Emma offered to demonstrate to give Tom a “chance” to hear the story. Grace laughed happily. A great load of responsibility and worry had been lifted from her shoulders.
“I will be good, J. Elfreda. Please tell Tom everything—everything, remember. Mr. White, we wish you to sit in,” added Grace, as the guide discreetly moved away.
There followed a moment of silence, then Elfreda Briggs began the story of the fire, of her arrival at the forest cabin, and of the dramatic occurrences there. She told of the diary, of the loss of the gold dust, and of the general directions that Sam Petersen had left for locating the claim, though Elfreda did not say what those directions were. She thought it advisable not to do so.
Hippy got up and walked to his tent, returning shortly and standing with his back to a tree and his hands in his pockets as Miss Briggs finished her story.
Grace took up the story from that point, relating all that had occurred since Elfreda’s experience in the forest shack, but avoiding what she had learned through her wigwagging about Hamilton White.
Tom Gray pondered over the story, stroking his cheek, which Tom always did when thinking deeply.
“The Murrays, eh, White?” he questioned, glancing up at the guide.
Ham White nodded.
“It looks that way,” replied White.
“They know about this Lost River story, do you think?”