"We received good news down there at Mr. Gibson's office," continued Julian.
"I knew you would. Have you the property all in your hands?"
"No; there is some law-business to go through with, first. We told Mr. Gibson to go ahead with it, as he did before."
"That was the best thing that you ever did," said Mr. Fay, earnestly. "Gibson is an honest man, even if he is a lawyer, and you will get every cent that is coming to you. Now, then, here we are. You will find this rather a different hotel from the one you first stopped at when you came here, but the old fellow makes lots of money out of the miners. There is nobody stays here except those who have shovelled dirt."
Mr. Fay opened the door as he spoke, and the boys speedily found themselves in the living-room of the hotel. Before they had time to look around them the chief telegraph operator walked up and laid his hand upon the shoulder of a man who sat with his back to him.
"You are here yet, are you, Banta?" said he.
"Yes," replied the miner, looking up to see who it was that accosted him. "I am on hand, like a bogus coin made out of iron pyrites; you can't get rid of me."
"I have brought some boys with me who would like to know something about the mines at which you are working," said Mr. Fay; and he proceeded to introduce Julian and Jack.
Banta speedily proved that he was a gentleman, for he straightway got upon his feet to shake hands with the boys.
"All right," said the miner; "if anybody can tell them about Dutch Flat, I am the man."