The "opening"suggested by Bill was not a fortunate one.Possibly views of business openings in the public-house line taken from the tops of stage-coaches are not as judicious as those taken from less exalted levels.Certain it is that the "goodwill"of the "Lone Star House"promised little more pecuniary value than a conventional blessing.It was in an older and more thickly settled locality than the "Half-way House;"indeed,it was but half a mile away from Campville,famous in '49--a place with a history and a disaster.
But young communities are impatient of settlements that through any accident fail to fulfil the extravagant promise of their youth,and the wounded hamlet of Campville had crept into the woods and died.
The "Lone Star House"was an attempt to woo the passing travelers from another point;but its road led to Campville,and was already touched by its dry-rot.Bill,who honestly conceived that the infusion of fresh young blood like Jeff's into the stagnant current would quicken it,had to confess his disappointment."I thought ye could put some go into the shanty,Jeff,"said Bill,"and make it lively and invitin'!"But the lack of vitality was not in the landlord,but in the guests.The regular customers were disappointed,vacant,hopeless men,who gathered listlessly on the veranda,and talked vaguely of the past.Their hollow-eyed,feeble impotency affected the stranger,even as it checked all ambition among themselves.Do what Jeff might,the habits of the locality were stronger than his individuality;the dead ghosts of the past Campville held their property by invisible mortmain.
In the midst of this struggle the "Half-way House"was sold.Spite of Bill's prediction,the proceeds barely paid Jeff's debts.Aunt Sally prevented any troublesome consideration of HER future,by applying a small surplus of profit to the expenses of a journey back to her relatives in Kentucky.She wrote Jeff a letter of cheerless instruction,reminded him of the fulfillment of her worst prophecies regarding him,but begged him,in her absence,to rely solely upon the "Word.""For the sperrit killeth,"she added vaguely.Whether this referred figuratively to Jeff's business,he did not stop to consider.He was more interested in the information that the Mayfields had removed to the "Summit Hotel"two days after he had left."She allowed it was for her health's sake,"continued Aunt Sally,"but I reckon it's another name for one of them city fellers who j'ined their party and is keepin'company with her now.They talk o'property and stocks and sich worldly trifles all the time,and it's easy to see their idees is set together.It's allowed at the Forks that Mr.Mayfield paid Parker's bill for you.I said it wasn't so,fur ye'd hev told me;but if it is so,Jeff,and ye didn't tell me,it was for only one puppos,and that wos that Mayfield bribed ye to break off with his darter!That was WHY you went off so suddent,'like a thief in the night,'and why Miss Mayfield never let on a word about you after you left--not even your name!"Jeff crushed the letter between his fingers,and,going behind the bar,poured out half a glass of stimulant and drank it.It was not the first time since he came to the "Lone Star House"that he had found this easy relief from his present thought;it was not the first time that he had found this dangerous ally of sure and swift service in bringing him up or down to that level of his dreary,sodden guests,so necessary to his trade.Jeff had not the excuse of the inborn drunkard's taste.He was impulsive and extreme.At the end of the four weeks he came out on the porch one night as Bill drew up."You must take me from this place to-night,"he said,in a broken voice scarce like his own."When we're on the road we can arrange matters,but I must go to-night.""But where?"asked Bill.
"Anywhere!Only I must go from here.I shall go if I have to walk."Bill looked hard at the young man.His face was flushed,his eyes blood-shot,and his hands trembled,not with excitement,but with a vacant,purposeless impotence.Bill looked a little relieved.
"You've been drinking too hard.Jeff,I thought better of ye than that!""I think better of MYSELF than that,"said Jeff,with a certain wild,half-hysterical laugh,"and that is why I want to go.Don't be alarmed,Bill,"he added;"I have strength enough to save myself,and I shall!But it isn't worth the struggle HERE."He left the "Lone Star House"that night.He would,he said to Bill,go on to Sacramento,and try to get a situation as clerk or porter there;he was too old to learn a trade.He said little more.When,after forty-eight hours'inability to eat,drink,or sleep,Bill,looking at his haggard face and staring eyes,pressed him to partake,medicinally,from a certain black bottle,Jeff gently put it aside,and saying,with a sad smile,"I can get along without it;I've gone through more than this,"left his mentor in a state of mingled admiration and perplexity.
At Sacramento he found a commercial "opening."But certain habits of personal independence,combined with a direct truthfulness and simplicity,were not conducive to business advancement.He was frank,and in his habits impulsive and selfishly outspoken.His employer,a good-natured man,successful in his way,anxious to serve his own interest and Jeff's equally,strove and labored with him,but in vain.His employer's wife,a still more good-natured woman,successful in her way,and equally anxious to serve Jeff's interests and her own,also strove with him as unsuccessfully.At the end of a month he discharged his employer,after a simple,boyish,utterly unbusiness-like interview,and secretly tore up his wife's letter."I don't know what to make of that chap,"said the husband to his wife;"he's about as civilized as an Injun.""And as conceited,"added the lady.
