CHAPTER XV.
STARTLING NEWS.
The development of the old deserted copper mine, which had been duly christened the Pandora, went on daily.
The vein or rather ledge of ore which Prawle had originally tapped penetrated right into the hill which formed the topographical outline of the Jim Sanders claim.
It furnished copper almost in a virgin state of richness, and every pound the boys took out was fully up to the quality of the original samples produced by the prospector in the little surgery at Sackville.
The boys were enthusiastic over the prospects in sight.
“No medical school for me this year,” said Charlie, as he gleefully regarded a four-pound specimen of the pure ore which had fallen out of a fissure at his feet.
“I don’t blame you for wanting to put it off awhile under these circumstances,” replied Jack. “It seems almost as if we were digging gold or silver, doesn’t it, old chum?”
“It’s a standing wonder to me that none of those chaps up at the Gulch ever took it into their heads to investigate this hole in the hill.”
“That’s right,” said Jack, as he shoveled the loosened rock into one of the wheelbarrows. “Sanders tried to sell this claim a hundred times, but nobody wanted it. He was too lazy and shiftless to look into the place himself, and probably too ignorant of minerals to have noticed the composition of the rock here even had he done so.”
“If his partner, who originally staked the ground, was acquainted with the value of his mine, as might strike you as likely, he failed to impart the secret to Sanders.”
“It was a case of sudden death with him, so I fancy he didn’t have time to make any statement.”
“It is a more than a week now since that Chinaman was down here,” went on Charlie, after Jack returned from wheeling a load of the ore outside, “and Clymer and Plunkett haven’t made any hostile demonstrations. I wonder what they’re up to.”
“I’d give something to know. Men of their stamp don’t give up so easily when such a valuable stake as this is in sight.”
“Maybe they’ve heard that we’ve made application for a United States patent on the property and have recognized the uselessness of following the game any further.”
“Possibly,” answered Jack; “but for my part I don’t believe we’ve heard the last of those rascals.”
“When is Prawle coming back, do you think?”
“Not for a week at least. He’s gone as you know to make arrangements to have this load of ore towed up to Trinity.”
“I know that all right.”
“Then he’s got to arrange with the railroad company for a car to take it to the Montana smelting works at Marysville, make terms with the smelting people, and also see about shipping the copper east.”
“Where to?”
“Mr. Prawle didn’t say, because he didn’t know when talking to us about the matter. Probably New York.”
“I thought it was to go to Chicago.”
“The car will no doubt go by way of Chicago, and I shouldn’t be surprised to learn if it is held there for awhile for exhibition purposes while the Pandora company is being promoted. That would be my idea, if I were running things. I’d have the newspaper men examine it. That would bring notices, and thus call general attention to the discovery of a new mine of uncommon richness.”
“You’ve got a great head, Jack.”
“Oh, I don’t know; but I think I have a head for business. Taken it after my father. There’s nothing like publicity when you want to exploit a good thing.”
“Or a poor one, either. Look how those wildcat mining schemes are advertised. They catch lots of dupes every day.”
“That’s what they do. Well, it’s your turn now to wheel that barrow outside.”
Several days went by, and the boys began to have visitors from Rocky Gulch.
The mining operations at the creek had got abroad, and curiously disposed inhabitants of the Gulch came down to see what was going on.
Therefore, it wasn’t long before every person at the mining camp above knew that a copper lode had been discovered at Beaver Creek, and there was a hustle among some of the less fortunate ones to take up claims in the immediate vicinity of the Pandora, in line with the direction in which it was presumed the vein of ore was running.
Several prospectors who had been over the ground before for indications of gold turned up again and began new experiments to locate the existence of the copper deposits beyond the property lines of the Pandora.
Everybody, of course, examined with the greatest interest the sample load of ore on board the flat-boat, and the favorable comment its richness excited only spurred the boys on to greater efforts.
At last the boat was as full as Mr. Prawle had deemed prudent to load it.
The boys now grew impatient at the prospector’s continued absence.
“He’s been gone a week over the time he calculated to be away,” said Jack to Charlie, as they were eating supper one night after all labor in the mine had been discontinued. “I hope nothing has gone wrong.”
“Why should anything have gone wrong?” propounded Charlie.
“I was thinking about Clymer and Plunkett. They left Rocky Gulch I heard about the same time Mr. Prawle went through the camp bound for Trinity.”
“Maybe one of us, you for instance, ought to go up to Trinity and see if word can be heard from Mr. Prawle. You might telegraph to Marysville to the smelters.”
“I’ll go if you say so.”
“I would. Meyer and I won’t be lonesome around here now.”
“All right. I’ll go to-morrow morning. You may expect me back by night.”
Hardly were the words out of his mouth before a horseman leading another animal dashed into the Pandora camp.
The boys hastened to meet him.
“Which of you is Jack Howard?” asked the stranger, who was a young, smoothly-shaven fellow, with a town air about him.
“That’s my name,” said Jack, stepping up. “Are you from Trinity?”
“Yes. I’ve been sent by——”
“Mr. Prawle?”
“Yes. He wants to see you at once at the American House. I’ve brought a horse. You’re to go back with me.”
“I’m all ready to do so. You’ll rest awhile, won’t you, before we start?”
“Not longer than’s necessary to give my nag a rubbing down.”
“Judging by the looks of your animal you must have travelled fast,” said Jack, curiously.
“Well, yes,” said the rider carelessly, leaping to the ground, and pulling out a cloth began to rub the mare’s back and flanks.
“There’s something up,” said Charlie to his chum in a low tone.
“I’m afraid so,” replied Jack, not quite easy in his mind.
“Dot’s a fine horses you haf dere, I ped you,” said Meyer to the newcomer.
“One of the best in this section.”
“You vouldn’t sold dot horses, vould you, off you got a good prices for him?”
“He’s not mine to dispose of, young feller,” was the curt reply.
“P’haps you toldt me, den, vhere I found me a goot horses for mineseluf?”
“You’ll have no trouble finding a good horse in Trinity if you want one. Now, Howard, we’ll be on the move,” and he leaped on the back of his mare.
Jack followed suit on the led horse.
“Bye bye, Charlie. I’ll bring the news back with me. Take good care of Meyer.”
“I like me dot,” snorted the German boy. “I dink I dook care off mineseluf.”
“Is there anything wrong?” asked Jack anxiously as they dashed off out of camp.
“Well, yes; I didn’t want to let on before the others, as you’re the only one that’s wanted. Prawle was shot about sundown and is not expected to live.”