These checks were endorsed over to A. V. R. E. Jones, whereupon he
turned over the pail of water and the largest canteen to the parched
miners. Then, sorting out the checks, he pocketed two aggregating
five thousand dollars, tore up three, and holding the other in his
hand, turned to Captain Funcke.

"Will five hundred dollars pay you for keeping young Hoff down here
a couple of months and making the beginning of a man of him?" he
asked.

"Yes, and more," replied the captain.

"It's a go," said Average Jones. "I'd like to make the job
complete."

Then, courteously bidding the North Pinto Gold Mining Company
farewell, the two water-dealers clambered up the rocks and
disappeared beyond the abrupt sky-line.

Once again Doctor Conrad Hoff sat in the private office of Average
Jones, Ad-Visor. The young man was thinner, browner and harder of
fiber than the Jones of two weeks previous. Doctor Hoff looked him
over with shrewd eyes.

"Say, your trip ain't done you no harm, has it?" he exclaimed with a
boisterous and false good nature. "You look like' a fightin'-cock.
Hope the boy comes out as good. You say he's all right?"

"You've got his letter, in which he says so himself. That's enough
proof, isn't it?"