The clerks in the main room had seen his kind before, often, and he was readily admitted. He was, undoubtedly, a man who had struck it rich and was eager to mortgage and begin working the claim.
He was a bearded fellow, roughly clad, and was begrimed from hat to boots with mud and clay.
"You aire Mr. Brown?" he eagerly demanded.
"Yes, sir, I am Mr. Brown. What can I do for you, sir?"
"I have struck it rich—so all-fired rich that it has 'most turned my head. I want you to look at my find, which I have registered all correct, and lend me a loan on it so I kin open et up."
"That so? I congratulate you. Where does it lie?"
"Hardly out of gunshot from the camp, and it is the prince of 'em all, I'm bettin'."
"It will be a pleasure to me to look at it, the first opportunity, and if it is what you think, there will be no trouble about your getting a loan, I guess."
"No trouble at all, I'm bettin'. You will open yer eyes when ye see et."
"What do you consider it worth?"