His
mission to Hintzen performed, he would spend the night at Forest City,
and push on to Downieville the next morning.
Hintzen kept the general store at Forest City, a business more certain
and profitable than gold-mining; and having a reputation for strict
honesty, he had become a sort of agent and business manager for the
miners. He was one of the few men Robert Palmer trusted; therefore he
received the document from Keeler's hand without surprise. But he could
not repress a smile at the testator's extreme caution and resolved
forthwith to ask for a list of his friend's securities.
"How is the old man now?" he asked.
"Mr. Palmer has had a close call," replied Keeler. "But he is good for a
couple of years yet, I reckon."
"Sit down, Keeler, while I write him a note. You'll find a whiskey toddy
up there at the end of the counter.--Beg your pardon. Forgot your
temperance principles. There's fresh spring water in that bucket."
Next morning Keeler pushed on up the ascending valley of the mountain
torrent. The horns of a wild sheep by the wayside reminded him of
earlier days when game was plentiful. The only wild creatures along the
trail to-day were rattlesnakes.
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