Sometimes I imagine I was with “J. Arthur Boast” in his hiding place when he wrote that last letter and saw the spectral ghost that ever kept him company. The retribution perhaps was just, yet my sympathy lingers around the old prospect shaft. Many of my readers will doubtless desire to express their criticism of GRAY ROCKS. Nothing will afford me more pleasure than to receive just criticisms, for it will at least enable me to escape similar errors in other stories that I am now engaged in writing. Sincerely, WILLIS GEORGE EMERSON. ELM REST, August 20, 1894. No. 1363 Central Park Boulevard, Chicago. PARTIAL LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. I. The Mr. Gilder for Whom I am Looking is a Much Older Gentleman..14 II. He Clasped Vance’s Hand Warmly.................................21 III. A Letter Was Handed to Him....................................30 IV. My Salary Has Been Raised,.....................................37 V. Hello, Pardner! How D’.e Do.....................................41 VI. He Offered Vance Some Havanas,.................................50 VII. This ‘ere Town is Comin’ Out of the Kinks in Fine Shape.......60 VIII. He Forgot Time,..............................................68 IX. I Am Going to Give Him a Piece of My Mind......................76 X. Vance Turned and Saw J. Arthur Boast............................82 XI. “You’re the Young Man, I Reckon,” Said Grim, “From New York,”..87 XII. Don’t You Think I Am Horrid to Go on Talking this Way to You?.96 XIII. The Stage Ride..............................................108 XIV. Gentlemen, We Deliberate Upon the Destiny of Waterville......114 XV. Vance Was Presented to Miss Virginia Bonifield,...............124 XVI. We Have Cross-cut Into Whar’ the Vein Ought to Be............135 XVII. “Lost Your Position?” Said Louise, with Unmistakable Concern143 XVIII. Vance Handed Marcus Donald a Copy..........................151 XIX. They Are the Brainiest Lot of Men This Country Has Produced..162 XX. They Started Pell-mell Down the Mountain Load.................171 XXI. You Will Not Be Angry With Father, Will You?.................179 XXII. There Are Times, When It’s Necessary to Put My Foot Down....189 XXIII. “Yes,” Whispered Bertha, “I Love You So Much,”.............207 XXIV. A Dark Form Crouched Near,..................................215 XXV. Where Is the Powder?.........................................228 XXVI. A Guilty Conscience Needs No Accuser........................236 XXVII. Such Tender Things of Earth Are Sanctified in Heaven.......256 CHAPTER I.—VANCE GILDER. 9019 ANCE GILDER [11] had an ambition. It was to be a great journalist.