one side, "is this a sample of
your ore? Well, I will say, it looks promising--would you mind if I go
into the tunnel?"

"Nope," returned Denver; and then, after a moment's pause: "How's that
gun-man of yours getting along?"

"Oh, Dave? He's all right. I'll ask you over sometime and let you get
better acquainted."

"Never mind," answered Denver, "I know him all I want to. And if I catch
him on my ground I'll sure make him jump--I don't like the way he talked
to me."

"Well, he's rough, but he's good hearted," observed Murray pacifically.
"I'm sorry he spoke to you that way--shall we go in now and look at the
vein?"

Denver grunted non-committally and led Murray into the tunnel, which had
turned now to follow the ore. Whatever his game was it was too deep for
Denver, so he looked on in watchful silence. Murray seemed well
acquainted with mining--he looked at the foot-wall and hanging-wall and
traced out the course of both veins; and then, without offering to take
any samples, he turned and went out to the dump.

"Yes, very good," he said, but without any enthusiasm, "it certainly
looks very promising. Well, good day, Mr. Russell; much obliged."

He started down the trail, leaving Denver staring, and then he turned
hurriedly back.

"Oh, by the way," he said, "I buy and sell ore. When you get enough
sacked you might send it down by McGraw and I'll give you a credit at
the store."

"Yes, all right," assented Denver and stood looking after him till he
cranked up and went roaring away. Not a word about the title, nothing
said about his warning; and no mention made of his well-known ability to
break any man in the county. The facts, apparently, were all that
interested him then--but he might make an offer later. When the vein was
opened up and he had made his first shipment, when it began to look like
a mine! Denver went back to work and as he drove in day by day he was
careful to save all the ore.

He hadn't had it assayed, because assaying is expensive and his supplies
had cost more than he expected, but from the size of the button when he
made his rough fire-tests, he knew that it ran high in silver. Probably
eight hundred ounces, besides the lead; and he had sorted out nearly a
ton. About the time he was down to his bottom dollar he would ship and
get another grub-stake. Then, when that was gone, if his vein opened up,
he would ship to the smelter direct; but the first small shipment could
be easier handled b