as a handful of bits of quartz, brought up into the light from the
depths of a sagging pocket. The quartz indicated high-grade ore; it
was streaked and pitted with soft yellow gold.

'By the Lord, you've got it!' cried Howard. He wrung Longstreet's hand
warmly. 'Good for you. You've got the thing you came for!'

'One of the things,' Longstreet corrected him with twinkling eyes.

'And the other?'

'Another gold mine! As our young friend Barbee puts it, I'm all loaded
for bear this trip, partner!'

'And you haven't told Miss Helen? Or Carr?'

'Never a word. And for two very excellent reasons: _Imprimis_, they
both were poking fun at me last night; Helen said that I couldn't find
gold if it were in a minted twenty-dollar gold piece in my own pocket.
Now I am having my revenge on them; I'll show them! _Secundo_: Next
week comes Helen's birthday. I am going to give her a little surprise.
A gold mine for a birthday present isn't bad, is it?'

Howard sat down to talk matters over, and since there was still coffee
and some bits of toast left he changed his mind about breakfast and ate
and drank while he listened to Longstreet. The university man had made
certain of the value of his discovery only last evening; it had
happened that Carr was staying over with them and therefore, while he
and Helen chatted about a great deal of nothing at all, Longstreet had
ample time to think matters over. To-day he meant to go into Big Run
and on into the county seat, which he had learned was but a few miles
further on and was a sizable town. There he would take on a small crew
of men and what tools and implements and powder would be needed for
uncovering his ledge and there he would attend to the necessary papers,
the proving up on his claim, matters upon which he was somewhat hazy.
The following day he would return and begin work.

'I've got to go down by the ranch,' Howard told him. 'Then, if you
like, I can go on with you. It is possible I might be of service to
you. At least, I could steer you into the right sort of people.'

Longstreet nodded vigorously. 'That's fine of you. And I won't say it
was not expected. Some day, perhaps, I can repay you for some of your
kindnesses to us. Now, if you are ready, I'll go and call Helen. And,
remember, not a word to them about our business.'

'Miss Helen will go with us?'

'I can hardly leave her out here alone, can I?' smiled Longstreet.
'And Mr. Carr said that he wou