this time of night?"

"I don't know, exactly. But we could make some inquiries."

"Let us go to the hotel first," said Dave. "Then, after we have secured
rooms, we can hunt around, if we want to."

A little later they found themselves at the hotel, where they secured
two rooms with a bath. At the desk they asked the clerk if he knew an
old miner and prospector named Abe Blower.

"Seems to me I've heard the name," replied the clerk. "But I can't just
place it. You might ask Tom Dillon, over yonder. He knows all the
old-timers in Butte," and the clerk pointed to a man who sat in a corner
of the hotel lobby, reading a newspaper.

Tom Dillon, round-faced and white-haired, put down his paper and smiled
as the boys came up and addressed him. He was an old-time miner, who had
"struck it rich," and who had known how to take care of his wealth.

"Sure, I know most of the old-timers!" he exclaimed, genially, in reply
to Roger's question. "Who are you looking for?"

"Let me introduce myself first," said Roger. He gave his name and also
those of his chums. "I am the nephew of the late Maurice Harrison, of
this place."

"You don't tell me! Maurice's nevvy, eh? Then you must be the son o'
Senator Morr, o' the East?"

"Yes."

"Glad to know ye! Put her there, young man!" And Tom Dillon shook hands
cordially all around. "Yes, I knowed your uncle well--we did a bit of
prospectin' together onct. It broke me all up to hear how he died--so
many o' the old-timers droppin' off."

"It was a great shock to our family," replied Roger. "Perhaps you know
what brought me to Butte," he continued, looking at the old miner,
questioningly.

"To settle up the estate, I reckon."

"In a way, yes. I suppose you have heard about that lost mine?"

"What, the Landslide? Sure. An' she's gone fer good, lad; don't bank on
ever findin' it ag'in, for if you do, well, I think ye'll be
disapp'inted." And Tom Dillon shook his head slowly.

"You really think it can't be found?" asked Dave.

"I ain't sayin' that. But chances are all ag'in it. Whar that mine was
located, the big landslide changed the hull face o' nature, an' all
kinds o' landmarks have been teetotally lost."

"Well, I am going to do what I can," put in Roger. "And my two chums are
going to help me. But I was going to ask you a question. The clerk
suggested that we ask you. Do you know an old miner named Abe Blower?"

"Sure."

"Can you tell me where he is now?"

"He lives with