“It’s like magic!” “So ’tis, so ’tis--’tis the bag at the foot of a rainbow, sure enough.” He pointed at the massive shaft of the chimney. “Fairy gold!” Ben waved the little box at Mundon. “That’s all right. You’ll find out that the gold you get for that’s as good as twenty-dollar pieces are made of. Want me ter go down and inform, or prefer ter do it yourself?” “I’ll go.” “Jest as you say. You’re boss here. You found it on your property, and it’s proper you should go. I’ll stay and keep watch.” CHAPTER IV FUNDS FOR THE ENTERPRISE Ben’s first impulse was to go home and change his clothes, which showed the contact of dust and soot; but it was past three o’clock and he was afraid if he did not make haste he would not see the proper authorities. He stopped at Hodges’ shop to wash his face and hands. Mr. Hodges was fitting a key to a metal box. “Hello!” he remarked as Ben hurried past him to the rear of the shop. “You look as if you’d found your fortune already.” “Maybe I have,” Ben replied. “I’ll let you know when I’ve verified the find.” Mr. Hodge stared. He had a lurking suspicion that he was being made game of. “A young feller always knows it all,” he commented. “He’s always so cocksure.” “Wonder if I am that way,” thought Ben, as he pursued his way down the street. “Anyway, I’d rather fail than never have been through it. There’s something doing, and I’m in it!” He was so preoccupied as he hurried along that once he narrowly escaped being run down by a whizzing electric car. The prospect opening before him fairly made him dizzy with delight. He felt that he had suddenly become a man, and dimly wondered how it was possible that a month before he had played “shinny” and “pee-wee” with the other boys, as if there were nothing else to live for. And now--he had gone into business! He would succeed--he must succeed! Mingled with his delight at his sudden good luck, there was a feeling of relief that he had resisted the temptation to go into debt. At length he came in sight of the Custom House, a dilapidated brick building, the first floor of which was used as the main post-office. Ben slowly climbed the winding stone stairs. He suddenly wanted more time than the elevator would allow to think of how he should tell his story. After a short delay he was ushered into the presence of the Collector of the Port. Ben explained his plan and his accidental discovery of the opium. He fancied that the official and a gentleman who was sitting in the room seemed to be much more interested in his scheme to work over the bricks and rubbish of the old Smelting Works for gold, than they were in the discovery of the opium.