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〃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're wrong about me； boys。 You
can't draw me in any game to…night。 This is one of my nights off；
which I devote exclusively to contemplation and song。 But；〃 he
added； suddenly turning to his three hosts with a bewildering and
fascinating change of expression； 〃I couldn't resist coming up here
to see you and your pile； even if I never saw the one or the other
before； and am not likely to see either again。 I believe in luck！
And it comes a mighty sight oftener than a fellow thinks it does。
But it doesn't come to stay。 So I'd advise you to keep your eyes
skinned； and hang on to it while it's with you； like grim death。
So long！〃
Resisting all attempts of his hostswho had apparently fallen as
suddenly and unaccountably under the magic of his mannerto detain
him longer； he stepped lightly away； his voice presently rising
again in melody as he descended the hill。 Nor was it at all
remarkable that the others； apparently drawn by the same inevitable
magnetism； were impelled to follow him； naturally joining their
voices with his； leaving Steptoe and Van Loo so markedly behind
them alone that they were compelled at last in sheer embarrassment
to close up the rear of the procession。 In another moment the
cabin and the three partners again relapsed into the peace and
quiet of the night。 With the dying away of the last voices on the
hillside the old solitude reasserted itself。
But since the irruption of the strangers they had lost their former
sluggish contemplation； and now busied themselves in preparation
for their early departure from the cabin the next morning。 They
had arranged to spend the following day and night at Boomville and
Carter's Hotel； where they were to give their farewell dinner to
Heavy Tree Hill。 They talked but little together： since the rebuff
his enthusiastic confidences had received from Van Loo； Barker had
been grave and thoughtful； and Stacy； with the irritating
recollection of Van Loo's criticisms in his mind； had refrained
from his usual rallying of Barker。 Oddly enough； they spoke
chiefly of Jack Hamlin；till then personally a stranger to them；
on account of his infelix reputation；and even the critical
Demorest expressed a wish they had known him before。 〃But you
never know the real value of anything until you're quitting it or
it's quitting you；〃 he added sententiously。
Barker and Stacy both stared at their companion。 It was unlike
Demorest to regret anythingparticularly a mere social diversion。
〃They say；〃 remarked Stacy； 〃that if you had known Jack Hamlin
earlier and professionally； a great deal of real value would have
quitted you before he did。〃
〃Don't repeat that rot flung out by men who have played Jack's game
and lost；〃 returned Demorest derisively。 〃I'd rather trust him
than〃 He stopped； glanced at the meditative Barker； and then
concluded abruptly； 〃the whole caboodle of his critics。〃
They were silent for a few moments； and then seemed to have fallen
into their former dreamy mood as they relapsed into their old seats
again。 At last Stacy drew a long breath。 〃I wish we had sent
those nuggets off with the others this morning。〃
〃Why？〃 said Demorest suddenly。
〃Why？ Well； dn it all！ they kind of oppress me； don't you see。
I seem to feel 'em here； on my chestall the three；〃 returned
Stacy only half jocularly。 〃It's their dd specific gravity； I
suppose。 I don't like the idea of sleeping in the same room with
'em。 They're altogether too much for us three men to be left alone
with。〃
〃You don't mean that you think that anybody would attempt〃said
Demorest。
Stacy curled a fighting lip rather superciliously。 〃No； I don't
think THATI rather wish I did。 It's the blessed chunks of solid
gold that seem to have got US fast； don't you know； and are going
to stick to us for good or ill。 A sort of Frankenstein monster
that we've picked out of a hole from below。〃
〃I know just what Stacy means；〃 said Barker breathlessly； rounding
his gray eyes。 〃I've felt it； too。 Couldn't we make a sort of
cache of itbury it just outside the cabin for to…night？ It would
be sort of putting it back into its old place； you know； for the
time being。 IT might like it。〃
The other two laughed。 〃Rather rough on Providence； Barker boy；〃
said Stacy； 〃handing back the Heaven…sent gift so soon！ Besides；
what's to keep any prospector from coming along and making a strike
of it？ You know that's mining lawif you haven't preempted the
spot as a claim。〃
But Barker was too staggered by this material statement to make any
reply； and Demorest arose。 〃And I feel that you'd both better be
turning in； as we've got to get up early。〃 He went to the corner
of the cabin； and threw the blanket back over the pan and its
treasure。 〃There that'll keep the chunks from getting up to ride
astride of you like a nightmare。〃 He shut the door and gave a
momentary glance at its cheap hin