ng the
best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.

"This time he will come out second best," chuckled Burns to himself.

Then he laughed when he remembered how his appearance had puzzled Ernest.

"It was a good idea growin' a beard," he said to himself. "Seems to have
disguised me pretty well. The boy thought he had seen me before, but he
couldn't make out where. The next time he'll know me, I reckon.

"I must keep out of the way till night," he said to himself. "It won't do
for me to be seen prowlin' round the settlement."

He retired a mile or two among the hills, and waited impatiently for night
to come.

"It is lucky that the old man gave me a meal," he reflected, "otherwise I
should be about starved. I wonder if that watch is worth much."

He examined the watch, and decided that its value was probably not far
from a hundred dollars. In fact, the old man had bought it in St. Louis,
and had selected a high-priced article.

It did occur to Burns that perhaps he had better remain satisfied with
what he had got, for the watch would probably bring him fifty dollars at a
sacrifice sale; but the temptation to stay was too strong.

"It would be a sin to give up such a fine chance," he reflected. "There's
next to no risk, and I may get two hundred dollars."

Then he began to consider what he would do in that case. He decided that
he would go to San Francisco, and see what pickings he could find there.

He had already found out that mining men and others in the far West were
more careless about their money than those in the East, probably because
money came easier.

"I did well when I came out here," he said to himself in a tone of
congratulation. "I'll make hay while the sun shines."

Meanwhile, though he did not know it, his visit was expected, and
preparations were being made to receive him.

After supper Luke Robbins came to the store and held a conference with
Ernest.

"I am going to pass the night with you, lad," he said.

"I wish you would, Luke."

"I want to help you do the honors to my old friend Burns."

"Perhaps he won't call."

"If he knows what's best for him he won't, but he will be like the foolish
moth, and won't be contented till he has singed his wings. I will look
about me and see where to bestow myself for the night."

Ernest occupied a bed in the rear of the store, just behind one of the
counters. It was near a window in the rear of the building.

"I'll take that bed