Out of the dance, however, Ruth gained her desire. She explained to Min that she needed just her to make the motion picture complete. And Min, bashfully enough but gratefully, agreed to act the part of the “lookout” in the “palace of pleasure” afterward appearing in a girl’s garb in the hotel parlor.
Ruth was deep in her story now and could give attention to little else. Mr. Grimes and the motion picture company would arrive in a week, and by that time the several important buildings would be ready and the main street of Freezeout appear as it had been when the placer diggings were in full swing.
Something happened before the company arrived, however, which was of an astounding nature. Ruth, riding with Helen and Jennie one afternoon east of the camp, came upon the ridge where the lone horseman had been observed. And here, overhanging the gorge, was a place where the quartz ledge had been laid bare by pick and shovel.
“See that rock, girls? Look, how it sparkles!” said Helen. “Suppose it should be a vein of gold?”
“Suppose it is!” cried Jennie, scrambling off her horse.
“‘Fools’ gold,’ more likely, girls,” Ruth said.
“What is that?” demanded Jennie.
“Pyrites. But we might take some samples and show them to Flapjack.”
“Do you suppose that old fellow actually knows gold-bearing quartz when he sees it?” asked Helen, in doubt.
They picked up several pieces of the broken rock, and that evening after supper showed Peters and Min their booty. Flapjack actually turned pale when he saw it.