They returned to the house and there broke the news to Phil.
The boy said nothing, but the chums could tell from the look on his face that the news was the most welcome he had heard that summer. Both Garry and Dick tactfully forebore to intimate that they had discovered Phil’s secret, and stated that they were off to the mine solely because it was a lark, and would be an interesting conclusion to their summer.
“There’s one thing, however. Once we start operations at the mine, it will mean that the news will spread about and as soon as we leave we will have to hire a guard to take care of it for us, or perhaps someone to work it until we have exhausted the mine.”
“I have a bright idea,” exclaimed Phil.
“All right, little brightness, shoot it,” said Garry laughing.
“We’ll just hire Nate Webster here; or better than that, I propose that we give him a share in the mine, and let him get a couple of trustworthy friends of his to help him, and he can operate it after we leave.”
“That’s a first class suggestion, Phil. What do you say to it, Nate?” asked Garry, turning to the old timer.
The question struck Nate rather by surprise, and he made them tell him some more details of the mine. When these had been furnished him, he answered:
“Well, I’d be willing to take a chance at it. I’ve done a little of everything but mining, and so I can try that once. But I won’t take any share in the mine. If you boys want to hire me at day wages, all right; but the mine’s yours, and I don’t feel that I should take a share when I’ve done nothin’ towards findin’ it.”
“That suits us all right, Nate, if it does you; for we are not sure that it will pan out. If we were sure it was O. K. I’d insist on giving you a share, for you’ve helped us wonderfully mainy times this summer.”