rong."

"The law's way is always best, I reckon," returned Jim Ferrers,
slowly.

That same day, after the officers had gone with their men, Jim
Ferrers, finding that the crust was holding, drove fresh horses
to the doctor's cutter. The physician remained behind to take
care of Harry Hazelton, but Jim went fast toward Dugout City.
He was armed with letters from Dr. Scott that told certain dealers
in Dugout what unlimited credit the partners ought to have on
account of their mine.

Before Harry was sitting up vehicles had been employed to bring
to Ambition Mine considerable supplies of dynamite, food and all
else that was needed, including half a dozen of the latest books
for the amusement of the invalid engineer.

Everything went on swiftly now. More miners, too, were brought
over, while the hard crust lasted, and a score of carpenters.
Lumber camp also. There was a constant procession of vehicles
between Dugout and Ambition Mine. Tom did not hesitate to avail
himself of his sudden credit, for every day's work showed that
the vein was not giving out. An ore dump was piling up that meant
big returns when the ore could be hauled to the smelter.

Ambition Mine proved a steady "payer." No; our young men did
not become multi-millionaires. Mines that will do that for three
partners are scarce, indeed. Ambition, however, did pay enough
so that, by spring, Tom and Harry, after looking over their bank
account, found that they could go ahead and furnish their engineer
offices on a handsome scale. Some thousands, too, found their
way to their families in the good old home town of Gridley.

The mine was turned into a stock company. Tom, Harry and Jim
each retained one-fourth interest. The remaining fourth of the
stock was divided evenly between Cook Leon and the twenty-four
miners who had stood by so loyally, so that now each of the original
miners, in addition to his day's pay, owned one per cent. of the
gold and silver that went up in the new elevator that replaced
the tub-hoist.

Alf Drew did not receive one of the small shares in the mine property.
His cigarette smoking had made him lazy and worthless, and he had
done nothing to promote the success of the once desperate
mining venture.

However, there was hope for Alf. At the time when he threw his
remaining "coffin nails" in the cook's fire he really did "swear
off," and he afterwards was able to refrain from the use of tobacco
in any form. He grew tal