Then one of the men addressed his companion.
“Say, Joe,” he said, “mebbe this guy ken put us wise to things.”
And Joe nodded and turned to the storekeeper.
“Say, boss,” he began, “we’ve heerd tell this lay-out is a dead gut bonanza. There’s folks in Spawn City says ther’s gold enough here to drown the United States Treasury department. Guess we come along to gather some.” He grinned in an ingratiating manner.
Minky thought before answering.
“Ther’ sure is a heap o’ gold around. But it ain’t easy. I don’t guess you’d gather much in a shovel. You’ll get pay dirt that aways, but––”
“Ah! Needs cap’tal,” suggested Joe.
“That’s jest how we figgered,” put in the other quietly.
Minky nodded. Many things were traveling swiftly through his mind.
“Drove in?” he inquired.