nster. "He'll not rest until he does you some sneakin'
injury, soon as he figgers out what'll do you the most harm."

"An' him the least risk," remarked Sam.

"Since the excitement is temp'rarily over," said Miranda dryly, looking
at where Mormon snored beneath blankets, "I reckon we better all foller
his example. If that man Keith wants to buy my claims I'm willin' to
sell. Milkin' is more in my line than minin', I've decided. I had a fool
idea we'd pick up nuggets, top of the ground. From what Mr. Westlake
tells me, you got to put out a lot of money before you even find out
whether you're goin' to see the color of gold."

"Let's hold a pow-wow before we turn in," said Sandy. "Westlake, what do
you know about Keith? Anything?"

"I've heard of him. I imagine he started out as a promoter rather than a
developer. He has made some lucky strikes. There is no doubt but that
he can float this proposition on a large scale, induce others to put
money into it. The least likely-looking properties he'll put on the
market and tie them up with the reports of any strikes he, or others,
may make. He'll put the camp on a working basis. If the gold's here that
will be a sound one. You see, Miss Bailey, not every porphyry dyke is
going to have a gold lining."

"Do you figger it w'ud pay best to sell him outright or let him form a
company?" asked Sandy.

"For your claims, or these of Miss Bailey and her nephew?"

"All of 'em. Didn't you say they were all on the same syncline?"

"Yes. You really want to go by my opinion? I am not too experienced."

"You know a darn sight mo' about it than we do. I'm not takin' Keith's
opinion on anything he wants to buy. He's tipped his hand already in
showin' how far an' fast he came here. Probably had Plimsoll tied up on
an option or he w'udn't have said 's much as he did."

"Then--there is no doubt in my mind that Patrick Casey picked the best
side of the gulch. The indications are in sight there. This side the
exposed reef may have been ground down below the sylvanite. There are
glacial signs all around here. I would say sell these for cash, holding
out on price until Keith refuses to offer more. He'll come back for a
final bid. But let him organize with your claims."

"The Molly Casey Mine? With fifty-one per cent. of the shares, if we
can't get more?"

"He'll squeal like a pig before he grants that," said Westlake. "But
he'll have to come through to your terms. Those claims are the big b