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price.โ€

โ€œWhat is your price?โ€

โ€œTwenty-five thousand dollars for the whole mine!โ€

โ€œThat is twelve thousand five hundred for mine,โ€ said Herbert, his cheek flushing with the excitement he felt.

โ€œYou've figured it out right, my lad,โ€ said his partner.

โ€œThat would leave me twelve thousand after I have paid up Mr. Melville for the sum I paid in the beginning.โ€

โ€œRight again, my lad.โ€

โ€œWhy, Jack!โ€ exclaimed Herbert. โ€œDo you know what that means? It means that I should be richโ€”that my mother could move into a nicer house, that we could live at ease for the rest of our lives.โ€

โ€œWould twelve thousand dollars do all that?โ€

โ€œNo; but it would give me a fund that would establish me in business, and relieve me of all anxiety. Jack, it's too bright to be real.โ€

โ€œWe may not be able to sell the mine at that figure, Herbert. Don't let us count our chickens before they are hatched, or we may be disappointed. I'm as willin' to keep the mine as to sell it.โ€

โ€œJack, here is Mr. Compton coming,โ€ said Herbert.

The capitalist paused, and addressing Herbert, said:

โ€œHave you anything to do with the mine, my lad?โ€

โ€œI am half owner,โ€ answered Herbert, promptly, and not without pride.

โ€œWho is the other half owner?โ€

โ€œMr. Holden,โ€ answered Herbert, pointing out Jack.

โ€œMay I examine the mine?โ€

โ€œYou are quite welcome to, sir.โ€

Possibly the fact that this mine alone had not been pressed upon him for purchase, predisposed Mr. Compton to regard it with favor. Every facility was offered him, and Jack Holden, who thoroughly understood his business, gave him the necessary explanations.

After an hour spent in the examination, Mr. Compton came to business.

โ€œIs the mine for sale?โ€ he asked.

โ€œYes, sir.โ€

โ€œWhat is your price?โ€

โ€œTwenty-five thousand dollars.โ€

โ€œIs that your lowest price?โ€

โ€œIt is.โ€

Jack Holden wasted no words in praising the mine, and this produced a favorable impression on the capitalist with whom he was dealing.

โ€œI'll take it,โ€ he answered.

โ€œThen it's a bargain.โ€

Herbert found it difficult to realize that these few words had made him a rich boy. He remained silent, but in his heart he was deeply thankful, not so much for himself, as because he knew that he was now able to rejoice his mother's heart, and relieve her from all pecuniary cares or anxieties.

โ€œYou've made a good bargain, sir, if I do say it,โ€ said Jack Holden. โ€œFor my own part, I wasn't so particular about selling the mine, but my young partner here is differently placed, and the money will come handy to him.โ€

โ€œYou are rather young for a mine owner,โ€ said Mr. Compton, regarding Herbert with some curiosity.

โ€œYes, sir; I believe I am the youngest mine owner here.โ€

โ€œAre you a resident of this State?โ€

โ€œOnly temporarily, sir. I came here with a friend whose lungs are weak.โ€

โ€œYou expect to return to the East soon?โ€

โ€œYes, sir.โ€

โ€œWhen you do, come to see me. I am a commission merchant in Boston. If it is your intention to follow a business life, I may be able to find you a place.โ€

โ€œThank you, sir; I should like nothing better.โ€

โ€œTo-morrow,โ€ said Mr. Compton, โ€œI will come here and complete the purchase.โ€

โ€œJack,โ€ said Herbert, when the new purchaser of the mine had left them, โ€œthere is no work for us here. Come with me, and let us together tell Mr. Melville the good news.โ€

โ€œA good thought, my lad!โ€

So the two mounted their horses, and left Deer Creek behind them. They little suspected how sorely they were needed.





CHAPTER XXXVII. TO THE RESCUE.

Herbert and his companion drew near the forest cabin, which had been the home of the former, without a suspicion that George Melville was in such dire peril. The boy was, indeed, thinking of him, but it was rather of the satisfaction his employer would feel at his good fortune.

โ€œSomehow I feel in a great hurry to get there, Jack,โ€ said Herbert. โ€œI shall enjoy telling Mr. Melville of my good luck.โ€

โ€œHe's a fine chap, that Melville,โ€ said Jack Holden, meaning no disrespect by this unceremonious fashion of speech.

โ€œThat he is! He's the best friend I ever had, Jack,โ€ returned Herbert, warmly.

โ€œIt's a pity he's ailing.โ€

โ€œOh, he's much stronger than he was when he came out here. All the unfavorable symptoms have disappeared.โ€

โ€œMaybe he'll outgrow it. I had an uncle that was given up to die of consumption, when he was about Melville's age, and he died only last year at the age of seventy-five.โ€

โ€œThat must have been slow consumption, Jack,โ€ said Herbert, smiling. โ€œIf Mr. Melville can live as long as that, I think neither he nor his friends will have reason to complain.โ€

โ€œIs he so rich, lad?โ€

โ€œI don't know how rich, but I know he has plenty of money. How much power a rich man has,โ€ said Herbert, musingly. โ€œNow, Mr. Melville has changed my whole life for me. When I first met him I was working for three dollars a week. Now I am worth twelve thousand dollars!โ€

Herbert repeated this with a beaming face. The good news had not lost the freshness of novelty. There was so much that he could do now that he was comparatively rich. To do Herbert justice, it was not of himself principally that he thought. It was sweet to reflect that he could bring peace, and joy, and independence to his mother. After all, it is the happiness we confer that brings us the truest enjoyment. The selfish man who eats and drinks and lodges like a prince, but is unwilling to share his abundance with others, knows not what he loses. Even boys and girls may try the experiment for themselves, for one

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