He had never been able to save much money and when, after several weeks of earnest searching he found no work, the situation began to look serious.
The opportunity knocked, for Jack found a railway ticket on the street, and in spite of diligent effort, was unable to return it to its owner.
Molly Salter, the miner's daughter, who had charge of the little telephone exchange at Red Gulch, became a warm friend to the young man.
When Salter and Jack discovered the intruders, they learned that the men's confederate would reach Red Horse Gulch in half an hour.
The roads were rough and the distance to town could not be covered in less than two hours, and yet the seemingly impossible was accomplished, for Jack managed with the aid of Milly to file the claim and outwit the desperadoes.