ch leaves
today.
"GARRY."

Borrowing Dick's ever ready notebook, and tearing out several of the
pages, Garry wrote a long note telling of the discovery and asking that
they be allowed to buy an acre of the land, since they had discovered
the mine, or if they couldn't buy an acre for any reason, that they be
allowed to purchase the mineral rights, and lease enough land for
operations. He told his father to address him at Hobart, care of John
Everett.

The letter was dispatched special delivery, and then Garry said:

"It will take this letter at least two days to reach Dad, and by that
time we will be back in Hobart. Then it will take two days for the
letter to get back, perhaps three, and we can have a bit of a vacation
in that time, and get a better look at Hobart and see something of the
town."

"And see something of the pretty little granddaughter too," said Phil in
a low tone to Dick.

"I wish you fellows would stop ragging me about that. I think she's nice
and pretty and all that, but why try and make a romance? Why, we're
nothing but boys yet, plenty of time to think of love and romance after
school and college," protested Garry, blushing.

"Course you're only a boy, but that doesn't stop you greatly admiring
the young lady, and of course Phil and I are only boys, but that doesn't
mean that we don't have eyes and brains in our head and don't see
through you like a piece of glass," and the fat boy laughed till his
sides shook, at the blushing face of his good chum.

"Well, that's enough of that. Let's take a good chunk out of the journey
back to Hobart today, and get there by mid-afternoon tomorrow. Let's
fill our canteens and get going," ordered the leader.

The return trip was made without any unusual event, and they repaired at
once to the Everett home, where Ruth and her grandfather were told of
the discovery, under the pledge of secrecy.

The young lady was evidently more than pleased about the mine being
named for her. Mr. Everett was as right as a trivet again, barring the
fact that his arm was of course still in bandages and splints.

For the next two days they hiked about the country, with Mr. Everett as
guide, of course accompanied by Ruth, and heard many tales of that
section in the early days.

Finally the long-looked-for letter came, and as it bears on the
succeeding adventures of the boys, it will be given:

"DEAR GARRY: