k in the
drift of the Blue Poppy mine, working against time that they might
repair the damage which had been caused by the cave-in.

It was not an easy task. That day and the next and the next after
that, they labored. Then Fairchild glanced at the progress that was
being made and sought out the pseudo-foreman.

"Will it be finished by night?" he asked.

"Easily."

"Very well. I may need these men to work on a day and night shift, I
'm not sure. I 'll be back in an hour."

Away he went and up the shaft, to travel as swiftly as possible through
the drift-piled road down Kentucky Gulch and to the Sampler. There he
sought out old Undertaker Chastine, and with him went to the proprietor.

"My name is Fairchild, and I 'm in trouble," he said candidly. "I 've
brought Mr. Chastine in with me because he assayed some of my ore a few
days ago and believes he knows what it's worth. I 'm working against
time to get five thousand dollars. If I can produce ore that runs two
hundred dollars to the ton, and if I 'll sell it to you for one hundred
seventy-five dollars a ton until I can get the money I need, provided I
can get the permission of the court,--will you put it through for me?"

The Sampler owner smiled.

"If you 'll let me see where you 're getting the ore." Then he figured
a moment. "That 'd be thirty or forty ton," came at last. "We could
handle that as fast as you could bring it in here."

But a new thought had struck Fairchild,--a new necessity for money.

"I 'll give it to you for one hundred fifty dollars a ton, providing
you do the hauling and lend me enough after the first day or so to pay
my men."

"But why all the excitement--and the rush?"

"My partner 's Harry Harkins. He 's due for trial Friday, and he 's
disappeared. The mine is up as security. You can see what will happen
unless I can substitute a cash bond for the amount due before that
time. Is n't that sufficient?"

"It ought to be. But as I said, I want to see where the ore comes
from."

"You 'll see in the morning--if I 've got it," answered Fairchild with
a new hope thrilling in his voice. "All that I have so far is an assay
of some drill scrapings. I don't know how thick the vein is or whether
it's going to pinch out in ten minutes after we strike it. But I 'll
know mighty soon."

Every cent that Robert Fairchild possessed in the world was in his
pockets,--two hundred dollars. After he had paid his men for their
th