"I've figured on that," Drummond replied, with a cunning look, though
Stormont saw he was flattered. "You want some money to begin, but I've a
notion how I'm going to raise my pile."

Stormont nodded. He had appealed to the young man's raw vanity, but
meant to work upon another emotion. "Watson tells me you came from
Hamilton. Nice town and business was pretty good when I was there." He
paused and asked sharply: "Why did you quit?"

Drummond hesitated and got confused. "Nothing much doing in my line;
didn't see many chances, and Hamilton made me tired."

"Oh, well," said Stormont, who had given the other a hint that he knew
something about his past history. "I reckon you didn't leave your
employer your new address! Anyhow, store-clerking's a tame job, and
you're a sport. You want to get out and give yourself a chance. Wasn't
Hector Drummond, Hudson's Bay agent at the old Longue Sault factory,
your father?"

"He was. Don't know how you know, but you've got it right."

Stormont smiled. The young man had told Watson much about himself one
night when he was drunk. "I don't think it matters. You'd like to get
rich and hinted that you knew how to make your pile."

"I know where there's a silver lode."

"Ah!" said Stormont, "that's interesting! But it's an expensive business
to prove and develop a mineral claim, and you couldn't do much alone. I