Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 146: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

7 142 EVERET MAKES A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. way, and the chief points of interest, and perhaps take a look at some oi the mines; I've always had something of @ curiosity regarding mining.” : ‘‘idave you now ?” asked the man with delighted em- phasis, his face brightening with pleasure. ‘‘Perhaps I can be of use to you in that line then, tor I’ve been a miner ail my life and know all the ins and outs about as well as any man living. Ill be giad to give you any points about the business.” “Phank you,” Hveret returned, looking interested. “What mines have you been connected with ?” “T’ve been in Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, and Cali- fornia,” answered the man, with an air of pride. “Indeed, you have surely seen a good deal of that kind of life,” remarked Everet, smiling. ‘‘When were you in New Mexico? I know aman who once owned stock in some mines there.” ‘“T went to New Mexico in 18—,” replied the stranger, in answer to Everet’s question, ‘‘and did tip-top for ten years, and after that I tried Nevada. What was your friend’s name, sir?” -“* Mapleson.” ‘‘Mapleson ?” repeated the miner, reflectively. “I don’t think I ever heard the name before, leastwise not in the diggings. What mine did he work ?” ‘“He had some shares in the Moreno mines on the east side of the Rocky Mountains.” ‘‘Wall, Ll wasn’t located in the Moreno mines myself. I was rather up ameng the mountains, though I’ve been there; but I never met a man by the name of Mapleson ; though there’s nothing strange about that, where so So people own shares. I worked fora man named ale——” “ Dale!” interrupted Everet, with a sudden shock. “Yes, and a fine man he was—handsome chap, too; al- together too much of a fine gentleman to be roughing it as a miner, I used to think.” ‘*Where did he come from?” the young man inquired, trying to repress the eagerness that possessed him. “T couldn’t tell you. I was in Santa Fe one day look- | ing for a job and he was looking fora man, to sort of superintend a claim. We took to each other, struck a bargain on the spot, and I went back to his diggings with him that very night. He couldn’t or wouldn’t wait till the next day, though I’d been glad to, and afterward I found out the reason—he had the trappiest little wife up comicloookks.€