unconscious of the momentous question awaiting
its decision； slept on peacefully。
〃I brought the keg of whiskey and brandy from Red Gulch to…day that
Doctor Duchesne spoke of；〃 he resumed presently。 〃You know he said
we ought to have some in common stock that he could always rely
upon in emergencies； and for use after the tule fever。 I didn't
agree with him； and told him how I had brought Sam Denver through
an attack with quinine and arrowroot； but he laughed and wanted to
know if we'd 'resolved' that everybody should hereafter have the
Denver constitution。 That's the trouble with those old army
surgeons；they never can get over the 'heroics' of their past。
Why he told Parson Jennings that he'd rather treat a man for jim…
jams than one that was dying for want of stimulants。 However； the
liquor is here； and one of the things we must settle tomorrow is
the question if it ought not to be issued only on Duchesne's
prescription。 When I made that point to him squarely；