"You bet it is--but look at this!" and he fetched a polished rock from his pocket. "That's azurite," he said, "nearly forty per cent. copper! I'm not telling everybody, but I find big chunks of that, and I've got a whole mountain of low-grade. What's a gold mine compared to that?" He gave her the rich rock with its peacock-blue coloring and plunged forthwith into a description of his find. Now at last he was himself and to his natural enthusiasm was added the stimulus of her spellbound, wondering eyes. He talked on and on, giving all the details, and she listened like one entranced. He told of his long trips across the desert, his discovery of the neglected mountain of low-grade copper ore; and then of his enthusiasm when in making a cut he encountered a pocket of the precious peacock-blue azurite. And then of his scheming and hiring American-born Mexicans to locate the whole body of ore, after which he engaged them to do the discovery work and later transfer the claims to him. And now, half-finished, with no money to pay them, and not even food to keep them content, the Mexicans had quit work and unless he brought back provisions all his claims would go by default. "I've got a chance," he went on fiercely, "to make millions, if I can only get title to those claims! And now, by grab, after all I've done for 'em, these pikers won't advance me a cent!" "How much would it cost?" she asked him quickly, "to finish the work and pay off the men?" "Two thousand dollars," he answered wearily. "But it might as well be a million." "Would--would four hundred dollars help you?" She asked it eagerly, impulsively, almost in his ear, and he turned as if he had been struck. "Don't speak so loud," she implored him nervously. "These women in the hotel--they're listening to everything you say. I can hear all right if you only whisper--would four hundred dollars help you out?" "Not of your money!" answered Rimrock hoarsely. "No, by God, I'll never come to that!" He started away, but she caught him by the arm and held him back till he stopped. "But I want to do it!" she persisted. "It's a good thing--I believe in it--and I've got the money!" He stopped and looked at her, almost tempted by her offer; then he shook his great head like a bull. "No!" he said, talking half to himself. "I won't do it--I've sunk low enough. But a woman? Nope, I won't do it." "Oh, quit your foolishness!" she burst out impatiently, "I guess I know my own mind. I came out to this country to try and recoup myself and I want to get in on this mine. No sentiment, understand me, I'm talking straight business; and I've got the money--right here!" "Well, what do you want for it?" he demanded roughly. "If that's the deal, what's your cut? I never saw you before, nor you me. How much do you want--if we win?" "I want a share in the mine," she answered instantly. "I don't care--whatever you say!"