d bring him a livelihood in the city----"

"Except gambling," interrupted Ephraim, contemptuously.

"If he tried his hand at that even, he'd fail. He hasn't the head to
plot deeply. His maneuvers are all childishly transparent, and this
last one--h'm! Have you connected his 'highness' with this spook
business?"

"No, sir; and you needn't. That Antonio Bernal is the biggest coward
above ground. Why, bless me! even if he'd had gumption enough to
concoct such a scheme he wouldn't have the nerve to carry it out.
He'd be afraid of himself! Fact! No, siree. Top-lofty never had a hand
in this," answered the elder man.

Ninian said no more but kept his suspicions revolving in his own mind;
yet was far more absorbed in the possibility that "Forty-niner" had
suggested, of the copper vein in the canyon, than by anything else he
had heard. They had ridden on again, each silent, till the lights of
Sobrante came into view; then Ephraim remarked:

"Reckon the little tackers ain't much better. The mistress don't
gen'ally keep lamps lit as late as this, 'less something's wrong. Oh!
I hope there's no more death and disappointment on our road. 'Twould
break Mrs. Trent's heart, indeed, if she lost Ned."

Ninian roused himself from his reverie, and answered, lightly:

"For such a cheerful fellow as I remember you, even when you were
first laid up in hospital, you're degenerated sadly. What in the name
of common sense is the use of prognosticating evil, when good is just
as likely to come?"

"Huh! I'm consid'able older than you, young man," retorted the
sharpshooter, perversely.

"All the more reason you should be more hopeful. What's happened to
you besides these external troubles? Something on your own account,
eh? If so, believe me you have my hearty sympathy and my right hand to
help you, if you need it."

Ephraim checked Prince so shortly that the animal reared on his
haunches, and pushing his hat from his brow regarded the visitor with
a sad but grateful countenance. Then he spoke, and his tones were
husky with subdued emotion:

"Thanks, friend. I took to you the first time my old eyes lit on you
and I've leaned on you, in my mind, ever since. There is something 'at
worries me, but it's so slight I shan't put it into words--yet. I've
got work to do still for them I love and that love me. Which I might
maybe sum up in one small person--my precious Lady Jess. God bless
her! Ay, God bless her! From the crown of her sunny hea