“Well, as I said, you had luck,” repeated Talbot cheerfully, “so we needn’t think of it further.” It was characteristic that Johnny took this veiled rebuke from Talbot Ward in a meek and chastened spirit; from any one else his high temper could never stand even a breath of criticism. “How about you, Frank?” Talbot asked me.
I detailed my experiences in a very few words and exhibited my gold slug.
“That’s the best I can do,” I ended, “and half of that does not belong to me. I can, however, in a few days scrape up the full amount; there is plenty to do here. And barring bull luck, like Johnny’s, I don’t see much show of beating that, unless a man settled down to stay here.”
Talbot stared at me, ruminatively, until I began to get restive. Then he withdrew his eyes. He made no comment.
“I suppose you have your money,” suggested Yank to him, after a pause.
119“Oh–yes,” said Talbot as though awaking from profound reverie.
“Well, tell us about it. How did you get it? How long did it take you?”
“About half an hour. I figured that everybody in a place like this would be wanting news. So I sorted out that bundle of old newspapers you fellows were always laughing at, and I went out and sold them. Lucky I got busy with them early; for I don’t doubt the arrival of the Oregon broke the market.”
“How much did you get for them?” asked Johnny.
“A dollar apiece for most, and fifty cents for the rest. I came out two hundred and seventy dollars ahead all told. That, with Frank’s and my ten dollars, gave me sixty dollars above the necessary amount.”