ffair out of your hands. We don't want to antagonize the man. He will be
valuable to us--later."

"How?"

"Carrington, the engineer I sent out here to look over the country before
we started work, did considerable nosing around Trevison's land while in
the vicinity. He told me there were unmistakable signs of coal of a good
quality and enormous quantity. We ought to be able to drive a good bargain
with Trevison one of these days--if we handle him carefully."

Corrigan frowned and grunted. "His land is included in that of the Midland
grant. He shall be treated like the others. If that is your only
objection--"

"It isn't," said Benham. "I have discovered that 'Brand' Trevison is
really Trevison Brandon, the disgraced son of Orrin Brandon, the
millionaire."

The darkness hid Corrigan's ugly pout. "How did you discover that?" he
said, coolly, after a little.

"My daughter mentioned it in one of her letters to me. I confirmed, by
quizzing Brandon, senior. Brandon is powerful and obstinate. If he should
discover what our game is he would fight us to the last ditch. The whole
thing would go to smash, perhaps."

"You didn't tell him about his son being out here?"

"Certainly not!"

"Good!"

"What do you mean?"

"That it's my land; that I'm going to take it away from Trevison, father
or no father. I'm going to break him. That's what I mean!" Corrigan's big
hands were clenched on the arms of his chair; his eyes gleamed balefully
in the semi-darkness. J. C. felt a tremor of awed admiration for him. He
laughed, nervously. "Well," he said, "if you think you can handle it--"

They sat there for a long time, smoking in silence. One thought dominated
Corrigan's mind: "Three weeks, and exchanging confidences--damn him!"

* * * * *

A discordant note floated out of the medley of sound in palpitating Manti,
sailed over the ridiculous sky line and smote the ears of the two on the
platform. The air rocked an instant later with a cheer, loud, pregnant
with enthusiasm. And then a mass of men, close-packed, undulating, moved
down the street toward the private car.

Benham's face whitened and he rose from his chair. "Good God!" he said;
"what's happened?" He felt Corrigan's hand on his shoulder, forcing him
back into his chair.

"It can't concern us," said the big man; "wait; we'll know pretty soon.
Something's broke loose."

The two men watched--Benham breathless, wide-eyed; Cor