At last, out of breath from the rapid climb, Tom halted and gazed
down over the rugged landscape. "The gold is there," he muttered.
"I'm sure of it. Oh, if we could only find it!"
As Tom stood, deep in thought, the face of his patient friend
rose before him.
"I don't mind going to smash for myself, in a good, hard fight,"
Reade went on audibly. "But it seems a crime to drag Harry down
to poverty with me. If I could only get him to go away I'd give
up my own life, if need be, to prove what's under our ridge of
Nevada dirt."
"Ye'll give up your life for less'n that, I reckon!" sounded
another voice, close at hand.
Around a boulder Dolph Gage stepped into view, followed by two of
his men.
CHAPTER XVI
THE MAN WHO MADE GOOD
"Good evening, Gage," Tom responded pleasantly, after a slight
start of alarm. "What brings you in this section again?"
"Wanter know?" sneered Gage, while his companions scowled.
"That was my object in inquiring," Tom smiled.
"We're hiding---that's what we're doing here," Gage volunteered
harshly, though he spoke in a low voice.
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