him.

But Bunker Hill was surly, he barely glanced at Denver and went on
caring for his horses; and Denver did not crowd him. He waited, and at
last Old Bunk looked up with jaw thrust grimly out.

"Well?" he said, and Denver forgot everything but the question that was
on his tongue.

"Say," he burst out, "who is this Colonel Dodge that came up and bought
your mine? Is he working for Murray, or what?"

"Search me," grumbled Bunker, "I got his thousand dollars, and that's
about all I know."

"He was up here to see me the same day you left, with a whole load of
six-buckle experts; and say, he offered me a check for ten thousand
dollars if I'd sell him the Silver Treasure claim. And when I refused it
he got into his machine and went right over to Murray's. I'll bet you
you're sold out to Bible-Back."

"Well, he's stuck then," said Bunker. "I guess you haven't heard the
news--Murray's closed down his camp for good."

"He has!" exclaimed Denver, and then he laughed heartily. "He's a foxy
old dastard, isn't he?"

"You said it," returned Bunker. "Never did have any ore. Just pretended
he had in order to sell stock and recoup what he'd lost on the drilling.
They're offering the stock for nothing."

"Who's offering it?" demanded Denver suddenly taking the matter
seriously. "I'll bet you it's nothing but a fake!"

"All right," shrugged Bunker, "but I met a bunch of miners and they were
swapping stock for matches. Old Tom Buchanan down at Desert Wells won't
accept it at any price--that shows how much it's a fake."

"Aw, he pulled that once before," answered Denver contemptuously, "but
he don't fool me again. Like as not he's made a strike and is just
shutting down so he can buy back the stock he sold."

Bunker looked up and grunted, then gathered together his purchases and
ambled off towards the house.

"That's all you think about, ain't it?" he said at parting. "I'll
mention it when I write to Drusilla."

"Oh--oh, yes," stammered Denver suddenly reminded of his dereliction,
"say, how did she happen to go? And I want to get her address so I can
explain how it happened--I wouldn't have missed seeing her for
anything!"

"No, of course not," growled Bunker, "not for anything but your own
interests. You can go to hell for your address."

"Why, what do you mean?" demanded Denver; but as Bunker did not answer
he fell back and let him go on.

CHAPTER XXV

THE ANSWER

There are some kinds of questions whi