odpile waned. Then he
disconnected, blew off, and set to work to scrape his plates, whereon
to his experienced eye there now appeared a gratifying roughness in the
coating. He got off a lump of amalgam as big as his fist, and was
content. "It's ojus there's no retort here," said he, "but like enough
I'll find some way to vollituize this mercury."

He crossed the _arroyo_, and went to the cabin which had once been the
office of the assayer. The latter was now an _emigre_, but he had left
his crucibles and his furnace behind him; because it is not convenient
to carry such things when one is afoot. McGinnis found a retort,
adjusted it, set it going, volatilized the mercury from his amalgam,
and in time had his button of dirty but quite valid gold. It lay heavy
in his hand and rested heavy in his pocket. "As a captain of
industhry," said he, "I must see what I can do for poor sufferin'
humanity." He chuckled, and passed out into the street.

"As capital," said McGinnis to himself, walking on in the moonlight, "I
am entitled to the first drink meself, and after that to one or two as
a laborer. Then, if there's anny left, after treatin' all round, I'll
buy the town a public liberry, pervidin' the town'll make it
sufficiently and generally understood that I'm a leadin' and
public-minded citizen that has reached success by the grace of God and
a extraordinary brain."

But McGinnis in his philanthropic intentions met difficulty. He
wandered into the Lone Star, and placing his crude bullion upon the
counter, swept about him a comprehensive hand. To his wonder there was
no response. A few of the assembled populace shifted uneasily in their
seats, but none arose. "Do you take this for a low-down placer camp?"
asked Billy Hudgens, with a dull show of pride, when McGinnis demanded
the gold scales.

"No," said McGinnis, "it's a quartz camp right enough, and all it needs
is developin'. At this speakin', I'm capital and labor both, and crew
of the _Nancy Brig_. What's the matter?"

A sigh escaped from the audience, as Billy Hudgens made reply. "Not a
drop," said he; "all gone. Nothing till Tom Osby gets back from Vegas,
and maybe not then. I owe Gross & Blackwell over two hundred now."

McGinnis's voice dropped into a low, intent whisper. "Do you mean to
tell me that?" he said. "Me, with my thirst?" He laid a hand on
Billy's shoulder. "Friend," said he, "I've walked two hundred miles.
I've developed your pla