“So this is what you are up to Miss Parsons,” said I, taking in the situation at a glance.
“Yes, sir,” she said, “I have written my name on that stake and I propose to put men to work to-morrow.”
It was just midnight when we reached the telegraph office, and Miss Parsons showed us the telegram which Mr. Bula had sent: it read:
“John Herrick,
Denver Club, Denver:
Got Amethyst vein. Sure Thing can be bought for one thousand, or can relocate and fight them; belongs to Ketchum. Answer.”
“Well,” said Harry, “you’re all right.”
“Now,” said Miss Parsons, “I want to find Mr. Ketchum and give him a check for one thousand and get a bill of sale or something to show.”
We explained that Ketchum was at that time walking in the direction of Wagon Wheel Gap. Further, that unless she had that amount of money in the bank, she would be doing a serious thing to give a check.
“Ah, but I have,” she said with a smile, as she pulled a bank-book from her desk. “My father wired a thousand dollars to the Miners’ and Merchants’ Bank for me a few days ago; the telegram notifying me it was there, came in your care, and I must apologize for not having told you sooner, but I was afraid you might ask me to give up my place, if you learned how rich I was.”
“You are all right, Miss Parsons,” said I, “and I congratulate you—but there is no excuse for you wanting to give that scamp a thousand dollars.”