While Ben devoted his time to Bullion, Jennie managed the place at Elk City. Ben's energy found a new field in Bullion, in the way of erecting an opera house, which was a neat and creditable building for the neighborhood. This house was opened by Wildman's company, the very appropriate play of "Ten Nights in a Barroom" being chosen for the initiatory performance. Whatever else may be said of Ben's appearance in this town, it is at least certain that he infused into it a good deal of life. The success of the Elk City and Bullion enterprises were such as to warrant Ben in taking a somewhat protracted pleasure trip, which, in company with Jennie, he did. [Illustration: _THE HOUSE IN TARPORT._] CHAPTER XXV. Saratoga Trip--Bullion Again--Arrival in Tarport--Opens Dance House--A Groundless Scandal--The Truth About the Girl Carrie. The summer of 1877 found our hero and his friend at Saratoga, where they spent a couple of weeks, and then journeyed to New York. There they made the Sinclair House their headquarters, and in that very excellent hostelry lived in a most sumptuous manner. The choice viands and superior wines for which the Sinclair is famous were ordered in most lavish style. Meantime the usual round of pleasures--the theatres, drives, and promenades were indulged in to their fullest extent. This was Jennie's first visit to the metropolis, and, indeed, the trip was undertaken with a view to showing her the sights of the Eastern cities. The couple proceeded next to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, making the tour one of continuous pleasure. From the last-named city they returned to Pittsburg, and while Jennie made her way back to Bullion, Ben attended the races at Petersburg. These he followed up to Edinburg; and after this season of sport he also returned to Bullion. For the purpose of re-opening the house, Jennie was dispatched to Pittsburg, where she procured twenty new women. Returning with these, the house was again thrown open, and the former lively business was resumed. Among the girls who had accompanied Jennie from Pittsburg was one who made such a deep impression upon a highly respectable young man of Bullion that the latter asked her to become his wife. The offer was accepted, and the twain were married. The girl, who was not altogether guileless in some matters, was refreshingly innocent so far as wedlock was concerned. She was gravely informed by some of the inmates of the house that before she could legally be married she must have a cross painted upon her back as a symbol of her regeneration. To this and other equally absurd tricks she submitted without a murmur, and her body was tattooed so that she might have rivalled the famous Greek in the museum. In spite of this doubtful treatment, however, she got her husband, and so ought to have been satisfied.