dy help me to open it?"

Scott took the box into the shack, where he had some tools, and brought
it back with the lid just raised above its socket. He gave it to Agatha
and was going away when she stopped him.

"I would like you and Father Lucien to wait. You knew my father, and I
think there is something important in the box."

They came nearer and, pressing back the lid, she shook out a few small
stones.

"Specimens!" she said in a strained voice, holding out two or three to
Thirlwell. "Don't you think they're very like the piece I gave you?"

Thirlwell examined the stones and handed them to Scott, who nodded.

"This stuff and the specimen Thirlwell showed me came from the same
vein."

"There's something else," Agatha resumed, taking out a folded paper. Her
hand shook as she opened it and the tears gathered in her eyes. Then she
gave Thirlwell the paper.

"Will you read it for me? I can't see very well."

The paper was spotted with mildew, torn at the bottom, and cut at the
folds, but holding it carefully, he read--

"_The Agatha Mine_; frontage on the lode staked by Gordon Strange."

Compass bearings, calculated distances, and landmarks were given next,
and then the writing stopped an inch or two from the bottom of the
sheet.

"Your father found the lode," Thirlwell said, very quietly.

Agatha looked up with a curious smile. "Yes; I feel as if he had _sent_
me this. I have come into my inheritance and it is easier than I
thought!" She paused and added: "Once or twice I was afraid and nearly
let it go."

CHAPTER XXIV

AGATHA RESUMES HER JOURNEY

There was silence for a minute or two after Agatha had spoken, and then
Father Lucien said, "Now we know what Driscoll looked for. Few secrets
can be kept."

Thirlwell gave him a warning glance that Agatha did not note. She was
gazing across the river, her face towards the North, as if she had
forgotten the others, but she presently roused herself.

"Can we start to-morrow?" she asked.

"No," said Thirlwell firmly, "you must rest for two or three days, and
there are a number of things to be got."

"I don't think I can rest until I have seen the lode."

"You will have to try. It may be some time yet before we find the spot.
For one thing, the directions aren't complete. You see they stop--"

Agatha took the paper. "Yes; I hadn't noticed that. It begins very
clearly and then breaks off. I wonder why."

Thirlwell said nothing. It looked as if