It appeared the old pioneers had in few cases attained a comfortable fortune for their old age.

"I know," he added, "that your friend Colonel Pendleton has dropped a good deal of money over in Europe.

Somebody told me that he actually was reduced to take a steerage passage home.

It looks as if he might gamble--it's an old Californian complaint." As Paul, who had become suddenly grave again, did not speak, Mrs.Woods reminded them that she had always doubted the colonel's moral principles.

Old as he was, he had never got over that freedom of life and social opinion which he had imbibed in early days.