et with the lines
of a girl. And her eyes were still the eyes of a child, big and round
and innocently blue.

"Here comes the Professor," muttered Bunker gloomily, as he unlocked the
heavy door, "he's hep, I reckon, the way he walks."

The Professor was waddling with his queer, duck-like steps down the
middle of the deserted street and every movement of his gunboat feet was
eloquent of offended dignity.

"Vell," he began as he burst into the store and stopped in front of
Denver, "I vant an answer, right avay, on dat property I showed you the
udder day. I joost got a letter from a chentleman in Moroni inquiring
about an option on dat claim and----"

"You can give it to him," cut in Denver, "I've just closed with Mr. Hill
for that Number One claim up the crick."

"So!" exploded the Professor, "vell, I vish you vell of it!" And he
flung violently out the door.

"Takes it hard," observed Bunker, "never was a good loser. You want to
watch out for him, now--he's going over to report to Murray."

"So that's the combination," nodded Denver. "I was over there yesterday
and Murray knew all about me--gave me a tip not to buy this property."

"Danged right he's working for him," returned Old Bunk grimly. "He runs
to him with everything he hears. It's a wonder I haven't killed that
little tub of wienies--he crabs every trade I start to make. What's the
matter with Old Bible-Back now?"

"Oh, nothing," answered Denver, "but if it's all the same to you I'd
like to just locate that ground. Then I'll do my discovery work and if
there ever comes up a question I'll have your quit-claim to boot."

"Suit yourself," growled Bunker, "but I want to tell you right now I've
got a perfect title to that property. I've held it continuously for
fifteen years and----"

"Give me a quit-claim then; because Murray questions your title and I
don't want to take any chances. He says you haven't kept up your work."

"He does, hey!" challenged Bunker thrusting out his jaw belligerently,
"well, I'd like to see somebody jump me. I'm living on my property, and
possessory title is the very best title there is. By grab, if I thought
that Mormon-faced old devil was thinking of jumping my ground----" He
went off into uneasy mutterings and wrote out the quit-claim absently;
then they went up together and, after going over the lines, Denver
relocated the mine and named it the Silver Treasure.

"Think you guessed right, do you?" inquired Bunker with a gr