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Updated: June 15, 2025
Old Mizzou rambled on in like fashion most of the evening, to Bennington's great amusement, and, though next morning he was quite himself again, he still clung to the idea that Bennington should examine the pony. "He is a fine bronc, fer shore," he claimed, "an' you'd better git arter him afore some one else gits him."
Acting on that supposition, he tried a new tack. For two delicious hours he showed up, to his own satisfaction, Bennington's ignorance of mining. That was an easy enough task. Bennington did not even know what country-rock was. All he succeeded in eliciting confirmed him in the impression that de Laney was sent to spy on him. But why de Laney? Old Mizzou wagged his gray beard. And why spy on him?
As to the assessment work, Old Mizzou had already assured him there was no immediate hurry; men were cheaper in the fall. As to investigating, he started in on that at once. He and Davidson climbed down shafts, and broke off ore, and worked the gold pan. It was fun. In the morning Bennington decided to work from seven until ten on Aliris. Then for three hours he and Old Mizzou prospected.
Between these moods he alternated, without being able to abide in either. He forgot all about Old Mizzou. Promptly at noon the following day he turned up the little right-hand trail for the first time. The Lawton house he found, first of all, to be scrupulously neat.
These yere gents sees I has charge, an' they says to themselves, 'Ole Davidson takes care of them assessment works all right, an' so they never thinks it's worth while t' see whether it is done or not." "You trusted to their thinking you were performing your duties?" "Thet's it." "Well, it was a pretty big risk!" "Ev'rything t' gain an' nothin' t' lose," quoted Old Mizzou comfortably.
About two weeks later he received a letter from Bishop saying that the assay of the samples had been very poor not at all up to expectations and asking some further information. As to the latter, Bennington consulted Old Mizzou. The miner said, "I told you so," and helped on the answer. After this the young man heard nothing further from his employer.
As Bennington had for some time tentatively revolved in his mind the desirability of something to ride, this struck him as being a good idea. All Westerners had horses in the books. So he abandoned Aliris: A Romance of all Time, for the morning, and drove down to Spanish Gulch with Old Mizzou. He was mentally braced for devilment, but his arch-enemy, Fay, was not in sight.
"It ain't goin' t' take us long t' tack up them notices, now 't we've agreed. We kin do th' most on it this evenin'. Jest lay low, that's all." "Ain't de Laney going to get onto us sasshaying off with a lot of notices?" "If he does," remarked Old Mizzou grimly, "I knows a dark hole whar we retires that young man for th' day! If it comes t' that, though, you got t' tend to it, Slayton.
Th' Company's title's gone long ago. They lost their job last January. Them claims is open to any one who cares to have 'em." The stranger uttered a long whistle. Old Mizzou chuckled cunningly. "I has charge of them claims from th' time they quits work on 'em 'till now. They ain't be'n a pick raised on 'em. Anybody could a-jumped 'em any time since las' January."
I ain't showin' in this deal y' know." The stranger laughed unpleasantly. "You show me the hole and I'll take care of Mr. man," he agreed. He laughed again. "By the way, it strikes me that fellow's going to run up against a good deal of tribulation before he gets through." "Wall, thet thar Comp'ny ain't goin' to raise his pay when they finds it out," agreed Mizzou.
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