Considerably impressed, Jim turned a chair around and seated himself astride it, folding his arms across the back.
"Fire away. I'm listening," he said briefly.
"Has this news anything to do with Dad?" asked Billie.
"Partly, my dear. It concerns you, principally; you, and your antecedents." North took a sheaf of papers from his pocket, and produced a fountain pen. "Did you ever hear of a place called Topaz Gulch?"
"Yes. Dad and I were there when I was a little girl. There was a big fire; I can just remember seeing it. We left soon after, I think."
"And then where did you go?" The lawyer made rapid notes as he quizzed her, and Billie stared in growing wonder.
"Oh, we just traveled. I can recall a lot of places, but not their names; mining camps, and cattle towns and farming centers. Then we came here, when the boom first started, and Dad built the Blue Chip——"
The lawyer nodded as she faltered.
"That will do, I think. We can go into the details more exhaustively later, but I am convinced that you are indeed the young woman in the case. But first, can you tell me anything of your mother?"
"Dad said she died a long time ago." Billie's voice was very low. "I don't remember her at all, unless——"