stunned, astounded; put beyond the
power to listen, or reason, or think. All he knew was that some time,
when he was away and while no one was there to befriend, Ike Bray his
enemy had climbed up the butte and jumped the Old Juan claim. And all
the time he was dallying in New York and playing his puny string at
Navajoa the Old Juan claim and the mighty Tecolote had been left
unguarded until they were jumped.

"Where's L. W.?" he asked, coming suddenly from his trance; and she was
sitting there, dry-eyed as before.

"He's gone to the hospital. Bray shot him through the arm in a quarrel
over the claim."

"What? Shot L.W.? Well, the little shrimp! Just wait till I get to
him with this!"

He tapped his pistol and a wry, cynical smile came over her
tear-stained face.

"Yes! Wait!" she mocked. "You'll be a long time waiting. He's under
the protection of the court. No, you can put up that pistol and never
miss it--this case will be tried by law."

"Well, we'll see about that," he answered significantly. "I've got a
look-in on this, myself."

"No, I don't think you have," she responded firmly. "The claim was the
property of the Company."

"Well, what of that?"

"Why, only this, that the case is out of your hands. Ike Bray has
disappeared, the claim is recorded, and only the Company can sue."

"What, do you mean to say that when my claim is jumped I can't begin
suit to get it back?"

"Why, certainly. You have transferred that claim to the Company."

"Well, why didn't Jepson do that work? Do you mean to say that that
high-priced man, getting his twenty-five thousand a year, deliberately
sat down and let that assessment work lapse and then let Ike Bray jump
it?"

"Yes," she nodded, "that's it."

"But----" He stopped and a wave of sudden intelligence swept the
passion from his face.

"It's Stoddard!" he said and once more she nodded, then waited with an
understanding smile.

"Yes, it's Stoddard," she said. "But of course we can't prove it. Mr.
Bray has already begun suit."

"What, suit to dispossess us? Does he claim the whole works? Well,
there must be somebody behind him. You don't think it could be--what?
Well, doesn't that--beat----"

"Yes, it does!" she cut in hastily. "The whole thing has been very
carefully thought out."

He slapped his leg and, rising from his chair, paced restlessly to and
fro.

"How'd you know all this?" he demanded at last and something in the
nagging,