ton----" began Mizzou, but was
interrupted almost immediately by a third voice, that of Arthur. "The
point is this," said the latter sharply, "Davidson here is in a
position to give you possession of this group o' claims, but he ain't
in a position to appear in th' transaction. How are you goin' to
purtect him an' me so we gets something out of it?"

"Wait a minute," put in the stranger, "I want to ask a few questions
myself. These claims belong to the Holy Smoke Company now, don't they?"

"Well, that's the idea."

"Are either of you the agent of that Company?"

"Not directly, perhaps."

"Are you indirectly?"

"Seems to me you haven't got any call t' look into that, if we
guarantee t' give you good title."

"How do I know you can give me good title?"

"Ain't I tellin' you so?"

"Yes, but why should I believe you?"

"You shouldn't, unless you've got sense enough to see that we ain't
gettin' you 'way up here, an' we ain't living round these parts a
couple of years on a busted proposition."

The stranger evidently debated this.

"How would it be if you took equal shares with me on the claims, your
shares to be paid from the earnings? That would be fair all round. You
would get nothing unless the title was good. I would risk no more than
you did," he suggested.

"Isn't I tellin' yo' I don't appear a tall in this yere transaction?"
objected Mizzou.

The stranger laughed a little.

"I can see through a millstone," he said. "Why don't you old
turtlebacks come out of your shells and play square? You've got some
shady game on here that you're working underhand. Spin your yarn and
I'll tell you what I think of it."

"How do I know you don't leave us out a'ter we tells you," objected
Mizzou, returning to his original idea.

"You don't!" answered the stranger impatiently, "you don't! But it
seems to me if you expect to get anything out of a shady transaction,
you've got to risk something."

"That's right," put in Arthur, "that's right! 'Nuff said! Now, Slayton,
we'll agree to git you full legal control of these yere claims if
you'll develop them at your expense, an' gin Davidson and me a third
interest between us fer our influence. That's our proposition, an' that
goes. If you don't play squar', I knows how t' make ye."

"Spin your yarn," repeated the stranger quietly. "I'll agree to give
you and Davidson a third interest, _provided_ I take hold of the thing
at all."

"An' Jack Slayton," put in Mizzou th