Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III THE BURIED TREASURE STORY Fred turned and walked toward the hotel, the old miner advancing to meet him. "Well," asked Mr. Gardner, "how'd you make out?" "I didn't make out at all." "Pshaw! That's too bad. What are you going to do now?" "Go back home." "I wish I could help you. Do you need work very much ?" "Well, I have to help support the house since my father met with that accident." "That's so. Shucks! Why ain't I rich? Then I could help my old friend." "I don't think my father would take money that he or I did not earn." "No, that's right, he wouldn't. But if I was rich I could give you a job. As it is I can't do any more than offer to grub-stake you, or let you come prospecting with me." "Thank you very much for the offer, but I don't believe I could do it. We need money right away, and I must earn it—somehow. "But how are you going to?" "That's what I don't know," and Fred spoke a little discouragedly. "I must try some other camp, I suppose." "Yes, I guess that's the only way. But say, won't you come in and have some lunch with me? I'm just going to sit down." "No, thank you. I must be getting home. I have quite a long walk." "Oh, come on. It won't take long, and you'll feel all the better for having eaten something. They don't set a very good table here. Everyone is too busy thinking about gold mines, to care much about grub. I'd lend you my elephant to get home on, only you can walk faster than he'll carry you." "Your elephant?" "Yes, that's my latest name for the donkey." "Oh, I understand." "Come on in and have lunch," insisted the old miner again. Fred did not need much urging. The truth was he was quite hungry, for he had not eaten a hearty breakfast, and his lunch was not very substantial. S...