Moya's gratitude shone through the eyes that met those of her guardian.
Kilmeny swung back to the group he had left. "I've good news, friends. This is my lucky day. You remember that when I was rescued from the Golden Nugget my pockets were full of ore samples I had picked up as I was tunneling."
"Yes ... picked them up while you were delirious, didn't you?" Farquhar replied.
"Must have, I reckon. Well, you know how miners are always having pieces of quartz assayed. Colter took these to the man we employ. He's just learned that it is high-grade stuff."
"You've made a strike?"
"Looks like it. Colter wasn't taking any chances, anyhow. He hiked right around to the owners of the mine and signed up a five-year lease in his name and mine."
Farquhar shook hands with him cordially. "Hope you make a fortune, Kilmeny."
Moya's chaperon, facing the inevitable, capitulated as graceful as she could. After all, the girl might have done worse. The man she had chosen was well born, good looking, forceful, and a leader in his community. If this fortunate strike was going to leave him well off, clearly she must make the best of him.
"You're a lucky man. I hope you know you don't deserve a girl like Moya," she told him as she shook hands.
"I know it, all right. Can you tell me who does?" he flung back, with a gay insouciant smile.