Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/44

 on their clothes being changed; so they appeared arrayed in suits of Mr. De Vere's and Jack's while Reuben dried and pressed theirs. Genung and De Vere wandered into the library and seated themselves before the fire where they were soon in earnest conversation. The latter had mentioned Mills' offer and his promise to consider it.

"I should not sell," said Mr. Genung with decision. "He will put up a sanitarium for consumptives, induce others to erect summer boarding-houses and turn this valley into a summer resort; in the end, killing all manufactories and leaving our vast mineral resources undeveloped. Hernando, who has spent nearly all his life among mines, says the precious metals are here. He found some specimens this morning which he says contain gold."

"But I am afraid not in sufficient quantities for mining," said Mr. De Vere resignedly.

"Those words are Mills's," answered Genung hotly. "I believe that man is a rascal."

John De Vere judged others from his own