"What!" interrupted Van Dorn, "little Ned? What under heaven is he doing out here? Are you two fellows out here incognito making love to rustic maidens? or what are you doing?" "No, Ned is out here in his own name, you won't need be under any restrictions with him, but what I want to say is this: Don't let him know who I am, or that you used to know me, or that I know his brother." "Anything else I'm not to let him know?" queried Van Dorn, taking out a small note book. "No, put up your book, or Mr. Blaisdell will think I am giving you pointers on the mine. But this is how it is; Rutherford met me on the train coming out here, introduced himself to me, took a fancy to the mountains, and decided to stay a few weeks. He thinks I am--what you found me--the clerk for this company, and my home in Chicago. I am not ready to explain matters to him yet, so just simply appear as if you had never met me or heard of me till to-day." "But how is it Ned didn't know you? Didn't you ever see him when you visited Mort?" "No, I was there only once, and he was away at school at the time, and then he never went to Yale, you know, he is a Harvard graduate." "Oh, I see; all right, I'll be mum." A sharp turn in the road brought the house into view, with Rutherford seated on the porch, reading a magazine. He glanced up with his usual assumption of dignity, as the party approached, but catching sight of Van Dorn, at the rear of the little procession, his magazine and his dignity were suddenly flung to the winds, and he bounded down from the porch like a school-boy. "By Jove! Hello there, Van Dorn, how do you do? Great Scott! how did you ever come out here? I'm awfully glad to see you." "Very glad to see you, my dear boy," said Van Dorn, heartily, "but the mystery to me is, how do you happen to be here?" Mr. Blaisdell looked on greatly astonished and amused by Rutherford's impetuous greeting. "Well, Mr. Rutherford," he remarked, "you seem to have met an old friend; ah, yes, I see, you are from Boston, and so is Mr. Van Dorn." Introductions followed, and the party sat down to dinner. Houston, seated between Van Dorn and Rutherford, did not lack for entertainment, but he had been at the table but a few seconds when he became aware that Miss Gladden was not there. He waited till the meal was nearly over, and then quietly inquired of Lyle whether Miss Gladden were ill. "Oh no," Lyle answered, in a low tone, "Miss Gladden thought best, as so many gentlemen were to be here, and on business, to let them have the table to themselves." After dinner, Houston started a little early for the office, and Van Dorn took his hat, saying: "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I'll walk down with Mr. Houston. You know I'm not so crazy on mining as you are, and I'd like to see somebody for a change, that can talk on some other subject." "Go ahead," said Mr. Winters, "I suppose you'll want to go through the mines in our company, though, by and by."