Part 4 (1/2)
”The last I heard she was in Denville, California.”
”Denville? Why that is not more than twenty-five miles from Piddock!”
exclaimed Fred, a sudden idea coming into his mind.
”So near as that? Well, why don't you go and see her, get a copy of the map, and hunt for the gold?” and the old miner laughed as if it was a joke.
”Maybe I will,” replied Fred, in a curiously quiet voice, as he rose to leave the dining-room of the hotel.
CHAPTER IV
FRED HAS HOPES
”How long will it take you to get home?” asked Mr. Gardner of Fred, as he accompanied him toward the street.
”Oh, about three hours. I'm a pretty fast walker, and it's mostly down hill.”
”Then you'd better take my tame snake.”
”Your snake? Oh, you mean the donkey.”
”Yes, I think he would go pretty well down hill. He could slide most of the way. Better let me get him for you. You can send him back whenever you get ready. I shan't want him for a week or so.”
”Thank you very much, but I think I'll walk.”
”Well, maybe you'll get home a little sooner, even if it is down hill.
Stop and see me whenever you're in this direction. I don't expect to go to prospecting right away, and I'm going to make this hotel my headquarters.”
”Thank you, Mr. Gardner, I will.”
”And give my regards to your father. I'd like to see him.”
”I will do so, but I'm afraid you can't see him unless you call. He is not able to get very far from the house.”
”Then I'll try to call. Don't forget to say that Old Bill Gardner was asking for him. And if he wants to have a try at the Stults treasure, why, I'll give him a letter of introduction to the widow. I know her.”
”Do you?” asked Fred eagerly. ”Then perhaps you would give me a letter?”
”Give you one? Why, you don't expect to have a try for it; do you?”
”I don't know,” replied the boy seriously. ”I would like to talk to my father about it. But I have another scheme in mind. If I had a letter to Mrs. Stults, she might be able to tell me where I could get work. I believe you said she had an interest in some mines.”
”She has, and she might be able to get you a place. I did not think of that. But Denville is quite a way off.”
”Well, I may have to go quite a distance before I can get a job.”
”All right. Wait a few minutes and I'll write you a letter of introduction to Mrs. Stults. She is rather a peculiar German woman, slow-going, and she doesn't make her mind up in a hurry.”
”Then I will give her plenty of time to consider matters, Mr. Gardner.”