“When your father conceived that idea it was impractical.  He was too far ahead of the times.  But to-day, lad, it means that every mine dump in the Cripple Creek region will be worked over again and the gold removed at a trifling expense, for in that tube are the blueprints of the greatest electrical ore-roasting machine in the world.”  He took his knife from his pocket and slowly and carefully pried off the rusty lid.  The blue roll slid out into his hand.  The moisture had not penetrated the can, and the sketches were as good as the day they were made.  Willis took them in his hand and proudly turned them over and over, then he placed them again in the can with the remark, “Tad, these things all belong to mother.  I wonder what she’ll say?”

Tad broke into a pleased little laugh, and the old smile that had made him so many friends in the years gone by came back to his grizzled face.

“Lad, you’re rich to-day, and I am better satisfied.  Those plans will bring you and your mother a goodly sum.  It lifts a great burden from a poor, worthless prospector’s mind.”  Willis did not know the true meaning of the words, but Old Ben did, and it was now his turn to talk.

“Tad, I’ve knowed ye for a tarnal lot o’ years, hain’t I?  An’, Tad, they ain’t a soul on earth as would do fer ye as me.  I’ve lived a life myself, Tad, an’ I ain’t so big a fool as ye are about some things.”  Ben pulled a piece of the ore from his pocket and held it up for inspection.  “Tad, there’s a twenty-inch vein of that rock in yonder, an’ finer gold quartz ye never seed in all yer days.”  He turned to Willis:  “Boy, ye’r tarnal lucky.  Them plans may be valuable, but I have my doubts about it; but it’s certain that that mine is valuable.  Jist how much gold they is there, I don’t know, but they is lots of it.  Two or three more weeks an’ Williams would have struck it from the other side.  Now listen, lad:  sell out, do you hear me, sell out.  It’ll bring a handsome price on assay; but sell now, or Williams—­” and his voice dropped to a mysterious whisper and he looked suspiciously about him, “or Williams will get the best of ye yet.”

After more talk and discussion, the whole party went down to the cabin, and Ham prepared a special supper.  After the meal was over, all sat and talked before the fireplace, and the entire story was gone over again in detail.  Towards late afternoon they began the down trip through the canyon.

At the inn Tad promised to come the next day to the city to meet Mrs. Thornton.  Together they would confer about the newly-discovered facts.

“Don’t wait too tarnal long to sell, boy, or something will happen.  Tad’s unlucky.  Sell if ye can, an’ I’d make that tarnal critter, Williams, buy the whole business, if I was you.”

Tad and Willis stood some time talking, Willis then took the plans and the other things that had been in his father’s coat, and started home.  They walked in silence for some time, then Willis spoke: