"You say this Parkinson was a mine expert; what was he doing out here?" "He was one of three or four that were here at that time, looking up the Ajax for eastern parties." "In all probability," said Mr. Britton, musingly, "Darrell was here on the same business." "If that was his business, he said nothing about it to me, and I would have thought he would, under the circumstances." "I wonder whether we could ascertain from the owners of the Ajax what experts were out here or expected out here at that time?" Mr. Underwood smiled grimly. "Not from the former owners, for nobody knows where they are, though there are some people quite anxious to know; and not from the present owners, for they are too busy looking for their predecessors in interest to think of anything else." "Why, has the Ajax really changed owners? Did they find any one to buy it?" "Yes, a Scotch syndicate bought it. They sent over a man--one of their own number, I believe, and authorized to act for them--that I guess knew more about sampling liquors than ores. The Ajax people worked him accordingly, with the result that the mine was sold at the figure named,--one million, half down, you know. The man rushed back to New York, to meet a partner whom he had cabled to come over. About ten days later they arrived on the ground and began operations at the Ajax. The mill ran for just ten days when they discovered the condition of affairs and shut down, and they have been looking for the former owners ever since." Both men laughed, then relapsed into silence. A little later, as Mr. Britton stirred the fire to a brighter glow, he said, while the tender curves about his mouth deepened,-- "I cannot help feeling that the coming to us of this young man, whose identity is wrapped in so much mystery, has some peculiar significance to each of us. I believe that in some way, whether for good or ill I cannot tell, his life is to be henceforth inseparably linked with our own lives. He already holds, as you know, a place in each of our hearts which no stranger has held before, and I have only this to say, David, old friend, that our mutual regard for him, our mutual efforts for his well-being, must never lead to any estrangement between ourselves. We have been stanch friends for too many years for any one at this late date to come between us; and you must never envy me my little share in the boy's friendship." The two men had risen and now stood before the fire with clasped hands. "I was an old fool to-night, Jack; that was all," said Mr. Underwood, rather gruffly. "I haven't the knack of saying things that you have,--never had,--but I'm with you all the time." On the forenoon of the following day Darrell was shown the underground workings of the various mines, not excepting the Bird Mine, located almost at the summit of the mountain. This was the newest mine in camp, but, in proportion to its development, the best producer of all.