Must she grow into an old woman without a single romance in her life? That much seemed every woman's right. What had she done that the Fates should "have it in for her" like this? She clenched her hands under the shelter of the tablecloth. This thing she had made up her mind to do seemed such a horrid, sordid, vulgar end to youth and sentiment. Sprudell meanwhile was revolving in his mind the best method of imparting effectively and dramatically the news which was burdening him. He considered beginning with a Latin quotation from his Vest-Pocket Manual--"_Labor omnia vincit_"--or something like that--but ended, when he felt the right moment had arrived, by stating the fact bluntly and abruptly: "I'm going to be as rich as Croesus." Helen looked up, to see his red lower lip trembling with excitement. "My dear," solemnly, "I shall have fabulous wealth." Undoubtedly he was in earnest. She could see that from the intensity shining in his eyes. Wonderingly she took the pamphlet which he withdrew from its envelope and passed to her, watching her face eagerly as she read. PROSPECTUS OF THE BITTER ROOT PLACER MINING COMPANY proclaimed the outside page, and the frontispiece contained a picture of seven large mules staggering up a mountain trail under a load of bullion protected by guards carrying rifles with eight-foot barrels. "That illustration is _my_ idea," he said proudly. "It's very--very alluring," Helen conceded. "And you are interested?" "Interested!" gleefully, "it's all mine! Wait till you go on." The first paragraph of the text read: We have, with infinite hardship and difficulties and a large personal expense, secured absolute legal ownership, and physical possession, of eight placer claims, making 160 acres of the richest, unworked placer ground in the United States. THE PROPERTIES Queen of Sheba No. 1:--Area about 15 acres. Section 1--600 x 300 feet. Examined by the best obtainable placer experts and under the most favorable conditions money could afford. Prospect Shaft No. L:--Through natural, clean sand and fine river gravel. Depth of pit 10 feet. Every foot showed gold in paying quantities. A four foot streak, extremely rich, passes through this section. Red-rock was not reached but the values increase with depth, as is usually true. Average workable depth of this section 60 ft. Average assay .6235 per cubic yard. 600 x 300 x 60----400,000 cu. yds. @ .6235 $249,400 Estimated cost of working 5 cents per cu. yd. 20,000 -------- Estimated Net Profit $229,000 "That's one of the poor claims," he explained carelessly, "we probably won't bother with it."