"You lak' it, eh?" pressed Poleon, hungry for more demonstrativeexpression.

"0h-h," she sighed, "can't you SEE? Where on earth did you get it?"Then suddenly realizing its value, she cried, "Why, it must havecost a fortune!" A quick reproach leaped into her face, but he onlylaughed again.

"Wan night I gamble in beeg saloon. Yes, sir! I gamble good datnight, too. For w'ile I play roulette, den I dance, den I play somemore, an' by-an'-by I see a quite new dance gal. She's Franche gal, fromMontreal. Dat's de one I tol' you 'bout. Ba Gar! She's swell dress',too. She's name' Marie Bourgette."

"0h, I've heard about her," exclaimed Necia. "She owns a claim on BonanzaCreek."

"Sure, she's frien's wit' Charlie McCormack, dat riche feller, but Idon' know it dis tam', so I ask her for dance wit' me. Den we drinka bottle of champagne--twenty dollar."

"'Mamselle,' I say, 'how much you charge for sell me dat dress?'"

"'For w'y shall I sell im,' she say; 'I don' wear 'im before tillto-night, an' I don' get no more dress lak' dis for t'ousan'dollar.'"

Necia exclaimed excitedly.

'"For w'y you sell 'im?' I say. 'Biccause I'll tak' 'im down toFlambeau for Necia Gale, w'at never had no dress lak' dat in all herlife.' Wal, sir, dat Marie Bourgette, she's hear of you before, an'your dad, too--mos' all dose Cheechakos know 'bout 0ld Man Gale--soshe say:

"'Wat lookin' kind of gal is dis Necia?' An' I tell her all 'boutyou. Wen I'm t'rough she say:'"

"'But perhaps your little frien' is more hugeger as I am. Maybe dedress won't fit.'"