"John, I ain't heard of that woman from then until now. I thought she
had got tired of waiting on me and got married, but I believe she is
dead.
"I went to California and adopted the baby--a daisy too--and I've
honestly tried to be a father to her.
"I got to making money in outside speculations, and had plenty; so I let
her money accumulate at the Phoenix and paid her way myself.
"About four years ago, I left the road for good; bought me a nice place
just outside of Oakland, and settled down to take a little comfort.
"Mabel, my daughter Mabel, for she called me papa, went to Germany,
nearly three years ago, in charge of her music teacher, Sister Florence,
to finish herself off. Ah, John, you ort to see her claw ivory! Before
she went, she called me into the mission parlor, one day, and almost got
me into a snap; she wanted me to tell her all about her parents right
then, and asked me if there wasn't some mystery about her birth, and the
way she happened to be left in the mission all her life, her mother
disappearing, and my adoption of her."
"What did you tell her, Gun?" I asked.
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