"None of your schemes ever amounted to anything. You've been a
fortune-hunter all your life, nearly; and what have you gotten
out of it? Just a bare living."

"That's right, Mr. Swift, but I've had bad luck. I did find the
lost gold mine I went after some years ago, you remember."

"Yes, only to lose it because the missing heirs turned up, and
took it away from you. You could have made more at straight
mining in the time you spent on that scheme."

"Yes, I suppose I could; but this is going to be a success--I
feel it in my bones."

"That's what you say, every time, Alec. No, I don't believe I
want to go into this thing."

"Oh, come--do! For the sake of old times. Don't you recall how
you and I used to prospect together out in the gold country; how
we shared our failures and successes?"

"Yes, I remember that, Alec. Mighty few successes we had,
though, in those days."

"But now you've struck it rich, pardner," went on the pleader.
"Help me out in this scheme--do!"

"No, Alec. I'd rather give you three or four thousand dollars
for yourself, if you'd settle down to some steady work, instead
of chasing all over the country after visionary fortunes. You're