III
THE RISE OF GINGER GILLETT
His real Christian name, or first name, as they put in the United States, was Robert, but no one acquainted with the West would for one instant imagine that so insignificant a word could survive the contrast with his hair. A man with brown or black locks might have been called Bob, but a red-gold head and a blazing beard mean that a man's obvious destiny is to be called 'Ginger.' And he was called Ginger before his real name was known to any citizen of Painted Rock. For when Ginger Gillett 'struck' Painted Rock, he struck it hard, and was landed in the middle of a group with a broken arm, a cut forehead, and all his senses knocked 'galley-west.' It was a remarkable incident in the history of the City, and one which led to great improvements
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