When the two men were alone in the inner office, with the lamp lighted and the door closed, Sandy Mackintavers brushed aside all preamble and came direct to the point. He held in his hand the deed of trust, which he had not returned to Deadoak. "I understand ye have a homestead in Morongo Valley. I'll offer ye a hundred cash for it." Piute's leathery complexion changed color. "A hundred!" he repeated in injured accents. "Why, that there homestead is the very pride an' joy of my heart! She sure is. I aim to lay out pears in that there Valley next Jan'ary. Got water, she has----" "Here's a mortgage on the property," and Sandy brutally tapped the paper in his hand. "I've bought it. It's two years old. Sooner than foreclose, I'll buy your title. Aiblins, now, ye have a price?" Piute looked a trifle staggered, but shook his head firmly. "Nope. Nothin' under a thousand takes that there place! I dunno 'bout this mortgage--ain't heard of it----" "Look at it," struck in Sandy. "I'll go to law and take the place if I want! Give ye two hundred cash, not a cent more." "Nope," said Piute, bristling. "I got a few rights my own self, and I know 'em! If it's the minerals ye're after----" "Minerals!" exclaimed Mackintavers with scorn. "I'm done with mining. I want a homestead." "Well," proposed Piute, "that's diff'rent. I'll give ye an option on the homestead for a thousand. Ye look her over, and if she's what ye want----" "Nothing doing," rejoined Sandy. "I'm offering cash down, here an' now. And I won't listen to a thousand." Piute hesitated. He had not glimpsed Sandy's roll of travelers' checks, these three pilgrims looked none too prosperous, and he began to think that he had set the ante too high. "Tell ye what," he said, "I wa'n't figgerin' on selling, but cash is diff'rent. And this here mortgage thing--well, say seven hundred!" Sandy thought of that ruby silver ore, and fished for his check book. "You show me clear title an' give me a deed, and I'll give you five hundred. Take it or leave it! That's the last word out o' me." "All right," said Piute. Mackintavers signed up checks to that amount. Bill Hobbs arrived in time to join Haywire Smithers in witnessing the transfer, then accompanied Sandy to the upstairs room where Deadoak awaited them. Hobbs was mystified, but Sandy refused explanations. "I brought Mr. Hobbs along," said Sandy, "as his money will be partially concerned. Aiblins, now, if you've got the note and conveyance made out----" "Here they be," said Deadoak, trembling with concealed joy. Mackintavers read over the papers carefully, while Deadoak explained the situation to the bewildered Bill Hobbs. "Ten dollars cash--here ye are," said Mackintavers. He signed the note and returned it with a ten-dollar bill. "When Doc Murray gets back, we'll go out and look over the place." "Suits me," and Deadoak sidled to the door. "Good luck, gents! See you later."