The Three Partners | Page 5

same chance
that they did at the Mint, eh?"
Although the remark was accompanied with his usual coarse, familiar
laugh, there was a look in his eye so inconsequent in its significance
that Stacy would have made some reply, but at this moment Demorest
re-entered the cabin, ushering in a half dozen miners from the Bar
below. They were, although youngish men, some of the older locators
in the vicinity, yet, through years of seclusion and uneventful labors,
they had acquired a certain childish simplicity of thought and manner
that was alternately amusing and pathetic. They had never intruded
upon the reserve of the three partners of Heavy Tree Hill before;
nothing but an infantine curiosity, a shy recognition of the partners'
courtesy in inviting them with the whole population of Heavy Tree to
the dinner the next day, and the never-to-be-resisted temptation of an
evening of "free liquor" and forgetfulness of the past had brought them
there now. Among them, and yet not of them, was a young man who,
although speaking English without accent, was distinctly of a different
nationality and race. This, with a certain neatness of dress and artificial
suavity of address, had gained him the nickname of "the Count" and
"Frenchy," although he was really of Flemish extraction. He was the
Union Ditch Company's agent on the Bar, by virtue of his knowledge
of languages.
Barker uttered an exclamation of pleasure when he saw him. Himself
the incarnation of naturalness, he had always secretly admired this
young foreigner, with his lacquered smoothness, although a vague
consciousness that neither Stacy nor Demorest shared his feelings had
restricted their acquaintance. Nevertheless, he was proud now to see the

bow with which Paul Van Loo entered the cabin as if it were a
drawing-room, and perhaps did not reflect upon that want of real
feeling in an act which made the others uncomfortable.
The slight awkwardness their entrance produced, however, was quickly
forgotten when the blanket was again lifted from the pan of treasure.
Singularly enough, too, the same feverish light came into the eyes of
each as they all gathered around this yellow shrine. Even the polite
Paul rudely elbowed his way between the others, though his artificial
"Pardon" seemed to Barker to condone this act of brutal instinct. But it
was more instructive to observe the manner in which the older locators
received this confirmation of the fickle Fortune that had overlooked
their weary labors and years of waiting to lavish her favors on the new
and inexperienced amateurs. Yet as they turned their dazzled eyes upon
the three partners there was no envy or malice in their depths, no
reproach on their lips, no insincerity in their wondering satisfaction.
Rather there was a touching, almost childlike resumption of hope as
they gazed at this conclusive evidence of Nature's bounty. The gold had
been there--THEY had only missed it! And if there, more could be
found! Was it not a proof of the richness of Heavy Tree Hill? So
strongly was this reflected on their faces that a casual observer,
contrasting them with the thoughtful countenances of the real owners,
would have thought them the lucky ones. It touched Barker's quick
sympathies, it puzzled Stacy, it made Demorest more serious, it
aroused Steptoe's active contempt. Whiskey Dick alone remained stolid
and impassive in a desperate attempt to pull himself once more together.
Eventually he succeeded, even to the ambitious achievement of
mounting a chair and lifting his tin cup with a dangerously unsteady
hand, which did not, however, affect his precision of utterance, and
said:--
"Order, gentlemen! We'll drink success to--to"--
"The next strike!" said Barker, leaping impetuously on another chair
and beaming upon the old locators--"and may it come to those who
have so long deserved it!"
His sincere and generous enthusiasm seemed to break the spell of

silence that had fallen upon them. Other toasts quickly followed. In the
general good feeling Barker attached himself to Van Loo with his usual
boyish effusion, and in a burst of confidence imparted the secret of his
engagement to Kitty Carter. Van Loo listened with polite attention,
formal congratulations, but inscrutable eyes, that occasionally
wandered to Stacy and again to the treasure. A slight chill of
disappointment came over Barker's quick sensitiveness. Perhaps his
enthusiasm had bored this superior man of the world. Perhaps his
confidences were in bad taste! With a new sense of his inexperience he
turned sadly away. Van Loo took that opportunity to approach Stacy.
"What's all this I hear of Barker being engaged to Miss Carter?" he said,
with a faintly superior smile. "Is it really true?"
"Yes. Why shouldn't it be?" returned Stacy bluntly.
Van Loo was instantly deprecating and smiling. "Why not, of course?
But isn't it sudden?"
"They have known each