"I don't want any better gold mine than the old Parker House," said he comfortably.
By now it was late in the afternoon. The wind had dropped, but over the hills to seaward rolled a soft beautiful bank of fog. The sun was blotted out behind it and a chill fell. The crowds about the Plaza thinned.
We economized our best at supper, but had to pay some eight dollars for the four of us. The bill was a la carte and contained such items as grizzly steak, antelope, elk, and wild duck and goose. Grizzly steak, I remember, cost a dollar and a quarter. By the time we had finished, it had grown dark. The lamps were alight, and the crowds were beginning to gather. All the buildings and the big tent next door were a blaze of illumination. The sounds of music and singing came from every side. A holiday spirit was in the air.
Johnny and I were crazy to be up and doing, but Talbot sternly repressed us, and Yank agreed with his decision by an unusually emphatic nod.
"It is all a lot of fun, I'll admit," said he; "but this is business. And we've got to face it. Sit down here on the edge of this veranda, and let's talk things over. How much money have you got, Yank?"
"Two hundred and twenty dollars," replied Yank promptly.
"You're partners with me, Frank, so I know our assets," said Talbot with tact. "Johnny?"
"Hanged if I know," replied that youth. "I've got quite a lot. I keep it in my pack."
Johnny was gone for some time. We smoked and listened to the rather blatantly mingled strains of music, and watched the figures of men hurrying by in the spangled darkness.
"Sit down, Johnny, and cool off," he advised. "If anybody had robbed you, they'd have taken the whole kit and kaboodle. Did you come out ahead on those _monte_ games?"
"I see what you're at, but you're away off there. I just played for small stakes."
"And lost a lot of them. I sort of look-out your game. But that's all right. How much did the 'robbers' leave you?"
"Twelve dollars, besides what I have in my clothes--twenty-one dollars in all," said Johnny.
"Well, that's pretty good. You beat Frank and me to death. There's our total assets," said Talbot, and laid a ten-dollar gold piece and a dime on his knee.
"We'll call that dime a curiosity," said he, "for I notice a quarter is the smallest coin they use out here. Now you see that we've got to talk business. Frank and I haven't got enough to live on for one more day."