d."

"Judas priest!" exclaimed Russell, "twelve hundred feet deep? What does
the old boy think he's got?"

"He's drilling for copper," nodded Bunker significantly, "and for all
you and I know, he's got it. He's got an armed guard in charge of that
drill, and no outsider has been allowed anywhere near it for going on to
six months. The cores are all stored away in boxes where nobodv can get
their hands on them and the way old Bible-Back is sweating blood I
reckon they're close to the ore. But a hundred dollars a day--say, the
way things are now that'll make or break old Murray. He's been blowing
in money for ten or twelve years trying to develop his silver
properties; but now he's crazy as a bed-bug over copper--can't talk
about anything else."

"Is that so?" murmured Denver and as he went about his work his brain
began to seethe and whirl. Here was something he had not known of, an
element of chance which might ruin all his plans; for if the diamond
drill broke into rich copper ore his chance at the two treasures would
be lost. There would be a big rush and the price of claims would soar to
thousands of dollars. The country looked well for copper, with its heavy
cap of dacite and the manganese filling in the veins; and it was only a
day's journey in each direction from the big copper camps of Ray and
Globe. He turned impulsively and reached for his purse, but as he was
about to plank down his five hundred dollars in advance he remembered
Mother Trigedgo's words.

"Choose well between the two and both shall be yours. But if you choose
unwisely, then both will be lost and you will suffer humiliation and
shame."

"Say," blurted out Denver, "your claims are all silver--haven't you got
a gold prospect anywhere?"

"No, I haven't," answered Old Bunk, his eye on the bank-roll, "but I'll
accept a deposit on that offer. Any claim I've got--except the Lost
Burro itself--for five hundred dollars, cash."

"How long is that good for?" enquired Russell cautiously and Bunker
slapped his leg for action.

"It's good for right now," he said, "and not a minute after!"

"But I've got to look around," pleaded Denver desperately, "I've got to
find both these treasures--one of silver and one of gold--and make my
choice between them."

"Well, that's your business," said Bunker rising up abruptly. "Will you
take that offer or not?"

"No," replied Denver, putting up his purse and Old Bunk glanced at him
shrewdly.

"Well, I'll giv