rt in that, but there was also responsibility.

Looking into the future Mr. Braden foresaw the possibility of a
situation in which the possession of actual cash would be very
convenient if not necessary. He might have to pay Garland a lump sum.
Or, if he refused to do so and Garland made a deal with Mackay, he might
have to stand a trial. It might be a mere civil action to establish the
validity of the missing deeds; of it might be a charge of forgery. In
any event it would give him most undesirable publicity. His affairs were
very badly involved, and it would then be very hard to raise money. If
all went well, the coal would pull him out of the financial hole he was
in, and put him on his feet again. But meantime it would be prudent to
get together as much cash as he could. And so, very quietly, he set
about accumulating as much currency as possible, and as he obtained it
he placed it in his office safe, having now no confidence in his private
one. He regarded it as accident insurance.

Meanwhile, Garland was making arrangements of his own. The job of
obtaining anything from Angus Mackay was not going to be easy, and
reluctantly he made up his mind that it was too big to be tackled
single-handed. Assistance meant sharing the profits, but unfortunately
it seemed to be a case. He thought of Poole, and would have preferred
him, but Mr. Poole packed no sand whatever. Finally he decided on Blake
French. Not that Blake had any too much courage, but he hated Mackay,
and having rapped him on the head once, he might be counted on to do it
again if necessary. Poole might be used for a scout, without telling him
a great deal.

Blake French fell in with Garland's proposals with alacrity. He had had
trouble with his brothers since his father's death, culminating in a
short but vicious battle with Larry, in which the latter had got the
best of it. He suspected his brothers of having funds which they refused
to share with him. He himself was flat broke, without money to pay for
his numerous drinks. His brothers treated him as an outsider. He was
sure they were holding out on him. If he could get a share in that coal
proposition he would have the laugh on them; also it would be a chance
to get square with Mackay. And so he and Garland began to lay plans
looking to the acquisition of the missing deeds. The matter seemed
simplified for them by the circumstance that Angus Mackay and his bride
were now living, temporarily at least, in h