asked Hazelton, after a

t anything mo

go astray, it'll be the first time that I ev

Ferrers?" inquired

he way you've talked to me, I'm with you in anything, and I can wait a month

given to partner

And, gentlemen, if we make any money, just hand me wha

thorized me to do so. Mining it is, Jim, but we three are young and tender, and not expert with p

ally can," Fe

--men of good judgment and nerve. Pay 'em what's right. You know the state of wages around here. While you're at Dugout, Jim, pick out a two-mule team and a good, dependable wagon for carting supplies. Put all the chuck aboard that you think we'll need for the next two

ck up the money, Mr. Reade," begged Ferrers dryly

re you're to find the

I can do that, too.

, don'

our

nd the corner of Pala

re

ur

corners," Tom contin

City

odded Ferrers, "but I ne

shaking it. Next he drew a small, oblong book from an inside pocket, and com

s?" queried

ugout City Bank to hand y

the piece of pap

"Lead at twelve cents a pound? And say, will

ou'll have a right to feel peevish about it. But he won't. Haz

ing his eyes wide. "Fellers at you

"Did you think, Jim, that w

ably made more'n eighteen or twent

'll see by it that we have a good deal more than a thousand dollars there. Now, you draw the thousand that the check calls for. When you're th

Ferrers, "and you'd better set down most

ght Alf Drew in from hiding, his

our time off with your 'makings,' but Ferrers is going away, and you must stay around more fo

o Dugout City?" asked A

es

ll advance me fifty cents and let m

smiled Tom, passing

ess his thanks. Racing over to Jim the littl

ared Ferrers. "No

o get the 'makings,

't do it," the

do," a

o do it, sir? Then

t to do that for

wants," Tom proposed. "But I don't believe that Alf

oing to s

to stop it himself," Tom r

k, looking m

" requested Reade. "Now,

the under lid of one of young Drew's eyes a

ravely, "that your nerves

," asserted

ow find them," retorted the young engineer.

k-ic

ding some ten feet away from the low

ick-ic

howled the young cigarette fiend. "Tha

ttler," said Tom grav

e," said Haz

as trembling. As Tom came near him the "rattle" sounded again. Withi

ll of 'em," wailed t

id of ra

are in league with your brain. If you go on smoking cigarettes you won't have any brain. Or, if you do, it will be one that will h

s I will," mu

rode away. He offered to leave hi

t here, you know, Jim. And I don't want to have t

nd his crew come over her

ut don't be afraid, Jim. Gage and his crew will be anxious, for the next few days, to see whether the

y, carrying his rif

for the ground around the camp a