“Why, Johnny,” the amazed Billy declared, “I thought you would stay and help run the mine.”
“Indeed! Well, why do you suppose I spent so much time teaching you how to run a mine, you young idiot, if not against just such a time as this? You found this concession and tied it up; I'll finance it and help you get everything started; but after that, I'm through, and you can manage it on salary and name the salary yourself. You have a greater interest in this country than I, William; and so with your kind permission we'll hike up to that concession tomorrow and give it the double-O; then, if I can O. K. the property, we'll cable for the machinery I ordered just before I left Denver, and get busy. We ought to have our first clean-up within ninety days. What kind of labour have you in this country? Anything worth while? If not, we'll have to import some white men that can do things.”
“Gosh, but you're in a hurry,” Billy murmured. He had been long enough in Sobrante to have acquired a touch of the manana spirit of the lowlands, and he disliked exceedingly the thought of having his courtship interrupted on a minute's notice.
“You know me, son. I'm a hustler on the job,” Webster reminded him brutally; “so the sooner you start, the sooner you can get back and accumulate more malaria. What accommodations have you up there?”
“None, Jack.”
“Then you had better get some, Billy. I think you told me we have to take horses at San Miguel de Padua to ride in to the mine.” Billy nodded. “Then you had better buy a tent and bedding for both of us, ship the stuff up to San Miguel de Padua, go up with it and engage horses, a good cook, and a couple of reliable mozos. When you have everything ready, telegraph me and I'll come up.”
“Why can't you come up with me?” Billy demanded.
“I have to see a man, and write some letters and send a cablegram and wait for an answer. I may have to loaf around here for two or three days. By the way, what did you do for that friend I sent to letter of introduction?”
“Exactly what you told me to do, Johnny”
“Where is he now?”