STARTLING NEWS.
The development of the old deserted copper mine, which had been duly
christened the Pandora, went on daily.
The vein or rather ledge of ore which Prawle had originally tapped
penetrated right into the hill which formed the topographical outline
of the Jim Sanders claim.
It furnished copper almost in a virgin state of richness, and every
pound the boys took out was fully up to the quality of the original
samples produced by the prospector in the little surgery at Sackville.
The boys were enthusiastic over the prospects in sight.
“No medical school for me this year,” said Charlie, as he gleefully
regarded a four-pound specimen of the pure ore which had fallen out of
a fissure at his feet.
“I don’t blame you for wanting to put it off awhile under these
circumstances,” replied Jack. “It seems almost as if we were digging
gold or silver, doesn’t it, old chum?”
“It’s a standing wonder to me that none of those chaps up at the Gulch
ever took it into their heads to investigate this hole in the hill.”
“That’s right,” said Jack, as he shoveled the loosened rock into one of
the wheelbarrows. “Sanders tried to sell this claim a hundred times,
but nobody wanted it. He was too lazy and shiftless to look into the
place himself, and probably too ignorant of minerals to have noticed
the composition of the rock here even had he done so.”
“If his partner, who originally staked the ground, was acquainted with
the value of his mine, as might strike you as likely, he failed to
impart the secret to Sanders.”
“It was a case of sudden death with him, so I fancy he didn’t have time
to make any statement.”
“It is a more than a week now since that Chinaman was down here,”
went on Charlie, after Jack returned from wheeling a load of the
ore outside, “and Clymer and Plunkett haven’t made any hostile
demonstrations. I wonder what they’re up to.”
“I’d give something to know. Men of their stamp don’t give up so easily
when such a valuable stake as this is in sight.”
“Maybe they’ve heard that we’ve made application for a United States
patent on the property and have recognized the uselessness of following
the game any further.”
“Possibly,” answered Jack; “but for my part I don’t believe we’ve heard
the last of those rascals.”
“When is Prawle coming back, do you think?”
“Not for a week at least. He’s gone as you know to make arrangements to
have this load of ore towed up to Trinity.”
“I know that all right.”
“Then he’s got to arrange with the railroad company for a car to take
it to the Montana smelting works at Marysville, make terms with the
smelting people, and also see about shipping the copper east.”
“Where to?”
“Mr. Prawle didn’t say, because he didn’t know when talking to us about
the matter. Probably New York.”
“I thought it was to go to Chicago.”
“The car will no doubt go by way of Chicago, and I shouldn’t be
surprised to learn if it is held there for awhile for exhibition
purposes while the Pandora company is being promoted. That would be
my idea, if I were running things. I’d have the newspaper men examine
it. That would bring notices, and thus call general attention to the
discovery of a new mine of uncommon richness.”
“You’ve got a great head, Jack.”
“Oh, I don’t know; but I think I have a head for business. Taken it
after my father. There’s nothing like publicity when you want to
exploit a good thing.”
“Or a poor one, either. Look how those wildcat mining schemes are
advertised. They catch lots of dupes every day.”
“That’s what they do. Well, it’s your turn now to wheel that barrow
outside.”
Several days went by, and the boys began to have visitors from Rocky
Gulch.
The mining operations at the creek had got abroad, and curiously
disposed inhabitants of the Gulch came down to see what was going on.
Therefore, it wasn’t long before every person at the mining camp above
knew that a copper lode had been discovered at Beaver Creek, and there
was a hustle among some of the less fortunate ones to take up claims in
the immediate vicinity of the Pandora, in line with the direction in
which it was presumed the vein of ore was running.
Several prospectors who had been over the ground before for indications
of gold turned up again and began new experiments to locate the
existence of the copper deposits beyond the property lines of the
Pandora.
Everybody, of course, examined with the greatest interest the sample
load of ore on board the flat-boat, and the favorable comment its
richness excited only spurred the boys on to greater efforts.
At last the boat was as full as Mr. Prawle had deemed prudent to load
it.
The boys now grew impatient at the prospector’s continued absence.
“He’s been gone a week over the time he calculated to be away,” said
Jack to Charlie, as they were eating supper one night after all labor
in the mine had been discontinued. “I hope nothing has gone wrong.”
“Why should anything have gone wrong?” propounded Charlie.
“I was thinking about Clymer and Plunkett. They left Rocky Gulch I
heard about the same time Mr. Prawle went through the camp bound for
Trinity.”
“Maybe one of us, you for instance, ought to go up to Trinity and see
if word can be heard from Mr. Prawle. You might telegraph to Marysville
to the smelters.”
“I’ll go if you say so.”
“I would. Meyer and I won’t be lonesome around here now.”
“All right. I’ll go to-morrow morning. You may expect me back by night.”
Hardly were the words out of his mouth before a horseman leading
another animal dashed into the Pandora camp.
The boys hastened to meet him.
“Which of you is Jack Howard?” asked the stranger, who was a young,
smoothly-shaven fellow, with a town air about him.
“That’s my name,” said Jack, stepping up. “Are you from Trinity?”
“Yes. I’ve been sent by----”
“Mr. Prawle?”
“Yes. He wants to see you at once at the American House. I’ve brought a
horse. You’re to go back with me.”
“I’m all ready to do so. You’ll rest awhile, won’t you, before we
start?”
“Not longer than’s necessary to give my nag a rubbing down.”
“Judging by the looks of your animal you must have travelled fast,”
said Jack, curiously.
“Well, yes,” said the rider carelessly, leaping to the ground, and
pulling out a cloth began to rub the mare’s back and flanks.
“There’s something up,” said Charlie to his chum in a low tone.
“I’m afraid so,” replied Jack, not quite easy in his mind.
“Dot’s a fine horses you haf dere, I ped you,” said Meyer to the
newcomer.
“One of the best in this section.”
“You vouldn’t sold dot horses, vould you, off you got a good prices for
him?”
“He’s not mine to dispose of, young feller,” was the curt reply.
“P’haps you toldt me, den, vhere I found me a goot horses for
mineseluf?”
“You’ll have no trouble finding a good horse in Trinity if you want
one. Now, Howard, we’ll be on the move,” and he leaped on the back of
his mare.
Jack followed suit on the led horse.
“Bye bye, Charlie. I’ll bring the news back with me. Take good care of
Meyer.”
“I like me dot,” snorted the German boy. “I dink I dook care off
mineseluf.”
“Is there anything wrong?” asked Jack anxiously as they dashed off out
of camp.
“Well, yes; I didn’t want to let on before the others, as you’re the
only one that’s wanted. Prawle was shot about sundown and is not
expected to live.”