, young man--"

"Mr. Belding, I certainly would prefer a conference with you right
now," interposed the elder Chase, cutting short Belding's strange
speech. "There are other matters--important matters to discuss.
They've got to be settled. May we step in, sir?"

"No, you may not," replied Belding, bluntly. "I'm sure particular who
I invite into my house. But I'll go with you."

Belding stepped out and closed the door. "Come away from the house so
the women won't hear the--the talk."

The elder Chase was purple with rage, yet seemed to be controlling it.
The younger man looked black, sullen, impatient. He appeared not to
have a thought of Belding. He was absolutely blind to the situation,
as considered from Belding's point of view. Ben Chase found his voice
about the time Belding halted under the trees out of earshot from the
house.

"Sir, you've insulted me--my son. How dare you? I want you to
understand that you're--"

"Chop that kind of talk with me, you ------ ------ ------ ------!"
interrupted Belding. He had always been profane, and now he certainly
did not choose his language. Chase turned livid, gasped, and seemed
about to give way to fury. But something about Belding evidently
exerted a powerful quieting influence. "If you talk sense I'll
listen," went on Belding.

Belding was frankly curious. He did not think any argument or
inducement offered by Chase could change his mind on past dealings or
his purpose of the present. But he believed by listening he might get
some light on what had long puzzled him. The masterly effort Chase put
forth to conquer his aroused passions gave Belding another idea of the
character of this promoter.

"I want to make a last effort to propitiate you," began Chase, in his
quick, smooth voice. That was a singular change to Belding--the
dropping instantly into an easy flow of speech. "You've had losses
here, and naturally you're sore. I don't blame you. But you can't see
this thing from my side of the fence. Business is business. In
business the best man wins. The law upheld those transactions of mine
the honesty of which you questioned. As to mining and water claims, you
lost on this technical point--that you had nothing to prove you had
held them for five years. Five years is the time necessary in law. A
dozen men might claim the source of Forlorn River, but if they had no
house or papers to prove their squatters' rights any man could go in
and fight