And in spite of the fact that Fairchild now felt his mine to be a bonanza, unless some sort of a miracle could happen before that time, the mine was the same as lost.
True, it would go to the highest bidder at a public sale and any money brought in above the amount of bail would be returned to him.

But who would be that bidder?
Who would get the mine--perhaps for twenty or twenty-five thousand dollars, when it now was worth millions?
Certainly not he.

Already he and Harry had borrowed from Mother Howard all that she could lend them.

True she had friends; but none could produce from twenty to two hundred thousand dollars for a mine, simply on his word.

And unless something should happen to intervene, unless Harry should return, or in some way Fairchild could raise the necessary five thousand dollars to furnish a cash bond and again recover the deeds of the Blue Poppy, he was no better off than before the strike was made.