The morning times., 1895-08-25
CHAPTER III.

he might stray there on his return from
Skinner'S he did not, nor did he aiterward,
revisit the locality. Neither the news
OF The registry OF the claim nor the arrival
OF KEYS workmen ever reached him. The
few travellers who passed his mill came
from the valley TO cross the Divide on thelI
WAY to SBinner'S and returned 10y the longer
hut easier detour OF the stage road over
Gall0per's Ridge He had 10 chance 10 par
iicipatein the prosperity that rlo wedfromtht
opening OF fthemine whichplentifully besprin
kled SINNERS settlement; he was too far
away to profit even 10y The chance custom
ofKey's sabbath wandering workmen. His
isolation from civilization-for those who
came TO him from the valley were rude
Western emigrants like himself-remaincd
undisturbed. The return Of the prospect
ing party 10 his humble hospitality that
night had been an exceptional case; IN ms
characteristic simplicity he did not dream
that ii was because they had nowhere else
10 go in their penniless condition. II was
an incident TO be pleasantly remembered,
hut whose non-recurrence did not disturb
his infinite patience. His pork barrel
and flour sack had been replenished 10y
other travellers; his own wants were few.
II was a day or two after the midnight
visit OF the sheriff TO Silver Hollow that
Key galloped down the steep grade to Col
Uuson's He was amuSed-albeit, III his
new Importance, a little aggrieved also
10 find that as usual CollinSun had con-
founded his descent with that OF the gcner-
ally detached boulder, and that he was
obliged 10 add his voice 70 the general up
roar This brought Cullinson to his door.
I've had your hoss hobbled out among
The chickweed and clover in tae green pas
ture back o the mill, and he's picked up
that much that he's lookIn' fat and sassy"
he said quietly, beginning mechanically to
unstrap KEYS bride, even while his guest
was in the act His backs
quite healed up
Key could not restrain a shug of impa-
thence II was three weeks since they had
met: three weeks crammed with excite
meut, energy. achievement and fortune TO
Key, and yet this place and this man were
as stupidly unchanged as when he had LEFT
them 4 momeutary fancy that thIs was
the reahJy-Jhat he himself was only ava h
ening from some delusive dream-came
over hun But COninson's next words were
practical
II rcckoned that maybe you'd write from
MarysviIle to Skinner TO send for the huSs
and forward him TO We, for never kalki-
lated you'd come back
1t was quite plain from this that Collinson
had heard nothing. But it was also awk-
ward. as Key would now have To tell the
whole story and reveal the fact that he had
been really experimenting when Collinsun
D, ffsff
by post-datiug his discovery Of the richness
OF The ore unlE he had reached ASrySNIile.
But he found some difficulty in rcCouuting
his good fortune; he WIS naturally no
boaster, hehadnO OdcSirejoimpreSsC Cu,iinson
with his penetration, nor Jhr uucauEied
energy lc had displayed N getting up his
company and opening the mine, 50 that he
was actually embarrassed by his own
undcrStatement and under the grave, pa
tient eyes OF his companion, told his story
at best lamely. Colinson's face betrayed
neither profound interest nor the slightest
resentment. When he had ended his awk-
ward recital ColIinson said slowly:
Then Uncle Dick and that other Parker
feller amt got no show in this yer find
NO" said Key quickly. Don't you
remember We broke up our partnership
that morning and went off our own ways?
You don't suppose be added with a
forced half laugh, that if Uncle DICK
or Parker had struck a lead after they
left me they'd have put me ia it?''
wouldn't they?' asked Collinson,
gravely.
"Of course not" He laughed a little
more naturally, but presently added, with
an uneasy Su lie. what makes you think
they would?"
''Nothin'!' said Collinson promptly
Nevertheless, when they were seated
before the fire. with glasses in their hands,
CoHmson returned patiently to the subject.
You wuz saying they Went their way
and you went yours. But your way was
back on the old way that you'd gone to-
gether."
But Key felt himself on firmer ground
here, and answered deliberately and truth
fully. Yes, but ! only Went back to the
hollow to satisfy myself if there really
was any house there, and if there was,
TO warn the occupants of the approaching
fire"
And there wasa house there, said Collin
son thoughtfuny.
quickly, for he remembered that he had
denied its existence at theIrformer meeting.
That is" he went on huuiedly, Il found
out from the sheriff, you know, that these
had been a house there. But, " he added, re-
verting to his stronger position, my going
back there was an accident, and my picking
up the outcrop was an accident-and bad
no more to do with our partnership pros
pecting than you had, In fact, he added
with a reassuring laugh, you'd have had
a better right to share in my claim, coming
there as you did at that moment, than they
Why, if I'D have known what the thing was
worth, i might have put you in-only II
wanted capital and some experience" He
was glad that he had pitched upon that eX
cuse, it had only just occurred to him, and
glanced affably al CoIlinson. But that gen
tleman said soberly:
mo, you wouldn't nuther"
Why not?' said Key, half angrily.
ColIinson paused. After moment he
said: Cos i wouldn't hev took any
thing outer that place"
Key felt relieved. From what he knew
Of Colhnson's vagaries he believed him
He was wise in not admitting him TO hi,
cohlloenCes ut lue beSlhIilbS. ne lhiSh
have thought it his duty to tell others.
I'm not so particular" he returned
laughingly. but the silver in that hole wa,
never touched, nor, / dare say, even imag
ined. by mortal man before. However
there is something else about the hollow
that / want TO tell you. You remember the
slipper that you picked up?"
Yes"
"WeH, / lied to you about that; / never
dropped il. on the contrary, had picked
mp the mate OF it very near where you found
yours, and i wanted TO know to whom II
belonged For / don't mind telling you