The next day Luke left Chicago and journeyed by the most direct route to Franklin, Minnesota.  He ascertained that it was forty miles distant from St. Paul, a few miles off the railroad.  The last part of the journey was performed in a stage, and was somewhat wearisome.  He breathed a sigh of relief when the stage stopped before the door of a two-story inn with a swinging sign, bearing the name Franklin House.

Luke entered his name on the register and secured a room.  He decided to postpone questions till he had enjoyed a good supper and felt refreshed.  Then he went out to the desk and opened a conversation with the landlord, or rather submitted first to answering a series of questions propounded by that gentleman.

“You’re rather young to be travelin’ alone, my young friend,” said the innkeeper.

“Yes, sir.”

“Where might you be from?”

“From New York.”

“Then you’re a long way from home.  Travelin’ for your health?”

“No,” answered Luke, with a smile.  “I have no trouble with my health.”

“You do look pretty rugged, that’s a fact.  Goin’ to settle down in our State?”

“I think not.”

“I reckon you’re not travelin’ on business?  You’re too young for a drummer.”

“The fact is, I am in search of a family that I have been told lives, or used to live, in Franklin.”

“What’s the name?”

“The lady is a Mrs. Ransom.  I wish to see her brother-in-law, Mr. James Harding.”

“Sho!  You’ll have to go farther to find them.”

“Don’t they live here now?” asked Luke, disappointed.

“No; they moved away six months ago.”

“Do you know where they went?” asked Luke, eagerly.

“Not exactly.  You see, there was a great stir about gold being plenty in the Black Hills, and Mr. Harding, though he seemed to be pretty well fixed, thought he wouldn’t mind pickin’ up a little.  He induced his sister to go with him—­that is, her boy wanted to go, and so she, not wantin’ to be left alone, concluded to go, too.”

“So they went to the Black Hills.  Do you think it would be hard to find them?”

“No; James Harding is a man that’s likely to be known wherever he is.  Just go to where the miners are thickest, and I allow you’ll find him.”

Luke made inquiries, and ascertaining the best way of reaching the Black Hills, started the next day.

“If I don’t find James Harding, it’s because I can’t,” he said to himself resolutely.

CHAPTER XXXI

TONY DENTON’S CALL

Leaving Luke on his way to the Black Hills, we will go back to Groveton, to see how matters are moving on there.