But then there would be other outings at Morfordsburg, and so what mattered one day when there were so many left?
And with this thought her tears dried up and she began to sing again as she busied herself about the house--bursting into a refrain from one of the operas she loved, or crooning some of the old-time melodies which her black mammy had taught her when a child.
But now for Jack and what the day held for him of wonders and surprises.
Some pessimistic wiseacre has said that all the dire and dreadful things in life drop out of a clear sky; that it is the unexpected which is to be feared, and that the unknown bridges are the ones in which dangers lurk and where calamity is to be feared.
The optimistic Scribe bites his derisive thumb at such ominous prophecies.

Once in a while some rain does fall, and now and then a roar of thunder, or sharp slash of sleet will split the air during our journey through life, but the blue is always above, and the clouds but drifting ships that pass and are gone.

In and through them all the warm, cheery sun fights on for joyous light and happy endings, and almost always wins.
This time the unexpected took shape in the person of T.Ballantree, from Morfordsburg--a plain, direct, straight-to-the-point kind of a man, whom Jack found in the corridor of the Astor House with his eyes on the clock.
"You are very prompt, Mr.Breen," he said in clear-cut tones, "so am I.
What I wanted to see you about is just this: You own some ore property three miles east of the Maryland Mining Company's lay-out.

Am I right ?" "Yes, you are right," answered Jack with a comprehensive glance which began at the speaker's black derby hat, traversed his suit of store clothes, and ended in a pair of boots which still showed some traces of yellow clay, as if their wearer had been prospecting the day before.
"Are there any encumbrances on the property--any mortgages or liens not yet recorded?
I don't mean taxes; I find they have been paid," continued Ballantree.
Jack shifted his seat so he could get a better view of the speaker's face, and said in answer: "Why do you ask ?" "Because," said the man with entire frankness, "we understand that the Maryland Mining Company have an option on it.

If that is so, I'll stop where I am.