otch and the claim. We also secured the specimen of gold that you
have there. I will tell you the thrilling experiences we had in getting
at the deposit, when I finish this plan.

"To transport the ore from the mine to some station on the railroad,
will necessitate a spur being built from Oak Creek, or a new line being
run from the mainline at Denver over to Bear Forks. In either case, it
will cost a mint to build and run such a railway because of the long
tunnels that will have to be cut through the mountains, and the lack of
other traffic over a new road.

"Even a sort of switch-back railway running from the mine to the valley
will cost us more money than we can get together. So we would have to
take in outside capital to supply the needs. OR----"

Here Tom Latimer paused to impress his hearers with what he was about to
say. Mr. Brewster moved uneasily in his arm-chair, but every one else
was intensely interested.

"The Polly-Eleanor Company can sell certain stock in their mining
company to Sam Brewster. He, or his company that owns and works Rainbow
Cliffs, can furnish capital to build and work things in connection with
the mines.

"The Evans' Jewel Cutting Company will be harvesting such rich returns
from Rainbow Cliffs, that it will be able to supply all the capital
needed to carry out the vast projects on Top Notch. And the voting stock
in _both_ companies will be held by interested parties who can
appreciate the fact that neither company can take advantage of the other
without both failing. It will be to the good of all concerned to see
that everything connected with both mines, is done on the level and to
the best of every one's ability.

"Of course it will take a year or two before we can be ready to drill
down through that cave for the ore, but we can start in on Rainbow
Cliffs without any delay and begin to reap the rewards of investment at
once. In the case of Mr. Brewster agreeing to have his Cliffs mined for
the stones, and the Polly-Eleanor Company agreeing to combine with
Evans' Jewel Company for mining their gold, both can erect plants on the
same land, and use the same railroad for carrying their products to the
outside world. That will save a great expense because the cost of
building and maintaining railroads and buildings, will be divided by
two."

Tom finished and John eagerly asked: "What do you-all think of our great
idea? Of course, Montresor's heirs ought to hold an interest, but should