our entire property in jeopardy. It should have been
re-located before all this had happened; but I have turned over the
whole affair to our attorneys, McVicker and Ord."

"And what do they think?"

"Well, as to that, I can't say. You see, I have really been
frightfully busy. Still, they are a very good firm and I think very
likely the affair can somehow be compromised. Looks very bad for the
Company, as far as the law goes, if you should ask my private opinion;
but all such litigation, while of course very expensive, generally
results, in the end, in a compromise."

"Oh, a compromise, eh? Well, sit down a minute; I want to find out a
few details. Do you think now, for instance, that Whitney H. Stoddard
is back of this man, Ike Bray? Because if he is, and their claim is a
good one, it might make some difference to me."

He said this so naturally and with such apparent resignation that
Jepson almost rose to the bait, but he had learned Rimrock's ways too
well. Such an admission as that, if made before the trial, might
seriously affect Stoddard's case. And besides, this was a matter for
lawyers.

"Well, as to that, Mr. Jones," he replied apologetically, "I really
cannot say. As superintendent of the mine, and lately as acting
manager, I am fully occupied, I am sure----"

"Yes, no doubt," observed Rimrock, suddenly changing his tone, "but
you've got more time, now--I'll take that manager job off your hands."

"What? Take charge of the mine again?" cried Jepson aghast. "Why, I
thought----"

"Very likely," returned Rimrock, "but guess again. I'm still general
manager, unless the Directors have fired me; and believe me, I'm going
to take charge. In the next few days I'm going to go through this
office with a six-shooter and a fine-tooth comb and if I find a single
dollar paid out to Ike Bray some ex-manager is liable to get shot. You
understand that, now don't you, Mr. Jepson? All right then; we can go
ahead. Now will you kindly tell me how, as general manager and mine
superintendent, and being worried so much over that claim, you came to
let the ordinary assessment work lapse on the apex claim to our mine?"

He leaned back in his chair and put one hand in his pocket and Jepson
broke into a sweat. It is no easy task for a man to serve two masters,
and Rimrock had exposed a heavy pistol.

"Well--why, really!" burst out Jepson in desperation, "I thought you
had entrusted that to Mr. Lockhart. He t