“The Excelsior is the principal one, I believe. Then there is the Cortez; but I do not know much about that, nor does any one else.”
“And they are both up the Mokelumne River?”
“Yes; you’ll find them on the mining-map.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Oliver quitted the office in deep thought. Of one thing he was certain,—Colonel Mendix and Colonel Guerotaz were one and the same person. Now, could it be possible that the Cortez and the Aurora were one and the same mine?
“It seems to me,” he thought, “about the only way he could commit such a piece of villainy would be to change the name of the mine. If he didn’t do that any one could easily visit the place and find out its value. I begin to understand how poor, trusting father was duped.”
While Oliver had been in the office on Montgomery Street he had not noticed a tall, lank fellow lounging about the door. This man had been deeply interested in the boy’s inquiries, and when Oliver left the place the man was not slow to follow.
At the corner he stepped up and tapped Oliver on the shoulder.
“Excuse me,” he said in a low voice; “but I would like to have a few words with you on the quiet.”