after a fatiguing trip paul and his eccentric acquaintance reached custer city. it was a rough journey, but paul enjoyed it, and he was equally entertained and instructed by the comments of his traveling companion, who on his part formed a special liking for paul.

"did you say you owned a hotel in custer city, mr. scott?" asked paul, when they were near the end of the journey.

"jim scott owns such a hotel," answered mr. scott, significantly.

"beg pardon, i mean jim. if the price isn't high, i will stop there."

"the price is high and the accommodations very or'nary," said scott, frankly, "but the price to you won't be anything. you'll be there as my company."

"oh, but jim, you won't make any money if you act so generously; but i thank you all the same."

"i don't want to make any money out of you, youngster."

[pg 247]"i haven't done anything to deserve such kindness, jim."

"then we'll say you haven't. look here, youngster, old jim's been prospered, and he's got no one to spend his money on. it won't hurt him to give you free board, and he's goin' to do it."

paul grasped the rough hand of his new friend, and frankly accepted the offer, which acceptance jim appeared to regard as a personal favor.

he was installed in a tolerably comfortable room in the black hills hotel—as comfortable, at any rate, as the hotel, which was a rough-looking structure, afforded, and soon made himself at home.

of course, curiosity soon induced him to roam about the town. it was composed of extemporaneous structures, for the town was as yet in its infancy, and built somewhat on the plan of cheyenne, and other towns which he had seen along the union pacific road. the town lots had been staked out sixty by one hundred and fifty feet in size, and the principal street, which had been named after general crook, was two hundred feet wide. other streets were a hundred and fifty feet wide. the "city" was certainly of mushroom growth, not less than four hundred buildings having been erected in a single month.

to paul everything seemed new, strange, and delightful. it was a state of society to which he had not[pg 248] been accustomed, and excited his curiosity and interest. he found that fashionable attire was not at all required in custer city. men went about dressed like day laborers of the humblest sort, who at home had been accustomed to the comforts and refinements of life. everything was free and unconventional, and so everybody felt thoroughly independent.

some of the leading citizens lived in jim scott's hotel, which was pretty well filled.

occupying a room just opposite paul's was a small, elderly man, with stiff, gray hair, a wizened face, and crafty eyes.

"who is my opposite neighbor, jim?" asked paul, with some curiosity.

"oh, that's old fox—simeon fox."

paul pricked up his ears. he remembered that mr. bradford's partner in the blackstone mine bore the name of fox. if this was the man, he didn't doubt from his looks that he was capable of outwitting and swindling his employer. he didn't think it politic, however, just at present to show any particular interest in the man.

"what is his business?" inquired paul, in an indifferent tone.

"he is part owner of one of our best mines."

"what is the name of the mine?"

"the blackstone mine."

[pg 249]"you say he is part owner; who is the partner?"

"some rich man in chicago. ten to one old simeon will fleece him."

"i suppose such a mine as that is worth considerable money."

"oh, yes."

"about how much?"

"why, youngster, you don't want to buy into it, do you?"

"not in the present state of my finances," answered paul, laughing.

"oh, well, i'd give thirty thousand dollars myself for the blackstone mine."

thirty thousand dollars! that would make fifteen thousand dollars for a half interest, and simeon fox had tried to induce mr. bradford to sell his half for two thousand dollars! this was an obvious swindle.

"would mr. fox sell out for that sum, do you think?" asked paul.

"it's likely he wouldn't. he's making too much money out of it. but, youngster, you seem particularly interested in the mine."

"i am," answered paul, quietly.

he had rapidly decided that it would be for his interest to reveal to jim scott his real business at custer city.

"well, that's strange! what can it be to you?"

[pg 250]"jim, can you keep a secret?"

"can i? i reckon!"

"then i will tell you one. i am sent out here by mr. bradford, of chicago, simeon fox's partner."

scott whistled, and looked at paul in evident amazement.

"he must have great confidence in you, youngster, to send out a boy of your age."

"i think he has," answered paul, with pardonable pride. "now, i want to know if you will help me?"

in answer mr. scott put his hard and horny hand into the boy's, and said:

"you can depend on jim scott every time."

"then i'll tell you how the case stands. this fox is continually sending on discouraging accounts about the mine to mr. bradford, and he lately offered him two thousand dollars for his half."

"the mean cuss! i beg your pardon, that ain't the word i meant to use, but maybe its the best."

"he thought mr. bradford would get discouraged, and sell out without taking any trouble to verify his statement."

"i see."

"but he suspected there was a conspiracy to cheat him, and he sent me out with full power to act for him."

[pg 251]"that's a good 'un! and old fox doesn't know of your bein' here."

"he has no idea that mr. bradford has sent a messenger."

"i shall be glad to see the old rascal taken in."

"mr. bradford gave five thousand dollars for his half of the mine."

"and it was a good bargain at that price. but he never ought to have taken simeon fox as a partner."

"what would you advise me to do, jim?"

"you might take old fox at his word, and buy his half for two thousand dollars."

"then the swindle would be on our side."

"no, because he proposed the trade."

"mr. bradford is a rich man, and though he wants justice in the matter, he does not care to take any advantage."

"then, paul, i'll tell you what you'd better do."

"what, jim?"

"have you full authority to act for mr. bradford?"

"yes, as i can show you."

"i'll take your word for it. sell to me."

"are you willing to buy?"

"yes, if you'll give me a good bargain?"

"what would you consider a good bargain, jim?"

"i'll pay you twelve thousand dollars for the share you have to sell, money down, or my draft on chicago."

[pg 252]"will it be worth that to you?"

"it will be worth more or i wouldn't buy, but it isn't worth that to your principal, for he can't be here to look after old fox with his tricks."

"he may try some of them on you, jim."

"i'll risk it. he'll find i get up in the morning as early as he does. to be plain with you, paul, i'll make him an offer, give or take, and either way i shall make money. if the whole mine is in my hands i can make it pay."

"very well, jim. i am ready to accept your offer."

"i didn't much think," said scott, laughing, "when i came across you in cheyenne, that i should buy a mine of you."

"you didn't think i carried one about with me?" said paul, laughing.

"i sha'n't let simeon know about our bargain just yet. i want you to have a talk with him, and see what the old rascal has to say."