Robbed of his customary inspiration he stood undecided, scowling at the feebly blinking ruffian called Joe.
"It's very good of you not to ask what it's all about," said the little woman, taking off the man's hat and shaking back her hair like a schoolgirl.

"I have some mining claims here--four of them.

My husband left them to me, and since that's all he did leave I have been keeping up the assessment work every year.

Last year I had enough money to buy Jawn." She nodded toward the Ford.

"I outfitted and came out here with an old fellow I'd known for years, kept camp until he'd done the assessment work, and paid him off and that was all there was to it.
"This summer the old man is prospecting the New Jerusalem, I expect.