“They’re just all alligacheek,” I said; then, partly for the joke on her, I said, “Good medicine (meaning magic); you can get anything you want with ’em!” “Give me some,” said Kate, not quite believing me, for it was a pretty big story to swallow, according to her ideas, so I handed her over a stack of twenties. She took them and went out to try the magic. Going up to the first man she met, she held out the whole lot to him, asking him for his slicker. When I came up and said it was all right, he peeled it right off and handed it over to her, grabbing the money quick. That was a new one on her, and she couldn’t quite believe it even then. Well, it was funny to see the way she acted. She pretty near bought up everything in camp she took a fancy to, just for the fun of seeing the magic work, and she was as excited as a kid with a brand new watch. We came out of the country finally, and took a steamer for San Francisco, for I wanted to see the old town again and show Kate what big cities were like, besides giving her the chance to spend all the money she wanted on togs and jewelry. We drove up from the wharf in the best turn-out I could find, and put up at the Palace Hotel in the bridal suite. The best was none too good for Kate and me while I was flush. I rather guess we broke the record for spending, the two weeks we stayed there. I had three or four cases of champagne open in my room all the time, and the bell-boys got so they knew they didn’t have to be asked, but would just pop the cork and let her fizz. I got a great big music-box that cost more than a piano, with drums and bells inside, and we kept it a-going while we were eating, which was most of the time we weren’t out doing the town. I blowed myself for an outfit of sparklers, which this stone here in my shirt-front is the last, sole survivor. I bought more clothes than I could wear out in ten years.