s to
be ruin. But if you 're willing, I 'm willing, and we 'll make the
scrap together."

Harry hitched at his trousers.

"They 've got that blooming skeleton out by this time. I 'm willing to
start--any time you say."

The breath went over Fairchild's teeth in a long, slow intake. He
clenched his hands and held them trembling before him for a lengthy
moment. Then he turned to his partner.

"Give me an hour," he begged. "I 'll go then--but it takes a little
grit to--"

"Who's Fairchild here?" A messenger boy was making his way along the
curb with a telegram. Robert stretched forth a hand in surprise.

"I am. Why?"

The answer came as the boy shoved forth the yellow envelope and the
delivery sheet. Fairchild signed, then somewhat dazedly ran a finger
under the slit of the envelope. Then, wondering, he read:

Please come to Denver at once. Have most important information for you.

R. V. Barnham,
H & R Building.

A moment of staring, then Fairchild passed the telegram over to Harry
for his opinion. There was none. Together they went across the street
and to the office of Farrell, their attorney. He studied the telegram
long. Then:

"I can't see what on earth it means, unless there is some information
about this skeleton or the inquest. If I were you, I 'd go."

"But supposing it's some sort of a trap?"

"No matter what it is, go and let the other fellow do all the talking.
Listen to what he has to say and tell him nothing. That's the only
safe system. I 'd go down on the noon train--that 'll get you there
about two. You can be back by 10:30 to-morrow."

"No 'e can't," it was Harry's interruption as he grasped a pencil and
paper. "I 've got a list of things a mile long for 'im to get. We're
going after this mine 'ammer and tongs now!"

When noon came, Robert Fairchild, with his mysterious telegram, boarded
the train for Denver, while in his pocket was a list demanding the
outlay of nearly a thousand dollars: supplies of fuses, of dynamite, of
drills, of a forge, of single and double jack sledges, of fulminate
caps,--a little of everything that would be needed in the months to
come, if he and 'Arry were to work the mine. It was only a beginning,
a small quantity of each article needed, part of which could be picked
up in the junk yards at a reasonable figure, other things that would
eat quickly into the estimate placed upon the total. And with a
capital already dwindling, it