an insulting sneer and Murray made
haste to intercede.

"Now, now," he said, "let's not have any trouble. But of course you've
no business on this ground."

"That's all right," defended Denver, "that don't give him a license to
pull any ranicky stuff. I'm as peaceable as anybody, but you can tell
your hired man he don't look bad to me."

"That will do, Dave," nodded Murray and after another look at Denver,
the guard turned back towards the tent.

"Judas priest," observed Denver thrusting out his lip at the guard,
"he's a regular gun-fighting boy. You must have something pretty good
hid away here somewhere, to call for a guard like that."

"He's a dangerous man," replied Murray briefly, "I'd advise you not to
rouse him. But what do you think of our district, Mister--er----"

"Russell," said Denver promptly, "my name is Denver Russell. I just came
over from Globe."

"Glad to meet you," answered Murray extending a hairy hand, "my name is
B. B. Murray. I'm the owner of all this ground."

"'S that so?" murmured Denver, "well don't let me keep you."

And he started off down the trail.

"Hey, wait a minute!" protested Murray, "you don't need to go off mad.
Sit down here in the shade--I want to have a talk with you."

He stepped over to the shade of an abandoned cabin and Denver followed
reluctantly. From the few leading questions which Mr. Murray had
propounded he judged he was a hard man to evade; and, until he had got
title to the claim on Queen Creek, it was advisable not to talk too
much.

"So you're just over from Globe, eh?" began Murray affably, "well, how
are things over in that camp? Yes, I hear they are booming--were you
working in the mines? What do you think of this country for copper?"

"It sure looks _good_!" pronounced Denver unctuously, "I never saw
a place that looked better. All this gossan and porphyry, and that
copper stain up there--and just look at that dacite cap!"

He waved his hand at the high cliff behind and Murray's eye became beady
and bright.

"Yes," he said rubbing his horny hands together and gazing at Denver
benevolently, "we think the indications are good--were you thinking of
locating in these parts?"

"No, just going through," answered Denver slowly. "I was camping by the
crick and saw that copper-stain, so I thought I'd follow it up. How far
are you down with your drill?"

"Quite a ways, quite a ways," responded Murray evasively. "You don't
look like an ordinary prosp