He said
she had burned two houses for the insurance; had got mixed up with
several men and had robbed them."
"A regular she-devil," remarked Keeler.
"Well, sure enough, she turned up here in California, nearly ten years
ago. And very likely she would have killed me if she could have got hold
of my property. And if all the gold I ever mined could have saved her
from the sin and misery of these past ten years, she would have been
welcome to it. But I couldn't buy her a clear conscience, could I?
"She got as far as Moore's Flat. Hung around there several days till she
saw me at Haggerty's store. My old clothes must have disappointed her.
It would certainly humiliate any woman, good or bad, to associate with
such a scarecrow. So she cleared out, and went to San Francisco. I guess
she found out she was only a novice compared with the women down there.
And I guess in a year or two she was like all the rest. I tell you, it
was an awful thing to think of. It's bad enough to see a man go
wrong--but a woman!--and a woman you once loved--and still love, as God
still loves her!"
The old man had to pause here; and he arose abruptly, as if to put aside
his dishes; and Keeler, respecting his emotion, looked out of the
window.
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