ry weeks passed the heap of little sacks that contained his
gleanings grew to a considerable pile.

And in these monotonous months of near-solitude Davy Lannarck found
the satisfaction and contentment of his former dreams. In five months
he saw less than a half score of people. In his waking hours his time
was spent in training Peaches and playing with the Gillis dogs. Most
of the time he kept the way open to the Gillis demesne, but on two
occasions at least, he was denied that privilege; the heavy, swirling
snows that swept over this mountain region were too much for a midget
man and a midget horse. It was Landy Spencer and the larger horses
that conquered the big drifts and made a passable thoroughfare between
the Point and the Gillis home. But spring came as is its wont; the
great snowdrifts yielded to the demands of the sun and southern winds
and the returning flights of birds heralded the change of seasons.

But the big change in conduct and occupation was in Sam Welborn. In
the short, dark, snowy days he labored in the recesses of the canyon
from early dawn to nightfall, but as the days lengthened and
brightened, he puttered about the house sorting and packing some of
his personal effects, pressing his limited supply of clothing,
constructing a strong box to contain his gleanings, and losing no
chance to learn of the conditions of the roads to Cheyenne and points
beyond. It was apparent to his few acquaintances that he was now
prepared to overcome some past adversities that had hindered his
progress in other fields.

One evening after supper at the Gillis home Welborn made a limited
disclosure of his future plans. "As soon as the roads are fit, I want
to go to the assay office in Denver and cash up on past efforts," was
his opening statement. "I hope Jim can take time out to drive me there
and bring the car back, for I want to make a trip back East to be gone
for a week or two. After I have finished up my business in that area I
want to come back here and loaf around a spell and get acquainted with
my neighbors and benefactors. As Davy has often said, 'The gold up in
the ravine will keep.' The claims are registered in our names, and we
can, from time to time, work 'em to keep 'em alive.

"At the assay office," Welborn continued, "I will cash in the little
dab that I had accumulated before Davy advanced the money to buy the
pump and accessories; the rest is partnership funds to be divided and
depos--"

"Hold