again. To get away from this trickery and
dishonesty and the jealousy that spoils all your friends; and start all
over again, get back to real work and build up another success!"

"You sure make it sound attractive," he answered glumly, "but there are
some people who hate to lose. That's me--but cheer up, I haven't lost
yet. You wait till I hire a few expert geologists and I'll prove that
the Old Juan doesn't apex anything. No, absolutely nothing; not even
the ore that's under it. I've got a couple of them coming, now."

She looked at him frowning.

"I don't like you that way," she said impatiently. "It sounds low and
cheap, and I don't like it. And I hope when it's over and you've lost
your case that you'll see that this lawlessness doesn't pay. Of course
it's too late now, because I know you're going to do it, but I do want
you to know how I feel. I liked you best when you were a poor,
hard-handed prospector without a dollar to your name; but what
happiness has it brought you--or me, either, for that matter--all this
money we've got from the mine?"

"Well," began Rimrock; and then he stopped and pondered. "Say, it
hasn't brought us much, after all, now has it? I've helped out a few
friends, but seems like they've all gone back on me. But what makes
you think I'll lose?"

He was watching her furtively, but she sensed his purpose and as
quickly was on her guard.

"Because you're wrong," she said. "You haven't a case. You know you
let your title lapse and now you're trying to evade the law. You're
wrong, in the first place; and in the second place you're trying to be
dishonest. I hope you do lose it."

"Uhrr! Thanks!" he jeered. "The same to you! If I lose, I guess you
lose, too."

"I don't care," she persisted, "I want you to lose--and after it's all
over, I'll tell you something."

She smiled in a mysterious and tantalizing way, but Rimrock's face
never changed.

"You'd better tell me now, while you've got the chance," he suggested
sitting down by her desk. "And by the way, how come you're hearing so
well?"

"Oh, that reminds me!" she cried laughing gayly and picked up her
ear-'phone. "What was that you said?" she asked with mock anxiety,
slipping the headband over her head, and Rimrock looked at her in
surprise.

"By grab!" he exclaimed, "I believe you can hear! What do you carry
that thing around for?"

She twitched it off and gazed at him again with a triumphant but
baffling