"I want to buy that mule, Warren," said Mrs. Halford.
"Please give him to me," pleaded Miss Nellie.
"I should like to have a chance to try and cure him," said Derrick; and all these requests were made at once.
Mr. Jones looked at them with a puzzled smile, thought a moment, and then said, "All right: I will sell him to you, sister, for one cent, provided you will give him to Nellie, and that she will leave him with Derrick to care for and cure if he can."
"That's a splendid plan!" cried Miss Nellie.
"Have you any place in which to take care of him?" asked Mrs. Halford of Derrick.
"Yes," answered the boy, "we have a little empty stable back of our house that will make a tip-top mule hospital."
"Then it's a bargain, Warren; and if you take care of him, Derrick, you must let me pay all the doctor's bills, and furnish all necessary hay, corn, and oats."
Thus it was decided that Harry Mule should be restored to health and usefulness, if money, skill, and kind care could do it.
Before Derrick left, the mine boss said to him, "Now that there is no Harry Mule for you to drive, I am going to promote you, and let you work with Tom Evert as his helper. In that position you will gain a thoroughly practical knowledge of mining. You may report to him to-morrow."