Mariahadbeencontentmerelytorememberit；butZerkow’savaricegoadedhimtoabeliefthatitwasstillinexistence，hidsomewhere，perhapsinthatveryhouse，stowedawaytherebyMaria。Foritstoodtoreason，didn’tit，thatMariacouldnothavedescribeditwithsuchwonderfulaccuracyandsuchcarefuldetailunlessshehadseenitrecently——thedaybefore，perhaps，orthatveryday，orthatveryhour，thatveryHOUR？
　　“Lookoutforyourself，“hewhispered，hoarsely，tohiswife。“Lookoutforyourself，mygirl。I’llhuntforit，andhuntforit，andhuntforit，andsomedayI’llfindit——Iwill，you’llsee——I’llfindit，I’llfindit；andifIdon’t，I’llfindawaythat’llmakeyoutellmewhereitis。I’llmakeyouspeak——believeme，Iwill，Iwill，mygirl——trustmeforthat。“
　　AndatnightMariawouldsometimeswaketofindZerkowgonefromthebed，andwouldseehimburrowingintosomecornerbythelightofhisdark-lanternandwouldhearhimmumblingtohimself：“Thereweremore’nahundredpieces，andeveryoneof’emgold——whentheleathertrunkwasopeneditfairdazzledyoureyes——why，justthatpunch-
　　bowlwasworthafortune，Iguess；solid，solid，heavy，rich，puregold，nothunbutgold，gold，heapsandheapsofit——whataglory！I’llfindityet，I’llfindit。It’sheresomewheres，hidsomewheresinthishouse。“
　　Atlengthhiscontinuedillsuccessbegantoexasperatehim。
　　OnedayhetookhiswhipfromhisjunkwagonandthrashedMariawithit，gaspingthewhile，“Whereisit，youbeast？
　　Whereisit？Tellmewhereitis；I’llmakeyouspeak。“
　　“Idon’know，Idon’know，“criedMaria，dodginghisblows。
　　“I’dtellyou，Zerkow，ifIknew；butIdon’knownothingaboutit。HowcanItellyouifIdon’know？“
　　Thenoneeveningmattersreachedacrisis。MarcusSchoulerwasinhisroom，theroomintheflatjustoverMcTeague’s“Parlors“whichhehadalwaysoccupied。Itwasbetweenelevenandtwelveo’clock。Thevasthousewasquiet；PolkStreetoutsidewasverystill，exceptfortheoccasionalwhirrandtrundleofapassingcablecarandthepersistentcallingofducksandgeeseinthedesertedmarketdirectlyopposite。Marcuswasinhisshirtsleeves，perspiringandswearingwithexertionashetriedtogetallhisbelongingsintoanabsurdlyinadequatetrunk。Theroomwasingreatconfusion。ItlookedasthoughMarcuswasabouttomove。
　　Hestoodinfrontofhistrunk，hisprecioussilkhatinitshat-boxinhishand。Hewasragingattheperversenessofapairofbootsthatrefusedtofitinhistrunk，nomatterhowhearrangedthem。
　　“I’vetriedyouSO，andI’vetriedyouSO，“heexclaimedfiercely，betweenhisteeth，“andyouwon’tgo。“
　　Hebegantoswearhorribly，grabbingatthebootswithhisfreehand。“PrettysoonIwon’ttakeyouatall；Iwon’t，forafact。“
　　Hewasinterruptedbyarushoffeetuponthebackstairsandaclamorouspoundinguponhisdoor。HeopenedittoletinMariaMacapa，herhairdishevelledandhereyesstartingwithterror。
　　“Oh，MISTERSchouler，“shegasped，“lockthedoorquick。Don’tlethimgetme。He’sgotaknife，andhesayssurehe’sgoingtodoforme，ifIdon’ttellhimwhereitis。“
　　“Whohas？Whathas？Whereiswhat？“shoutedMarcus，flamingwithexcitementupontheinstant。Heopenedthedoorandpeereddownthedarkhall，bothfistsclenched，readytofight——hedidnotknowwhom，andhedidnotknowwhy。
　　“It’sZerkow，“wailedMaria，pullinghimbackintotheroomandboltingthedoor，“andhe’sgotaknifeaslongasTHAT。Oh，myLord，herehecomesnow！Ain’tthathim？
　　Listen。“
　　Zerkowwascomingupthestairs，callingforMaria。
　　“Don’tyoulethimgetme，willyou，MisterSchouler？“
　　gaspedMaria。
　　“I’llbreakhimintwo，“shoutedMarcus，lividwithrage。
　　“ThinkI’mafraidofhisknife？“
　　“Iknowwhereyouare，“criedZerkow，onthelandingoutside。“You’reinSchouler’sroom。WhatareyoudoinginSchouler’sroomatthistimeofnight？Comeoutathere；yououghtabeashamed。I’lldoforyouyet，mygirl。Comeoutathereonce，an’seeifIdon’t。“
　　“I’lldoforyoumyself，youdirtyJew，“shoutedMarcus，unboltingthedoorandrunningoutintothehall。
　　“Iwantmywife，“exclaimedtheJew，backingdownthestairs。“What’sshemeanbyrunningawayfrommeandgoingintoyourroom？“
　　“Lookout，he’sgotaknife！“criedMariathroughthecrackofthedoor。
　　“Ah，thereyouare。Comeoutathat，andcomebackhome，“
　　exclaimedZerkow。
　　“Getoutahereyourself，“criedMarcus，advancingonhimangrily。“Getoutahere。“
　　“Maria’sgotacometoo。“
　　“Getoutahere，“vociferatedMarcus，“an’putupthatknife。
　　Iseeit；youneedn’ttryan’hideitbehindyourleg。
　　Giveittome，anyhow，“heshoutedsuddenly，andbeforeZerkowwasaware，Marcushadwrencheditaway。“Now，getoutahere。“
　　Zerkowbackedaway，peeringandpeepingoverMarcus’sshoulder。
　　“IwantMaria。“
　　“Getoutahere。Getalongout，orI’llPUTyouout。“
　　Thestreetdoorclosed。TheJewwasgone。
　　“Huh！“snortedMarcus，swellingwitharrogance。“Huh！
　　ThinkI’mafraidofhisknife？Iain’tafraidofANYBODY，“heshoutedpointedly，forMcTeagueandhiswife，rousedbytheclamor，werepeeringoverthebanistersfromthelandingabove。“Notofanybody，“repeatedMarcus。
　　Mariacameoutintothehall。
　　“Ishegone？Ishesuregone？“
　　“Whatwasthetrouble？“inquiredMarcus，suddenly。
　　“Iwokeupaboutanhourago，“Mariaexplained，“andZerkowwasn’tinbed；maybehehadn’tcometobedatall。Hewasdownonhiskneesbythesink，andhe’dpriedupsomeboardsoffthefloorandwasdiggingthere。Hehadhisdark-
　　lantern。Hewasdiggingwiththatknife，Iguess，andallthetimehekeptmumblingtohimself，’More’nahundredpieces，an’everyoneof’emgold；more’nahundredpieces，an’everyoneof’emgold。’Then，allofasudden，hecaughtsightofme。Iwassittingupinbed，andhejumpedupandcameatmewithhisknife，an’hesays，’Whereisit？Whereisit？Iknowyougotithidsomewhere。Whereisit？TellmeorI’llknifeyou。’IkindoffooledhimandkepthimofftillIgotmywrapperon，an’thenIrunout。Ididn’tdarestay。“
　　“Well，whatdidyoutellhimaboutyourgolddishesforinthefirstplace？“criedMarcus。
　　“Inevertoldhim，“protestedMaria，withthegreatestenergy。“Inevertoldhim；Ineverheardofanygolddishes。
　　Idon’knowwherehegottheidea；hemustbecrazy。“
　　BythistimeTrinaandMcTeague，OldGrannis，andlittleMissBaker——allthelodgersontheupperfloorsoftheflat——hadgatheredaboutMaria。Trinaandthedentist，whohadgonetobed，werepartiallydressed，andTrina’senormousmaneofblackhairwashangingintwothickbraidsfardownherback。But，lateasitwas，OldGrannisandtheretireddressmakerhadstillbeenupandaboutwhenMariahadarousedthem。
　　“Why，Maria，“saidTrina，“youalwaysusedtotellusaboutyourgolddishes。Yousaidyourfolksusedtohavethem。“
　　“Never，never，never！“exclaimedMaria，vehemently。“Youfolksmustallbecrazy。IneverHEARDofanygolddishes。“
　　“Well，“spokeupMissBaker，“you’reaqueergirl，Maria；
　　that’sallIcansay。“Sheleftthegroupandreturnedtoherroom。OldGranniswatchedhergofromthecornerofhiseye，andinafewmomentsfollowedher，leavingthegroupasunnoticedashehadjoinedit。Bydegreestheflatquieteddownagain。TrinaandMcTeaguereturnedtotheirrooms。
　　“IguessI’llgobacknow，“saidMaria。“He’sallrightnow。Iain’tafraidofhimsolongasheain’tgothisknife。“
　　“Well，say，“Marcuscalledtoherasshewentdownstairs，“ifhegetsfunnyagain，youjustyellout；I’LLhearyou。Iwon’tlethimhurtyou。“
　　Marcuswentintohisroomagainandresumedhiswranglewiththerefractoryboots。HiseyefellonZerkow’sknife，along，keen-bladedhunting-knife，withabuckhornhandle。
　　“I’lltakeyoualongwithme，“heexclaimed，suddenly。
　　“I’lljustneedyouwhereI’mgoing。“
　　Meanwhile，oldMissBakerwasmakingteatocalmhernervesaftertheexcitementofMaria’sincursion。Thiseveningshewentsofarastomaketeafortwo，layinganextraplaceontheothersideofherlittleteatable，settingoutacupandsaucerandoneoftheGorhamsilverspoons。CloseupontheothersideofthepartitionOldGrannisbounduncutnumbersofthe“Nation。“
　　“DoyouknowwhatIthink，Mac？“saidTrina，whenthecouplehadreturnedtotheirrooms。“IthinkMarcusisgoingaway。“
　　“What？What？“mutteredthedentist，verysleepyandstupid，“whatyousaying？What’sthataboutMarcus？“
　　“IbelieveMarcushasbeenpackingup，thelasttwoorthreedays。Iwonderifhe’sgoingaway。“
　　“Who’sgoingaway？“saidMcTeague，blinkingather。
　　“Oh，gotobed，“saidTrina，pushinghimgoodnaturedly。
　　“Mac，you’rethestupidestmanIeverknew。“
　　Butitwastrue。Marcuswasgoingaway。Trinareceivedaletterthenextmorningfromhermother。Thecarpet-
　　cleaningandupholsterybusinessinwhichMr。Sieppehadinvolvedhimselfwasgoingfrombadtoworse。Mr。Sieppehadevenbeenobligedtoputamortgageupontheirhouse。
　　Mrs。Sieppedidn’tknowwhatwastobecomeofthemall。HerhusbandhadevenbeguntotalkofemigratingtoNewZealand。
　　Meanwhile，sheinformedTrinathatMr。SieppehadfinallycomeacrossamanwithwhomMarcuscould“goinwithonaranch，“acattleranchinthesoutheasternportionoftheState。Herideaswerevagueuponthesubject，butsheknewthatMarcuswaswildlyenthusiasticattheprospect，andwasexpecteddownbeforetheendofthemonth。Inthemeantime，couldTrinasendthemfiftydollars？