ow'd you make out?"

"I didn't make out at all."

"Pshaw! That's too bad. What are you going to do now?"

"Go back home."

"I wish I could help you. Do you need work very much?"

"Well, I have to help support the house since my father met with that
accident."

"That's so. Shucks! Why ain't I rich? Then I could help my old friend."

"I don't think my father would take money that he or I did not earn."

"No, that's right, he wouldn't. But if I was rich I could give you a
job. As it is I can't do any more than offer to grub-stake you, or let
you come prospecting with me."

"Thank you very much for the offer, but I don't believe I could do it.
We need money right away, and I must earn it--somehow."

"But how are you going to?"

"That's what I don't know," and Fred spoke a little discouragedly. "I
must try some other camp, I suppose."

"Yes, I guess that's the only way. But say, won't you come in and have
some lunch with me? I'm just going to sit down."

"No, thank you. I must be getting home. I have quite a long walk."

"Oh, come on. It won't take long, and you'll feel all the better for
having eaten something. They don't set a very good table here. Everyone
is too busy thinking about gold mines, to care much about grub. I'd lend
you my elephant to get home on, only you can walk faster than he'll
carry you."

"Your elephant?"

"Yes, that's my latest name for the donkey."

"Oh, I understand."

"Come on in and have lunch," insisted the old miner again.

Fred did not need much urging. The truth was he was quite hungry, for he
had not eaten a hearty breakfast, and his lunch was not very
substantial. So he followed Mr. Gardner into the hotel, or what answered
for one, and soon they were seated at a rough table, where the food, if
not very dainty, was good, and there was enough of it.

"So your folks need money, do they?" asked Mr. Gardner when they were
drinking their coffee.

"Well, I fancy it would come in handy in 'most any family," answered
Fred with a smile.

"That's what it would. I could use a bit more myself. But I may strike
it rich here. If I don't, I may have a try for the Stults treasure. I
sure would, without stopping here, if I wasn't so old and stiff, and
wasn't afraid of the cold."

"The Stults treasure?" asked Fred. "What's that, and where is it? Is
there any chance of me getting a share?"

"I don't know. There might be," replied the miner, more seriously than
Fred thought he woul