d sufficient to run a dozen mines. He
not only pushed the old mines, but opened a new one. It was on a slip of
land that lay between the Rawson property and the stream that ran down
from the mountain. Some could not understand why he should run the shaft
there, unless it was that he was bent on cutting the Rawson property off
from the stream. It was a perilous location for a shaft, and Matheson,
the superintendent, had protested against it.

Matheson's objections proved to be well founded. The mine was opened so
near the stream that water broke through into it, as Matheson had
predicted, and though a strong wall was built, the water still got in,
and it was difficult to keep it pumped out sufficiently to work. Some of
the men struck. It was known that Wickersham had nearly come to a
rupture with the hard-headed Scotchman over it; but Wickersham won.
Still, the coal did not come. It was asserted that the shafts had failed
to reach coal. Wickersham laughed and kept on--kept on till coal did
come. It was heralded abroad. The _Clarion_ devoted columns to the
success of the "Great Gun Mine" and Wickersham.

Wickersham naturally showed his triumph. He celebrated it in a great
banquet at the New Windsor, at which speeches were made which likened
him to Napoleon and several other generals. Mr. Plume declared him
"greater than Themistocles, for he could play the lute and make a small
city a great one."

Wickersham himself made a speech, in which he professed his joy that he
had silenced the tongue of slander and wrested from detraction a victory
not for himself, but for New Leeds. His enemies and the enemies of New
Leeds were, he declared, the same. They would soon see his enemies suing
for aid. He was applauded to the echo. All this and much more was in
the _Clarion_ next day, with some very pointed satire about
"rival mines."

Keith, meantime, was busy poring over plats and verifying lines.

The old squire came to town a morning or two later. "I see Mr.
Wickersham's struck coal at last," he said to Keith, after he had got
his pipe lit. His face showed that he was brimming with information.

"Yes--_our_ coal." Keith showed him the plats. "He is over our line--I
do not know just where, but in here somewhere."

The old fellow put on his spectacles and looked long and carefully.

"He says he owns it all; that he'll have us suin' for pardon?"

"Suing for damages."

The old squire gave a chuckle of satisfaction. "He is in