“Treasurer.”
“Good!” said Gates, laughing. “I see you are sharp. But I’ll tell you what, young man, we are too sharp to employ you in that capacity. You might take a notion to leave us without warning.”
“I see you don’t know me,” said Tom. “I am poor but honest.”
“I’ve heard of that before,” said Gates. “There’s a good deal of humbug about that.”
“Seriously, gentlemen,” said Tom, “I am anxious to go out to the gold-fields, and am able to pay my expenses there, but I haven’t any friends that are going. Would you mind my going along with you?”
“Oh, come and welcome, if you’ll pay your own expenses,” said Gates. “What do you say, Morton?”
“I don’t mind,” said Morton. “He won’t trouble us.”
“Thank you,” said Tom. “When are you going to start?”
“Day after to-morrow.”
“I will be ready. Where shall I join you?”