ad been pletely exhausted。
Under these circumstances； it was plain that the discovery of a new seam of coal would be an important event。 Could Simon Ford's munication relate to a fact of this nature？ This question James Starr could not cease asking himself。 Was he called to make conquest of another corner of these rich treasure fields？ Fain would he hope it was so。
The second letter had for an instant checked his speculations on this subject； but now he thought of that letter no longer。 Besides； the son of the old overman was there； waiting at the appointed rendezvous。 The anonymous letter was therefore worth nothing。
The moment the engineer set foot on the platform at the end of his journey； the young man advanced towards him。
〃Are you Harry Ford？〃 asked the engineer quickly。
〃Yes； Mr。 Starr。〃
〃I should not have known you； my lad。 Of course in ten years you have bee a man！〃
〃I knew you directly； sir；〃 replied the young miner； cap in hand。 〃You have not changed。 You look just as you did when you bade us good…by in the Dochart pit。 I haven't forgotten that day。〃
〃Put on your cap； Harry；〃 said the engineer。 〃It's pouring； and politeness needn't make you catch cold。〃
〃Shall we take shelter anywhere； Mr。 Starr？〃 asked young Ford。
〃No； Harry。 The weather is settled。 It will rain all day； and I am in a hurry。 Let us go on。〃
〃I am at your orders；〃 replied Harry。
〃Tell me； Harry； is your father well？〃
〃Very well； Mr。 Starr。〃
〃And your mother？〃
〃She is well； too。〃
〃Was it your father who wrote telling me to e to the Yarrow shaft？〃
〃No； it was I。〃
〃Then did Simon Ford send me a second letter to contradict the first？〃 asked the engineer quickly。