"Observing the scenery, or what?" persisted Ham. "We heard you doing some mighty loud observing up here a few minutes ago. Come, now, no secrets. What are you up to? Do you know you are trespassing this very moment?"
"Trespassin', eh? Well, I expect Old Ben knows when he's trespassin' an' when he ain't. This time he ain't." He turned to the stranger and continued: "I jist come along to give my friend here a little moral support. He's so tarnal foolish about this old hole."
"Not foolish, Ben," answered the stranger, as he turned from his work, "not foolish, but—why, good morning, lad!" He advanced with extended hand toward Willis.
Willis could hardly believe his own eyes. What was this man doing here?
"It seems like our paths cross often, doesn't it?"
"Why, I—" exclaimed Willis.
"I know you are surprised," continued the stranger, "but no more so than
I, for I didn't expect to find you here on such a morning as this."
"But what are you doing here?" stammered Willis. "What is there about this mine that is of interest to you? This mine is my father's property, and it's locked—the tunnel, I mean—"
"Yes, I know, lad," he interrupted. "I know it does seem strange, but it isn't half as strange to you as it is to me, and besides—"
"But, sir, how dare you tamper with locked property?"