A silence followed, and the two stood there looking at each other. Presently Roderick said: "I believe I'll go over to the hotel and get some breakfast; this western air gives one a ravenous appetite."
Then they both laughed a little as if anxious to relieve an embarrassing situation, and went out to the street together. Jim knew in his heart he had been outclassed; he had shown his whole hand, the other not one single card.
"All right," Rankin finally said, as if an invitation had been extended to him. "All right, I'll jist loiter along with yer over to'rd the hotel."
"At another time," observed Roderick, "we will talk further about my father's errand into this western country."
"That's the dope that sure 'nuff suits me, Mr. War-field," replied Rankin. "Whatever you say goes. Yer can unbosom yerself to me any time to the limit. I've got a dozen good mining deals to talk to you about; they're dandies--a fortune in every one uv 'em--'a bird in every shell,' I might say," and Rankin laughed heartily at his happy comparison. "Remember one thing, Warfield,"--he stopped and took hold of the lapel of Roderick's coat, and again spoke in a whisper--"this yere town is full uv 'hot air' merchants. Don't have nuthin' to do with 'em--stand pat with me and I'll see by the great horn spoon the worst you get will be the best uv everythin' we tackle. Well, so long until after breakfast; I'll see you later." And with this Rankin turned and walked briskly back to his stables, whistling a melody from the "Irish Washerwoman" as he went along.
Arriving at his stables he lighted a fire in a drumshaped stove, threw his cud of tobacco away and said: "Hell, I wish this young Warfield had money. I've got a copper prospect within three mile uv this here town that'll knock the spots out uv the Ferris-Haggerty mine all holler. Geewhillikins, it'll jist nachur-ally make all the best mines in Wyomin' look like small-sized Shetland ponies at a Perch'ron draft horse show. You bet that's what I've got."
After feeding his horses he came back to the livery barn office, now quite warm and comfortable, pulled up an old broken backed chair, sat down and lit his pipe. After a few puffs he muttered half aloud: "Expect I'm the only man in Wyomin' who remembers all the early hist'ry and traditions about that cussed lost mine. I've hunted the hills high and low, north, south, east and west, and dang my buttons if I can imagine where them blamed nuggets came from. And my failure used to make me at times a plenty hostile and peevish. John Warfield brought three of 'em out with him on his last trip. He gave Tom one, Boney one and me one."