r from the hotel proprietor, and was soon at the official's
office.

"So you want some of this Hop Toad, and Dolphin ore tested, eh?"
inquired the assayer. "Well, you're not the first person who has brought
me some. I tested some for a man named Hamilton, away out East, some
time ago. His lawyer brought it to me. I found it good then and I guess
it's good yet."

"Was it really good?" asked Dick, eagerly, and then, judging the
government official could be trusted, he told the object of his western
trip.

"Young man," said the assayer, when Dick had finished, "I'll tell you
all I know. This ore is good. It's very rich. In fact, I don't need to
assay it to tell that it runs many dollars to the ton. But one thing I
can't tell you to a certainty is that it came from the Hop Toad or
Dolphin mine. You see we assayers have to take the word of the miners as
to where the ore comes from. All we do is to make a test, and, by
finding out how much gold there is to a certain amount of ore, figure
out how much it will assay to a ton of the same ore. That's the basis on
which mines are valued."

"I can assure you that this ore we have came from the Dolphin and Hop
Toad mines," said Dick. "We saw it taken out."

"Seeing isn't always believing, when it comes to mines," replied the
assayer. "Still it may have been taken directly from the drifts. I
wouldn't say it to everyone," he went on, "but I believe there is
something crooked about those mines. I have thought so for some time,
but I can't decide just what it is. They have a reputation of being very
rich, and the ore assays well, but I don't like the actions of the men
running them."

"Do you think I have been cheated?" asked Dick.

"I do, but I can't give my reasons for it."

"Then what would you advise?"

"Well, you're out here to investigate. Keep on investigating. I'm a
government official and I can't take either side. But if I were you,"
and he came close to Dick and spoke in a low tone, "I'd visit that mine
when none of the men were around. I think they knew you were coming and
prepared for you."

"Why?" asked Dick, much surprised.

"Well, I can't tell you all my reasons now. Do as I advise, and try to
inspect the mines when no one is around."

"When would be the best time for that?"

"At night. That's the only time it would be safe. But be very careful.
This is a queer country. Men act quickly out here and they don't always
stop to ask questions before they shoo