different nationality and race。 This； with a certain neatness of
dress and artificial suavity of address； had gained him the
nickname of 〃the Count〃 and 〃Frenchy；〃 although he was really of
Flemish extraction。 He was the Union Ditch Company's agent on the
Bar； by virtue of his knowledge of languages。
Barker uttered an exclamation of pleasure when he saw him。 Himself
the incarnation of naturalness； he had always secretly admired this
young foreigner； with his lacquered smoothness； although a vague
consciousness that neither Stacy nor Demorest shared his feelings
had restricted their acquaintance。 Nevertheless； he was proud now
to see the bow with which Paul Van Loo entered the cabin as if it
were a drawing…room； and perhaps did not reflect upon that want of
real feeling in an act which made the others uncomfortable。
The slight awkwardness their entrance produced； however； was
quickly forgotten when the blanket was again lifted from the pan of
treasure。 Singularly enough； too； the same feverish light came
into the eyes of each as they all gathered around this yellow
shrine。 Even the polite Paul rudely elbowed his way between the
others； though his artificial 〃Pardon〃 seemed to Barker to condone
this act of brutal instinct。 But it was more instructive to
observe the manner in which the older locators received this
confirmation of the fickle Fortune that had overlooked their weary
labors and years of waiting to lavish her favors on the new and
inexperienced amateurs。 Yet as they turned their dazzled eyes upon
the three partners there was no envy or malice in their depths； no
reproach on their lips； no insincerity in their wondering
satisfaction。 Rather there was a touching； almost childlike
resumption of hope as they gazed at this conclusive evidence of
Nature's bounty。 The gold had been thereTHEY had only missed it！
And if there； more could be found！ Was it not a proof of the
richness of Heavy Tree Hill？ So strongly was this reflected on
their faces that a casual observer； contrasting them with the
thoughtful countenances of the real owners； would have thought them
the lucky ones。 It touched Barker's quick sympathies； it puzzled
Stacy； it made Demorest more serious； it aroused Steptoe's active
contempt。 Whiskey Dick alone remained stolid and impassive in a
desperate attempt to pull himself once more together。 Eventually
he succeeded； even to the ambitious achievement of mounting a chair
and lifting his tin cup with a dangerously unsteady hand； which did
not； however； affect his precision of utterance； and said：
〃Order； gentlemen！ We'll drink success toto〃
〃The next strike！〃 said Barker； leaping impetuously on another
chair and beaming upon the old locators〃and may it come to those
who have so long deserved it！〃
His sincere and generous enthusiasm seemed to break the spell of
silence that had fallen upon them。 Other toasts quickly followed。
In the general good feeling Barker attached himself to Van Loo with
his usual boyish effusion； and in a burst of confidence imparted
the secret of his engagement to Kitty Carter。 Van Loo listened
with polite attention； formal congratulations； but inscrutable
eyes； that occasionally wandered to Stacy and again to the
treasure。 A slight chill of disappointment came over Barker's
quick sensitiveness。 Perhaps his enthusiasm had bored this
superior man of the world。 Perhaps his confidences were in bad
taste！ With a new sense of his inexperience he turned sadly away。
Van Loo took that opportunity to approach Stacy。
〃What's all this I hear of Barker being engaged to Miss Carter？〃 he
said； with a faintly superior smile。 〃Is it really true？〃
〃Yes。 Why shouldn't it be？〃 returned Stacy bluntly。
Van Loo was instantly deprecating and smiling。 〃Why not； of
course？ But isn't it sudden？〃
〃They have known each other ever since he's been on Heavy Tree
Hill；〃 responded Stacy。
〃Ah； yes！ True；〃 said Van Loo。 〃But now〃
〃Wellhe's got money enough to marry； and he's going to marry。〃
〃Rather young； isn't he？〃 said Van Loo； still deprecatingly。 〃And
she's got nothing。 Used to wait on the table at her father's hotel
in Boomville； didn't she？〃
〃Yes。 What of that？ We all know it。〃
〃Of course。 It's an excellent thing for herand her father。
He'll have a rich son…in…law。 About two hundred thousand is his
share； isn't it？ I suppose old Carter is delighted？〃
Stacy had thought this before； but did not care to have it
corroborated by this superfine young foreigner。 〃And I don't
reckon that Barker is offended if he is；〃 he said curtly as he
turned away。 Nevertheless； he felt irritated that one of the three
superior partners of Heavy Tree Hill should be thought a dupe。
Suddenly the conversation dropped； the laughter ceased。 Every one
turned round； and； by a common instinct； looked towards the door。
From the obscurity of the hill slope below came a wonderful tenor
voice； modulated by distance and spiritualized by the darkness：
〃When at some future day
I shall be far away；
Thou wilt be weeping；
Thy lone watch keeping。〃
The men looked at one another。 〃That's Jack Hamlin；〃 they said。
〃What's he doing here？〃
〃The wolves are gathering around fresh meat；〃 said Steptoe； with
his coarse laugh and a glance at the treasure。 〃Didn't ye know he
came over from Red Dog yesterday？〃
〃Well； give Jack a fair show and his own game；〃 said one of the old
locators； 〃and he'd clean out that pile afore sunrise。〃
〃And lose it next day；〃 added another。
〃But never turn a hair or change a muscle in either case；〃 said a
third。 〃Lord！ I've heard him sing away just like that when he's
been leaving the board with five thousand dollars in his pocket； or
going away stripped of his last red cent。〃
Van Loo； who had been listening with a peculiar smile； here said in
his most deprecating manner； 〃Yes； but did you never consider the
influence that such a man has on the hard…working tunnelmen； who
are ready to gamble their whole week's earnings to him？ Perhaps
not。 But I know the difficulties of getting the Ditch rates from
these men when he has been in camp。〃
He glanced around him with some importance； but only a laugh
followed his speech。 〃Come； Frenchy；〃 said an old locator； 〃you
only say that because your little brother wanted to play with Jack
like a grown man； and when Jack ordered him off the board and he
became sassy； Jack scooted him outer the saloon。〃
Van Loo's face reddened with an anger that had the apparent effect
of removing every trace of his former polished repose； and leaving
only a hard outline beneath。 At which Demorest interfered：
〃I can't say that I see much difference in gambling by putting
money into a hole in the ground and expecting to take more from it
than by putting it on a card for the same purpose。〃
Here the ravishing tenor voice； which had been approaching； ceased；
and was succeeded by a heart…breaking and equally melodious
whistling to finish the bar of the singer's song。 And the next
moment Jack Hamlin appeared in the doorway。
Whatever was his present financial condition； in perfect self…
possession and charming sang…froid he fully bore out his previous
description。 He was as clean and refreshing looking as a madrono…
tree in the dust…blown forest。 An odor of scented soap and freshly
ironed linen was wafted from him； there was scarcely a crease in
his white waistcoat； nor a speck upon his varnished shoes。 He
might have been an auditor of the previous conversation； so quickly
and completely did he seem to take in the whole situation at a
glance。 Perhaps there was an extra tilt to his black…ribboned
Panama hat； and a certain dancing devilry in his brown eyeswhich
might also have been an answer to adverse criticism。
〃When I； his truth to prove； would trifle with my love；〃 he warbled
in general continuance from the doorway。 Then dropping cheerfully
into speech； he added； 〃Well； boys； I am here to welcome the little
stranger； and to trust that the family are doing as well as can be
expected。 Ah！ there it is！ Bless it！〃 he went on； walking
leisurely to the treasure。 〃Triplets； too！and plump at that。
Have you had 'em weighed？〃
Frankness was an essential quality of Heavy Tree Hill。 〃We were
just saying； Jack；〃 said an old locator； 〃that； giving you a fair
show and your own game； you could manage to get away with that pile
before daybreak。〃
〃And I'm just thinking；〃 said Jack cheerfully； 〃that there were
some of you here that could do that without any such useless
preliminary。〃 His brown eyes rested for a moment on Steptoe； but
turning quite abruptly to Van Loo； he held out his hand。 Startled
and embarrassed before the others； the young man at last advanced
his； when Jack coolly put his own； as if forgetfully； in his
pocket。 〃I thought you might like to know what that little brother
of yours is doing；〃 he said to Van Loo； yet looking at Steptoe。 〃I
found him wandering about the Hill here quite drunk。〃
〃I have repeatedly warned him〃began Van Loo； reddening。
〃Against bad companyI know；〃 suggested Jack gayly； 〃yet in spite
of all that； I think he owes some of his liquor to Steptoe yonder。〃
〃I never supposed the fool would get drunk over a glass of whiskey
offered in fun；〃 said Steptoe harshly； yet evidently quite as much
disconcerted as angry。
〃The trouble with Steptoe；〃 said Hamlin； thoughtfully spanning his
slim waist with both hands as he looked down at his polished shoes；
〃is that he has such a soft…hearted liking for all weaknesses。
Always wanting to protect chaps that can't look after themselves；
whether it's Whiskey Dick there when he has a pull on； or some
nigger when he's made a little strike； or that straying lamb of Van
Loo's when he's puppy drunk。 But you