He sped to the mine opening to examine his find by daylight, and his eager confidence was confirmed. How beautifully the specks and streaks glinted and glittered! He climbed out and hid his ladder, and went homeward on winged feet. He was too hurried and eager to take his usual roundabout course; but he saw no one as he sped along the Old Plank Road except Mr. Smith, whom he passed on the hill beyond Peter Jim’s cabin.
Dick dropped from a trot to a walk when he came to The Village, and sauntered up The Street to The Roost, where his father was sitting on the porch reading a Congressional Record. With an elaborate assumption of carelessness, Dick held out the shining stone.
“See what I’ve found, father,� he said. “What do you reckon it is?�
Mr. Osborne examined the stone deliberately.
“H-m! It is——�
A vagrant breeze caught the Congressional Record and tossed it on the floor.
“Pick up that paper, son,� said Mr. Osborne, “and smooth out the pages; gently, so as not to tear them. You know I file——�
“Yes, sir. But my rock, father!� Dick interrupted in uncontrollable impatience.
“It is quartz,� said his father; “quartz with a little silver in it. These minute particles and streaks are free silver, such as is found occasionally in the quartz in this section. This looks like a poor specimen from the Old Sterling Mine. Where did you get it?�
“Oh! I found it,� Dick said vaguely.