of the fickle Fortune that had overlooked their weary labors and years of waiting to lavish her favors on the new and inexperienced amateurs.  Yet as they turned their dazzled eyes upon the three partners there was no envy or malice in their depths, no reproach on their lips, no insincerity in their wondering satisfaction.  Rather there was a touching, almost childlike resumption of hope as they gazed at this conclusive evidence of Nature’s bounty.  The gold had been there—­they had only missed it!  And if there, more could be found!  Was it not a proof of the richness of Heavy Tree Hill?  So strongly was this reflected on their faces that a casual observer, contrasting them with the thoughtful countenances of the real owners, would have thought them the lucky ones.  It touched Barker’s quick sympathies, it puzzled Stacy, it made Demorest more serious, it aroused Steptoe’s active contempt.  Whiskey Dick alone remained stolid and impassive in a desperate attempt to pull himself once more together.  Eventually he succeeded, even to the ambitious achievement of mounting a chair and lifting his tin cup with a dangerously unsteady hand, which did not, however, affect his precision of utterance, and said:—­

“Order, gentlemen!  We’ll drink success to—­to”—­

“The next strike!” said Barker, leaping impetuously on another chair and beaming upon the old locators—­“and may it come to those who have so long deserved it!”

His sincere and generous enthusiasm seemed to break the spell of silence that had fallen upon them.  Other toasts quickly followed.  In the general good feeling Barker attached himself to Van Loo with his usual boyish effusion, and in a burst of confidence imparted the secret of his engagement to Kitty Carter.  Van Loo listened with polite attention, formal congratulations, but inscrutable eyes, that occasionally wandered to Stacy and again to the treasure.  A slight chill of disappointment came over Barker’s quick sensitiveness.  Perhaps his enthusiasm had bored this superior man of the world.  Perhaps his confidences were in bad taste!  With a new sense of his inexperience he turned sadly away.  Van Loo took that opportunity to approach Stacy.

“What’s all this I hear of Barker being engaged to Miss Carter?” he said, with a faintly superior smile.  “Is it really true?”

“Yes.  Why shouldn’t it be?” returned Stacy bluntly.

Van Loo was instantly deprecating and smiling.  “Why not, of course?  But isn’t it sudden?”

“They have known each other ever since he’s been on Heavy Tree Hill,” responded Stacy.

“Ah, yes!  True,” said Van Loo.  “But now”—­

“Well—­he’s got money enough to marry, and he’s going to marry.”

“Rather young, isn’t he?” said Van Loo, still deprecatingly.  “And she’s got nothing.  Used to wait on the table at her father’s hotel in Boomville, didn’t she?”

“Yes.  What of that?  We all know it.”