Ours was a long one in the middle and much grander than the rest, because it had a bit of marbled white oil cloth on it for a cloth.  The dears all the people were, and the kind generous spirit to ask us to a feast when food was so scarce and expensive!  And fancy, Mamma, in the middle was a bouquet of yellow daisies, and they were worth their weight in gold—­yellow daisies brought over ninety miles of desert, and how many hundred miles of train!

None of the people at the other tables took the slightest notice of our party; beyond a friendly greeting to those they knew, they did not even glance our way; think of the beautiful manners, and the difference, too, if these had been rough men of any other country in an eating house.  I tell you these Westerners are a thing apart for courtesy and respect to women—­a lesson to all the world; and the food was not at all awful, and we had the best of champagne! while the tent was lit by electric light, and had a board floor and benches for seats.  We were so gay at dinner, and while we were finishing, news came, I do not know how, that the desperado, Curly Grainger, and his comrades, were in the camp.  The man next me told me, and I never thought to tell Nelson, who was at my other side, which was foolish, as events proved.

After it, when they had made some speeches to bid us all welcome, we went out to see the sights—­principally a private gambling saloon where they were playing extremely high, about seven men intent on poker, some with green shades over their eyes of talc, which gave the strangest livid glow on their faces, and made them look like dead men.  After each round a felt-slippered bar-tender would slip in and give them all drinks in small glasses—­rum and milk and different things—­and I am sure one of the desperadoes was playing, his villainous face was in such contrast to the others.

Their revolvers were all up on a shelf, because, as the proprietor told us, “They so often got to shootin’ one another when they played as high as that,” he found it “more conducive to a peaceable evenin’ if their guns were handed out before they began!” How such things must add to the excitement of a game, Mamma!

The lowest stake was one thousand dollars and some had twenty-five thousand dollars in front of them.  There was a queer intent ominous hush, and we watched in silence for a while, and then went to a most quaint sort of theatrical entertainment—­songs and dances going on, the most primitive stage at one end, while a bar and drinks were at the other.  We only stayed about five minutes, because it did not seem quite the place for girls, although everyone treated us with the most scrupulous respect, instantly hushing their jokes as we approached, and making way for us like courtiers for foreign royalties in a drawing-room.  And when we got out in the street there appeared to be some excitement in the air.  Hundreds of men were loitering about or talking in groups, and the