Page:Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch.djvu/73

Rh "I've some business to attend to for my uncle," Ruth explained to the ranchman, as they started from the ranchhouse soon after breakfast. "And I want your advice."

"Sure, Ruthie," he said, "I'll advise ye if I can."

So she told him about Uncle Jabez's mixup with the Tintacker mining properties. Bill Hicks listened to this tale with a frowning brow.

"Bless your heart, Miss!" he ejaculated. "I believe you're chasin' a wild goose. I reckon your uncle's been stung. These wildcat mining properties are just the kind that greenhorn Easterners get roped into. I don't believe there's ten cents' worth of silver to the ton in all the Tintacker district. It played out years ago."

"Well, that may be," returned Ruth, with a sigh. "But I want to see the records and learn just how the Tintacker Mine itself stands on the books. I want to show Uncle Jabez that I honestly tried to do all that I could for him while I was here."

"That's all right, Ruthie. You shall see the records," declared Mr. Hicks. "I know a young lawyer in town that will help you, too; and it sha'n't cost you a cent. He's a friend of mine."

"Oh, thank you," cried Ruth, and rode along happily by the big cattleman's side.

They were not far from the house when Bashful Ike, who had been out on the range on some