d 'No,'
he would be lying. There was no other word for it.

'Well?' persisted Sanchia. She still smiled, she was still extremely
kind and friendly, but it was plain that she would have her answer.

Still he hesitated. What were his reasons for secrecy, after all?
Just to spring a surprise for Helen on her birthday. He had already
told Alan. A secret is a rather dull and stupid affair unless it is
shared. Mrs. Murray was all that was sympathetic; she would rejoice
with him.

'I had not planned to say anything about it yet,' he began hesitatingly.

'Oh!' she cried joyously. 'It's wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I am
so glad! Tell me about it. All about it, every word.'

Longstreet's smile answered her own. And, of course, he told.

'Only,' he warned her, 'I am keeping it a secret for a little. Helen
doesn't know. Next week is her birthday. I am going to give it to her
then.'

Mrs. Murray dropped her reins long enough to clap her gauntleted hands.
Then she elicited the whole story. She asked to be informed how he
knew he had really found gold; she expressed her child-like wonder at
his great wisdom; she was breathless with admiration after a fashion
which made him glow; and meantime she learned exactly where the place
was and saw his specimens. As she took them into her own hands her
eyes were lowered so that they were hidden; but when she looked up they
were shining.

'Give me one of them, just one,' she pleaded. 'Won't you? I should so
dearly love to keep it for a souvenir of this happiness which is coming
to you.' She sighed. Then, in a faint, quiet little voice: 'Maybe I
am asking too much?'

'No, no,' returned Longstreet stoutly. He selected the finest specimen
and presented it to her quite as a kind father might have given a stick
of candy to his little girl. 'It is very kind of you to rejoice with
us in the good fortune which is beginning to come our way. Just
beginning,' he added with grave assurance.

'I'll have a locket made of it,' said Sanchia. Now for a little it was
Longstreet who did the talking. She grew thoughtful, nodding now and
then or answering absent-mindedly.

'You'll begin work soon?' she asked abruptly.

'Immediately. That's what I'm going into San Ramon to-day for. There
are certain necessary papers to be drawn, you know, in order to file
properly. Then I'm going to get some men and teams and explosives and
tools and begin development to-morrow.'

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