Dean and his two friends retired at an early hour. They usually became fatigued by the labors of the day, and did not require to court slumber long. They rose early, and took their breakfast at a restaurant near by. Before this was opened, they took turns at cooking breakfast themselves, but were glad to delegate that duty to some one else.
Dean, as the best penman, prepared the sign,
THESE CLAIMS FOR SALE.
rather fortunately, as Rawson was weak not only in writing but in spelling, and would have been very likely to write "Theas clames fer sail," without a thought that he had committed an error.
About nine o'clock on the second morning, a small man, dressed in a drab suit, walked leisurely up to Rawson, and remarked: "I understand that you wish to sell these claims."
"Exactly, if we can get a fair price."
"By we you mean——?"
"Myself, Mr. Jones, and the boy. We are partners. Where might you be from, friend?"
"I have an office in Denver. I am commissioned by a Philadelphia syndicate to buy some mining property, which will be worked with the help of improved machinery in a systematic manner."
"Then you will need more than we have to sell."