“Have you a few tons of gold about you, this time, Mr. Brent?” was the official’s greeting after a cordial hand-shake. “Not in my pockets,” was the young man’s smiling reply, “but my errand is much the same as the one which brought me here last spring, and I have the same favor of secrecy to ask of you.” The director leaned forward in astonishment. “Do you mean that you are bringing me several more truck-loads of native gold to be coined?” he asked. “Well, yes, that’s what it comes to. It isn’t a fabulous amount; rather more than last time; about fifteen thousand pounds, I should judge.” The look of amazement settled upon the director’s face. “Fifteen thousand pounds,” he repeated, “and worth more than $300 a pound, for that was the purest metal that ever came to the Mint. Close to five million dollars. Is the new lot like the last?” “Pretty much the same, I think you will find it.” “Free gold has seldom been found in such quantities before, Mr. Brent. I suppose the location of your mine is still a secret?” “It may as well remain so for it is practically exhausted. I may possibly bring you more of its products. I don’t know. You’ll be able once more, I hope, to prevent any annoying rumors about the matter getting into the newspapers?” “Oh, I think so. It would not be proper for me to conceal the facts about so important a transaction from the Department, but I will mention your wish and I have no doubt the secretary of the treasury will respect it.” The usual formalities of weighing and receipts were completed and arrangements were made for shipping the coin to New York a few days later. Brent returned home. The difficulties in the way of turning a larger quantity of native metal into commercial bullion without connecting his name with such wealth puzzled him for some time. He considered the feasibility of establishing a private assay office in which his gold might be cast into bars or ingots which would soon be recognized as of standard purity in the bullion market. The risks in such a plan would be too great, he concluded. It involved trusting a large portion of his secret to too many strangers.