A groundless rumor often covers a lot of ground.

You know who first said that?

We don't either. The source of the quote remains anonymous; so does the subject of the rumor that was going around town today.

After more than two weeks, no one has stepped forward with the lottery slip that's worth $400,000. A clerk at Main Tesoro in Bismarck sold the Powerball ticket Jan. 26.

Sort of like Midas, everything the Powerball machine at that gas station touches seems to turn… anonymous. A clerk who answered the phone there today said she didn't know who sold the ticket, and also wouldn't give her name.

"The mood in the store is, everybody's curious, everybody wants to know what's going on," the woman said. "No one's come forward with the ticket yet, not that we know of."

The lucky person with the lottery receipt has until July 26 to stake a claim on the prize - which would be the third largest amount given away in North Dakota since the state got into the lottery game in 2004. Last week, North Dakota Lottery spokeswoman Donna Thronson said it was likely the ticket-holder knew he or she had the ticket.

"They probably know they have it and are just consulting with an accountant or something like that," Thronson said then.

Today, she reiterated that the lottery office will be more than happy to tell the public when the ticket is redeemed.

"We have not had anyone come in to claim that ticket yet," Thronson said. "I think it will be a fun story when the winner does come forward. We are hoping."