Page:J Allan Dunn--The Girl of Ghost Mountain.djvu/224

206 He took counsel with Jackson. The latter would have to come into the scheme in any event. Sheridan could not handle the affair alone, any more than could Quong. With Quong, there was enough of the Hollister element left in Metzal to form a lawless rush to this unclaimed trove if any word crept out concerning it. The whole countryside would be apt to dispute a Chinaman's claim to treasure that had been lying hidden in their midst for seventy years. The Painted Rocks were out of the way, but the uncovering could not be done without men and a certain amount of paraphernalia. The slide of broken clay fragments would have been cemented by the rains.

Sheridan meant to give Jackson a substantial share in the gold—if they got it. Red was as much friend as foreman and there was an additional bond between the two in their visits to Ghost Mountain. The outfit of the Circle S would also have a stake in the find, those who helped as laborers as well as those who stayed behind at the ranch. The main thing was to. avoid all gossip, as with the Hollister affair.

"The Chink," said Red, "spins a mighty good yarn. Sounds fine an' fairly reasonable. On'y—"

"Only what?"

"I ain't aimin' to chuck no cold water on this expedition. On'y this. I've lived west all my life. I've heard a power of yarns of lost treasure—an' I never see one of them come true. Quong's got a level head an' I figger his blood ain't easy het up, but I've seen better men than him go loco over a