"What kind of a partner?"
It was Linton who answered. "Well, some nice, easy-going, hard-working young feller. Jerry and I are pretty old to wind a windlass, but we can work underground where it's warm."
"'Easy-goin',' that's the word," Jerry nodded. "Tom and me get along with each other like an order of buckwheat cakes, but we're set in our ways and we don't want anybody to come between us."
"How would I do?" Pierce inquired, with a smile.
Tom answered promptly. "If your name was put to a vote I know one of us that wouldn't blackball you."
"Sure!" cried his partner. "The ballot-box would look like a settin' of pigeon eggs. Think it over and let us know. We're leavin' to-morrow."
A lease on Hunker Creek sounded good to Phillips. Big Lars Anderson had been one of the first arrivals from Circle City; already he was rated a millionaire, for luck had smiled upon him; his name was one to conjure with. Pierce was about to accept the offer made when Jerry said:
"Who d'you s'pose got the lay below ours? That feller McCaskey and his brother."
"McCaskey!"
"He's an old pal of Anderson's."