e slip o'
white paper really worth so much?"

"Call at the bank and get your money when you want it," said the
imperturbable cashier.

Dan studied his check, his face foolish with joy.

Eldred took his, saying, "This puts into my hands the means to fight."

Clement merely nodded. "You know my address." Eldred went out without
further word.

When the door closed on him Clement's face lost its sternness, and he
became sad and tender.

His struggle was not yet done. His mind was clear about the man who
came in at the eleventh hour, but it was not clear with regard to
these true-hearted old friends who had been with him from the first.
He recalled the time when Dan's big arm had helped him to a chair, and
Biddy had put the steaming soup before him--food worth all the gold in
the world at that moment. He recalled her broad, kindly face, hot and
shining from the stove; he remembered their struggles, their
sacrifices.

"Wait a moment, Biddy," he said, as they called out "Good-night," and
started to leave.

"Sit down a moment, and you, too, Dan. I want to talk over old times a
while."

They sat down in stupefaction.

"Biddy, do you remember the money you squandered on the lottery
ticket?"

A slow smile broadened her face. "I do, Mister Clement--and I remember
I won the prize sure!"

"You did, and saved all our lives. Dan, do you remember the day we
lost our last five-dollar gold piece in the grass?"

Dan slapped his knee. "Do I? I wore me hands raw as beef combin' the
grass that day."

"Ah, those were great days. We had days when forty-five cents would
have made us joyous, and here you are with ninety thousand dollars,
and wishin' for more."

Dan laughed again. "Sure, that's no lie."

"It is, Dan Kelly," said Biddy. "I have enough--too much. My heart
misgives me now. I'm afraid of it, sure. I'm scared to carry it away
wid me."

"You're safe, Biddy; nobody will steal that check." A sudden impulse
seized him. "Dan, you believed in me in those days--give me that
check." Dan slowly handed to him the check. Clement took it and
turned. "Biddy, you fed me when I was starving, and you pawned
everything you had to 'grub-stake' me--give me your check." She handed
it to him without hesitation. He tore them into small pieces.

"Dan, you are mining boss, and I make you both quarter owners in 'The
Witch' with all I have, and share and share alike, as we did when we
hadn't a dime. Now hurrah for 'The Witch.'"

Nob