The Argosy, Vol. XI, No. 22 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

346 About eight o’clock he and his partner went up to their chamber, where, as the nights were growing cool, they were accustomed to sit before a fire and chat of their prospects. Now their privacy seemed likely to be broken in upon, for Benton invited himself to go up with them. ‘“Come, now, this is what I call comfort,” he said, and he leaned back in his chair and puffed at a cigar. ‘* Reminds me of old times. I say, what a queer chap Crambo 1s |” ‘* He is rather peculiar, but a good natured, pleasant man.” ‘Oh, I don’t say anything about that, but he’s got a wife that is twice as smart as he is.” ‘¢ Mrs. Crambo knows how to cook. That is what chiefly interests us.” Albert Benton had an inquiring mind, and was gifted with a large measure of curiosity. He looked about the room, and his glance fell on the chest. ‘¢ What do you keep in that ?”’ he inquired. ‘‘ Clothing,” answered Grant briefly. “What made you get a chest? A trunk would do better.” ‘“We found it here, and bought it of Mr. Crambo. As neither of us had a trunk, we find it convenient.” ‘¢ When do you go to work ?” ‘We have breakfast at seven o'clock, and generally get to work about eight.” ‘¢ What sent you here? This isn’t a mining region.” ‘* I suppose we drifted here, as you did.” ‘Well, we'll see what'll come out of it.” At ten o’clock Tom Cooper suggested to their guest, who showed no disposition to retire, that Grant and himself were in the habit of going to bed early, as their work during the day fatigued them. ‘Allright! I'll see you both tomorrow," returned Benton, as he bade them good night. When he had left the room, Grant said: ‘‘ I’m sorry to see Benton here. I am afraid he will give us trouble.” ‘In what way ? By giving us too much of his company ?” ‘* Partly that, but if he had any suspicion as to the contents of the chest he wouldn’t rest till he had opened it.” ‘* He wouldn't find it a very healthy proceeding,” remarked Tom Cooper grimly. CHAPTER XXIX. BENTON HAS A PLAN, OME days passed. The newcomer did not appear to find anything todo. He had sauntered out to the claim: worked by Grant and Tom, and looked on, but had made no discoveries. He did not know whether to think they were prospering or not. He determined to obtain some information, if possible, from his landlora. One morning, after the two friends had gone to work, he Jingered at the table, asking for an extma cup of coffee as a pretext for remaining longer. ‘Do you think my friend Grant and his chum are doing well?” he remarked carelessly. “They can't be making much,” answered Paul. fools to waste their time here.” “They must be making something,” said Mrs. Crambo. pay their board bills reguiar.” “Do they pay in gold dust 2?” ‘No: in coin.” ‘ Humph ! what do they do with the gold dust they get from the mine ?” “7 don't know, I never inquired.” This was meant as a hint that Benton was unnecessarily curious, but he never took such hints, ‘Is there any place in the village where they can dispose of it ?” “No,” answered Paul; ‘‘ not that [ know of. They would have to send by express to Sacramento or San Francisco.” ‘© Where did you know Mr, Colburn ?”” asked Mrs. Crambo. ‘“ We were employed together in Sacramento.” ‘‘ He seems to be a fine bov—or young man, perhaps I ought to call him. So steady, so regular in his habits.” Benton shrugged his shoulders. ‘¢ Oh, he’s well enough,” he answered, ‘‘ but he’s mighty close with his money.” ‘1 approve of young men being economical,” said Mrs. Crambo. ‘*T think they are “ They THE ARGOSY ‘* But not tight. Why, I once asked Grant to Jend me five dollars, and would you believe it, he wouldn't do it.” ‘* Did he receive more pay than you ?” ‘* ] should say not. I received a good deal higher pay than he, as I ought to, being older and more experienced.” ‘¢ Then,” said Mrs. Crambo shrewdly, ‘‘ I can't understand why you should need to borrow money from him.” ‘¢ A man is sometimes hard up, no matter how large his income may be,” ‘‘It ought not to be so." said Mrs. Crambo dryly. isn’t large, but I never ask any one to lend me money.” ‘*Oh, well, I suppose you are a good manager.” ‘* Yes, I flatter myself that I am a fair manager. to be.” ‘* What a tiresome woman!" thought Benton. are always talking about duty.” This was not surprising, for Benton concerned himself very little about duty in his own case. When he left the table, he said to himself, ‘‘ It seems pretty certain that Grant and Cooper haven’t parted with any of their gold dust. The question is, where do they keep it ?” That day Benton strayed into a restaurant and boarding house in the village, kept by a man named Hardy, aud learned incidentally that he wanted to sell out. ‘* What do you want to sell out for ?"’ asked Benton. ‘‘T have got tired of the place. It is too quiet for me. I want to go to San Francisco. There's more life there, and more money can always ‘** Our income I think it my duty ‘*} hate people who _ be made in a city like that.” ‘* How has the restaurant been paying ?"” questioned Benton. ‘*T can't complain of it. It has paid me about forty dollars a week, net, perhaps a little more. ‘¢T have been in the restaurant business myself,’’ continued Albert. ‘¢ Then you are just the right man to buy me out.” ‘Will you sell out for the money I have in my pocket ?” ‘* How much have you ?” : ‘¢*T have fifteen dollars in my inside pocket,’ as the song has it.” Hardy shook his head. ‘*T want a thousand dollars for the place,” he said, ‘© T will buy it, and pay you on installments,” said Benton. ‘Well, I might agree to that for half the purchase money. Pay me five hundred dollars down, and the rest you can pay at, say, twenty dol- lars a week. Iam sure that 1s a liberal offer.” “7 don't think so. Besides, I haven't got five hundred dollars.” ‘* Can't you borrow it 2” ‘“T don't know.” And then it occurred to Benton that perhaps Tom Cooper and Grant might be induced to advance that sum of money. ‘* Well, perhaps so," he resumed, after a pause. ‘¢ Find out, and then come and talk to me.” Won't four hundred dollars do ?” ‘‘No. I shall need to take five hundred dollars with me to San Francisco.” ‘* Is this the best you can do ?” Ves,” ‘T will think of it, and let you know.” | Albert Benton walked thoughtfully out of the restaurant. He had tried gold digging, and didn’t like it. His old business seemed to him more reliable, and this seemed a good opportunity to go back into it. ‘* Hardy hasn’t much enterprise,” he soliloquized, ‘* If he can clear forty dollars a week, I shouldn’t be surprised if I could carry it up to sixty. I have never had a chance to show what I could do, always having had some one over me. I should just like to try it once.” Benton waited till his two fellow boarders got home from their day's work, and then opened the subject. ‘‘T can tell you of a good investment for your money, Grant,” he said. ‘* How do you know I have any money to invest ?” ** ] suppose you have been making some, and you never spend any.” ‘© T never spend any foolishly, if that is what you mean.” “ You don't seem to have much idea of enjoying life.” ‘* Not in your sense. I enjoy life in my own way.” ‘*T am glad you do, because you must have some money to lend me.” ‘* To lend you ?” ‘Yes; I have a chance to buy out a fine restaurant in the villaye, but must pay five hundred dollars down, I am almost sure I can clear ecomnieoooks COU