in the corner of a saloon. Both men were busted and seemed glad
to have Ben come and take care of them. By the next day he got both men
straightened out, and they proceeded on their prospecting tour. Ben West
was determined to learn from Adams all he could in the way of mining.
After they had been out about a week, Ben sent Dickey in one direction
while he and Adams went in another. He watched Adams very closely and
learned lots from him. When they had been together about a month, Ben
West was getting tired of Adams for several reasons. One day he was
prospecting about a quarter of a mile from Adams, when he found
something rich. He brought a few samples to camp at night and showed
them to Adams. When Adams looked at the samples, he said: "West, you
have struck it." So the next day Adams went with Ben to see the mine,
and by doing more work it proved to be all that Ben West had expected.
Now that a mine had been found, Adams wanted to get a settlement with
Ben West, as he had been away some time and wanted to get back to Dawson
City. Ben West did not think he owed Adams anything, as Adams had not
found the mine, but for some reason Adams thought he ought to have an
interest in what West found; so they had some wordy trouble. After many
hot words, Ben West agreed to give Adams two thousand dollars, which
offer Adams accepted and then returned to Dawson City to see and enjoy
more fun as he called it. Two weeks later an agent representing the
North American Mining Syndicate bought Ben West's claim for fifty
thousand dollars, giving him a draft for forty thousand and ten thousand
in gold coin.

For a few weeks afterwards Ben West felt rich, then, strange to relate,
a feeling came over him that he was poor, and must make at least half a
million. About a month after he had sold his claim, he met three men
from his native State, California. He was glad to see men from his
State, and they were glad to see him, when they heard him say that he
had sold a claim, as they had very little money and might need some
financial help. Ben West found their company very entertaining and liked
to be with them. After awhile it was decided that all of them should go
in as partners. When they had been out prospecting a few weeks as
partners, it is singular to have to state that there was trouble over
every little show of a claim, and many other matters caused
unpleasantness, though before they became partners they were all great
friends. But th