youth.

"'Bliged to you, gentlemen," nodded the Colorado boy pocketing
the money. "Anything more to say to me?"

"Nothing remains to be said, except to thank you, and to wish
you good luck on your way back," said Reade.

"I wish you luck here, too, gentlemen. Good day."

With that, the driver mounted his seat, turned the horses about
and was off without once looking back.

"Now let's go over to the house and see the boss," murmured Tom.

Together the chums skirted the camp, going up to the wooden building.
As the door was open, Tom, with a sense of good manners, approached
from the side that he might not appear to be peeping in on the
occupants of the building. Gaining the side of the doorway, with
Harry just behind him, Reade knocked softly.

"Quit yer kidding, whoever it is, and come in," called a rough
voice.

Tom thereupon stepped inside. What he saw filled him with surprise.
Around the room were three or four tables. There were many utensils
hanging on the walls. There were two stoves, with a man bending
over one of them and stirring something in a pot.

"Oh, I beg your pardon," said Tom. "I thought I'd find Mr. Timothy