is tracks.

With all this on his mind he made very poor company and Gunsight had
just about decided he had failed on his mine when it awoke to a sudden
miracle. A large party of surveyors had come in during the night and
were running a line to the south. Straight out across the desert,
while the morning light was good, they had driven their line of stakes;
a line which sighted as true as a rifle to the Tecolote Hills. It was
for a wagon road, perhaps--but why these surveyors when the whole
desert was as flat as a board? A railroad! The whole town jumped to
the same conclusion at once and the rush for the Tecolotes was on.

The men who had laughed at Rimrock Jones for months were leaders in the
wild stampede and Hassayamp roused up Rimrock from where he was
brooding and warned him to get to his ground.

"They'll jump you," he bellowed, "the whole town is going. They'll
stake every claim for miles!"

"Let 'em stake!" answered Rimrock whose mood was vindictive, "and the
first man that jumps me, I'll jump him, by grab, with this!"

He patted his pistol which, in its ancient holster was once more slung
on his hip, and stalked sullenly out into the street. Every wagon and
buckboard in the town of Gunsight seemed lined up in front of the
stores. Men rushed to and fro with canteens and grub-sacks or
half-filled boxes and sacks.

"Is it a railroad?" they yelled as Rimrock appeared and he answered:

"You bet your life it is!"

That settled it, and soon across the desert there went a procession of
horsemen and wagons. Those who could travel no other way filled syrup
cans with water and started for the Tecolotes on foot. A railroad!
Well, why had they never thought of that in the long, wasted days
before? Even L. W., the scoffer, caught the sudden contagion; but
Andrew McBain did not stir. He was a cautious man and good friends had
told him that Rimrock Jones had threatened his life. He stayed in
town--and Rimrock stayed also--and soon the procession came back. It
was led by L. W. in his cactus-proof automobile, and he reported all
the ground as staked. He reported further that the ground was
worthless, but Rimrock Jones only smiled.

"Yes, all that's left," he answered grimly. "I made you out a sucker,
for once. I guess you remember when I offered you a share in my mine
for two thousand dollars or less; but now, by grab, I've staked it all
and you Gunsight boys can go bust. And I give you fair warning!"