The chief centre of the new life was a day's drive farther in the mountains than Eden, the little hamlet which Keith had visited once with Dr. Balsam when he attended an old stage-driver, Gilsey by name, and cut a bullet out of what he called his "off-leg." This was the veiled Golconda. To the original name of Humboldt the picturesque and humorous mountaineer had given the name of "Gumbolt."
This was where old Adam Rawson, stirred by the young engineer's prophecy, had taken time by the forelock and had bought up the mineral rights, and "gotten ahead" of Wickersham & Company.
Times and views change even in the Ridge region, and now, after years of delay, Wickersham & Company's railroad was about to be built. It had already reached Eden.
Keith, after a few days with his father, stopped at Ridgely to see his old friends. The Doctor looked him over with some disapproval.
"As gaunt as a greyhound," he muttered. "My patient not married yet, I suppose? Well, she will be. You'd better tear her out of your memory before she gets too firmly lodged there."
Keith boldly said he would take the chances.
When old Rawson saw him he, too, remarked on his thinness; but more encouragingly.
"Well, 'a lean dog for a long chase,'" he said.
"How are cattle?" inquired Keith.
The old fellow turned his eyes on him with a keen look.