We did not try to get near the bar, but after a few moments regained the street. The captain said farewell; and we hunted up, by his direction, the New York Tonsorial Emporium. There we had five dollars' worth of various things done to us; after which we bought new clothes. The old ones we threw out into the street along with a vast collection of others contributed by our predecessors.
"Now," said Johnny, "I feel like a new man. And before we go any farther I have a little duty to perform."
"Another drink at the sign of the Glass Pillars, or whatever they call the place."
"We don't want anything more to drink just now," I protested.
"Oblige me in this one treat," said Johnny in his best manner.
We entered the Arcade, as the bar was called. At once the loafers moved forward. Johnny turned to them with an engaging air of friendliness.
"Come on, boys, let's all take a drink!" he cried.
The glasses were poured. Johnny raised his. The others followed suit. Then all drained them simultaneously and set down the empty glasses.
"And now," went on Johnny in the same cheerful, friendly tone, "let's all pay for them!"
The loafers stared at him a moment. One growled menacingly, but fell silent under his clear glance. One or two others forced a laugh. Under Johnny's compelling eye they all paid. Billy, behind the bar, watched with sardonic amusement. When Johnny proffered his dust, the barkeeper thrust it back.
"If you put it that way, I thank you, sir," said Johnny in his grandest manner; and we walked out. "Those bums made me tired," was his only comment to us. "Now let's go hunt up Talbot. I'll bet my extinct toothbrush that he's a well-known citizen around here."
Johnny's extinct toothbrush was perfectly safe. The first man of whom we inquired told us where our friend lived, and added the gratuitous information that the Ward Block was nearing completion. We looked up the hotel, a new one on Montgomery Street. The clerk spoke with respect of Talbot, and told us we would probably find him at one of the several places of business he mentioned, or at the Ward Block. We thanked him, and went direct to the Ward Block first. All of us confessed to a great desire to see that building.
It was to be a three-story brick structure, and was situated at one corner of the Plaza. We gazed upon it with appropriate awe, for we were accustomed to logs and canvas; and to some extent we were able to realize what imported bricks and the laying of them meant. The foreman told us that Talbot had gone out "Mission way" with Sam Brannan and some others to look at some property, and would not be back until late.