His position was trying, and he was not
sorry when the term of his engagement expired the next week, and he left
Calaveras to take his new position on the San Francisco paper.
He was standing in the saloon of the Sacramento boat when he felt a
sudden heavy pressure on his shoulder, and looking round sharply, beheld
not only the black-bearded face of Mr. Dimmidge, lit up by a smile, but
beside it the beaming, buxom face of Mrs. Dimmidge, overflowing with
good-humor. Still a little sore from his past experience, he was about
to address them abruptly, when he was utterly vanquished by the hearty
pressure of their hands and the unmistakable look of gratitude in their
eyes.
"I was just saying to 'Lizy Jane," began Mr. Dimmidge breathlessly,
"if I could only meet that young man o' the 'Clarion' what brought us
together again"--
"You'd be willin' to pay four times the amount we both paid him,"
interpolated the laughing Mrs. Dimmidge.
"But I didn't bring you together," burst out the dazed young man, "and
I'd like to know, in the name of Heaven, what brought you together now?"
"Don't you see, lad," said the imperturbable Mr.
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