“That’s the idea exactly. And I shan’t forget you two chaps in the deal, neither. You saved my life. If I had petered out here on that there table I shouldn’t have got any good out of the Pandora.”
“The Pandora!” exclaimed Charlie.
“Exactly. That’s the name I’ve given to the mine. It’ll look good on the engraved certificates when the company is formed: ‘The Pandora Copper Mining Company,’ Gideon Prawle, president. Maybe you’d like to be secretary, young man?” and he looked keenly at Jack Howard.
“I should rather enjoy the sensation of being secretary to a successful enterprise of that kind.”
“Would you? Well, perhaps you shall, for I’ve taken a liking to you. That reminds me you haven’t either of you told me your names.”
“Mine is Jack Howard, and this is my friend and chum, Charlie Fox. His father owns this store, and is the doctor who was going to hold the inquest on you when he got back to town.”
“I’m afraid he’ll be disapp’inted,” chuckled Gideon Prawle, taking a long drink at the milk jug.
“He’ll be rather pleased than otherwise,” ventured Charlie.
“Is that a fact?” said the stranger from the West. “I always thought doctors enj’yed cutting folks up so as to get at their innards.”
“There are exceptions,” replied Charlie, grinning at Jack.