“What is the one thing?” questioned Ham.

“If it wasn’t for the advice of old Ben here, I would not be here to-day, either; but Ben and I have been friends these twenty years, and in that time I have learned to know that Ben’s opinions are expressed only after a very careful consideration of all the facts.  I’m here because Old Ben insisted that I come.”

Willis turned and looked at Ben.  He stood by, smiling and puffing away at his pipe.  “But what has all that to do with Tad Kieser?” questioned Willis a little disappointedly.  “Of all the men in the world I would like most to see, it’s Tad.  Tell me where he is, if you know.”

“But why do you want to see him so badly, may I ask?” questioned the stranger.

“Because he is the only man in the world that can straighten out a tangle of things that I don’t understand.  And I’m sure that if he knew I was here, he’d come to help me.”

Old Ben came to the rescue.

“Boy, Tad would do anything in the great, wide world fer ye.  He’s talked about ye every tarnal day since he first seen ye, an’ they ain’t been nothin’ in his mind since, except yer welfare.  Ye are a tarnal lucky feller to have such a friend.”

“Saw me?” questioned Willis.  “Tad Kieser saw me?”

“Yes, boy, an’ is a lookin’ at ye now, an’ is out in this cold here fer ye this mornin’, a breakin’ of vows he made long ago.  Tad, tell the boy all about it.  This young feller an’ me is goin’ to look up that tarnal dog.”  He took Ham by the arm and drew him away down the trail out of hearing.  Tad and Willis were busy at the lock of the old tunnel.  Old Ben explained the situation to Ham as they leisurely hunted the dog.  At last Ham understood, and was happy for Willis.

“My, but you look pert, Tad.  I ain’t seed ye look so pert in ten year.  What’s up?  Come, tell a feller.  Has that young’un been stuffin’ ye while we was gone?” and Ben laughed a merry laugh.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were Tad the first day?” questioned Willis, his eyes shining with pleasure.

“I’ll tell you why some time,” replied the old miner, “but not now.  I would never have consented to come up here this morning with Ben if I had not suspected that Mr. Williams intended to enter this tunnel very soon.  Perhaps you know how he hates me.  I caught him in a mighty crooked deal here once, and scared him badly.  He and I have fought each other ever since the death of your father.  He holds the keys to this lock, that’s why I’m cutting it off.  We’re going to replace it with another.  When your uncle comes he will find I have been ahead of him.”

“And you aren’t going into the tunnel?” questioned Willis in astonishment.

“No, lad, not to-day.  I don’t know as I ever will.”

“Tell me all about the trouble between you and my uncle.  How does it happen that he holds the key to this lock instead of you?  Mother told me you had the key?” questioned Willis.