ment. Being mistress of a fortune of thirty thousand dollars,
left by her mother, she had funds enough for her purpose. She fled to
New York, where chance made her acquainted with our hero, Ben Stanton,
under whose escort she safely reached San Francisco, paying Ben's
expenses in return for his protection.

Arrived in San Francisco, she furnished Ben with the necessary funds to
seek out Richard Dewey (to whom, without her guardian's knowledge, she
was privately betrothed) and inform him of her presence in California.
After a series of adventures Ben and his companion had found Dewey, laid
up with a sprained ankle in a rude hut high up among the mountains. He
had met with an accident while successfully working a rich claim near
by.

Of course Richard Dewey was overjoyed to meet friends of his own race
who could provide for him better than his faithful attendant, Ki Sing.
As he could not yet leave the spot, he offered to Ben and Bradley the
privilege of working his claim.

In the next chapter I will briefly explain Ben's position, and the
object which brought him to California, and then we shall be able to
proceed with our story.

CHAPTER II.

THE MISSING CHINAMAN.

If Florence Douglas was an heiress, our young hero, Ben Stanton, was
likewise possessed of property, though his inheritance was not a very
large one. When his father's estate was settled it was found that it
amounted to three hundred and sixty-five dollars. Though rather a large
sum in Ben's eyes, he was quite aware that the interest of this amount
would not support him. Accordingly, being ambitious, he drew from his
uncle, Job Stanton, a worthy shoemaker, the sum of seventy-five dollars,
and went to New York, hoping to obtain employment.

In this he was disappointed, but he had the good fortune to meet Miss
Florence Douglas, by whom he was invited to accompany her to California
as her escort, his expenses of course being paid by his patroness. It is
needless to say that Ben accepted this proposal with alacrity, and,
embarking on a steamer, landed in less than a month at San Francisco. He
did not remain here long, but started for the mining-districts, still
employed by Miss Douglas, in search of Richard Dewey, her affianced
husband, whom her guardian had forbidden her to marry. As we have
already said, Ben and his chosen companion, Jake Bradley, succeeded in
their mission, but as yet had been unable to communicate tidings of
their success to M