nt.

It is needless to say that the four partners were very happy; but even
in the midst of the great joy they found time to wonder why Skip had not
called to congratulate them.

Nearly every other one of their friends and acquaintances visited the
house at some time during the day and evening; but the ex-chief of the
regulators was conspicuous by his absence.

"I wonder what the matter is with him?" Fred asked, when, at a late
hour, the partners were alone. "Do you suppose he thinks we don't want
to see him just because we have been fortunate?"

"If he does it's the biggest mistake of his life. I like the little
rascal, although he did play us a bad trick, an' if he don't show up
before noon to-morrow, I'll hunt him out," Joe said, laughingly.

But Skip did not put in an appearance before the time set, and, true to
his word, Joe went in search of him.

The information he brought back to his partners was mystifying.

Skip had not been at home since the day on which Sam was liberated, and
his father fancied he was absent on some work for the firm.

This singular disappearance troubled Fred greatly, and during the
remainder of the day he spoke more often of the boy than regarding the
mine.

"He'll turn up before long," Joe said, after all had tried in vain to
conjecture where he might be; but Fred fancied that the miner did not
speak very confidently.

Nothing was heard personally from Mr. Wright; but it was common gossip
about town that he had visited the newly-discovered vein several times,
and spent one entire day at Blacktown.

Another twenty-four hours passed, and Skip had not returned home. His
parents were now beginning to feel alarmed; but the majority of the
townspeople, not trusting in the sincerity of his repentance, intimated
that he had joined Gus, preferring to run away rather than lead an
industrious life.

"I won't believe anything of the kind," Fred replied, hotly, when
Donovan reported the general feeling regarding the disappearance. "He
never would have done so much to help us, unless meaning exactly what he
said."

"I reckon hard work didn't agree with him," the breaker boss answered,
with a laugh.

"When Bill gets a little better Joe and I will go after him."

"Where?"

"I don't know; but it won't do any harm to look around, and I am----"

Fred was interrupted by a knock at the door, and on answering it was
handed a telegram.

"Somebody is beggin' to be let in to the new compan