you? Well, I am.
I wanted Charlie to go snooks with me, but he hasn't got time. Me,
I've been projectin' and pirootin' over the pinnacles after that gold
for a year now, and I've just about got it tracked to its lair.
To-morrow--"

"Oh, gold!" said Lyn disdainfully, and wrinkled her nose.

"_Ain't I told you a hundred times--
Baby!
Ain't I told you a hundred times,
There ain't no money in the placer mines?
Baby!_"

"Lyn! Wherever do you pick up such deplorable songs?" said Aunt Peg,
highly scandalized. "But she's right, Adam. The best gold is like that
in the old fable--buried under your apple trees. You dig there
faithfully and you will need no placer mines."

White Edith turned to Charlie See.

"If you really intend to buy a farm here you ought to be getting about
it. You might wait too long, Mr. See."

"Charlie. Exactly what do you mean by that remark, my fair-haired
child?"

"Here! This has gone far enough!" declared Hob. "We men have got to
stand together--or else pull stakes and go where the women cease from
troubling and the weary are at rest. Don't you let her threats get you
rattled, Charlie See. We'll protect you."

"Silly! I meant, of course, that the Mexicans are not selling their
lands cheaply now, as they used to do."

"Not so you could notice it," said Uncle Dan. "Those that wanted to
sell, they've sold and gone, just about all of them. What few are left
are the solid ones. Not half-bad neighbors either. Pretty good sort.
They're apt to stick."

"Not long," said Hobby rather sadly. "They'll go, and we'll go too,
most of us. The big dam will be built, some time or other; we'll be
offered some real money. We'll grab it and drift. Strangers will take
comfort where we've grubbed out stumps. We are the scene shifters. The
play will take place later. 'Sall right; I hope the actors get a hand.
But I hate to think of strangers living--well, in this old house. Say,
we've had some happy times here."

"Won't you please hush?" said Adam. "Why so doleful? There's more
happy times in stock. This bunch don't have to move away. Why, when I
get my gold mine in action we can all live happy ever after.
To-morrow--"

"Hobby is right," said Aunt Peg. "Pick your words as you please,
bad luck or improvidence on the one side, thrift or greed on the
other--yes, and as many more words of praise or blame as you care
for; and the fact remains that the people who care fo