old me so, distinctly, when I
spoke of it in your absence, and naturally I let the matter drop."

"Yes, naturally," drawled Rimrock and as he reached for his
handkerchief Jepson started and almost ran. "You're a great man,
Jepson," he went on cuttingly, "a great little piece of mechanism. Now
come through--what does Stoddard want?"

"Mr. Jones," began Jepson in his most earnest manner, "I give you my
word of honor I don't know of what you are speaking."

"Oh, all right," answered Rimrock, "if that's the way you feel about
it. You stand pat then, and pull the injured innocence? But you're
not much good at it, Jepson; nothing like some people he has working
for him. That fellow Buckbee is a corker. You're too honest, Jepson;
you can't act the part, but Buckbee could do it to perfection. You
should've been there to see him trim me, when I tried that little flier
in Navajoa. Not an unkind word ever passed between us, and yet he
busted me down to a dollar. He was a great fellow--you ought to know
him--you could take a few leaves from his book.

"But here's the proposition as I look at it, Jepson," went on Rimrock
with an ingratiating smile, "you're supposed to be strictly on the
square. You're a solid, substantial, mining engineer, chiefly
interested in holding your job. But on the side, as I happen to know,
you're doing all this dirty work for Stoddard. Now--as general
manager, if I did my duty, I ought to fire you on the spot; but I'm
going to give you a chance. So I'll make you an offer and you can take
it or leave it. If you'll recognize my authority as general manager
and tell me what I'm entitled to know, I'll leave you where you are;
but if you don't I'll not only fire you, but I'll run you out of town.
Now how about it--ain't I the legal manager of this Company?"

"Why--why, yes, Mr. Jones," stammered Jepson abjectly, "as far as that
goes, I'm sure no one will object. Of course it was understood,
between Mr. Stoddard and me, when you went East a year ago----"

"Yes, all right, Mr. Jepson," interrupted Rimrock easily, "now how much
money have we got?"

"Why, as to that," began Jepson his eyes opening wider, "there is quite
a sum in the bank. Some three millions, altogether, but the most of
that is set aside for the construction of the smelter."

"Ah, yes! Exactly! But that was set aside before the Old Juan claim
was jumped. A smelter's no good now, if we're going to lose our
mine--it would