“I’m not here to make threats, but you are not so--ah--unsophisticated as to imagine that if Amalgamated sets out to get rid of you, you can stand up against them?” “They can’t do a damned thing and you know it. They might have a few years ago, when a roll could be passed on the street to a judge who was to deny or grant an injunction within a few hours, and at a time when there was no prospect of the referendum and recall; when the people of Montana took the buying and selling of men in the legislature as part of the game, all in the day’s work. But Montana has caught the reform spirit that has been sweeping over the rest of the country, and she is also getting pretty sick of corporation power. Now, sir, not only have I a clear title to this ranch, but I’ve staked off the entire hill and applied for patents. If Amalgamated freezes me out of Anaconda and Great Falls, I’ll promote a company and put up a plant of my own. With nearly a million dollars in sight besides what I’ve taken out, you can figure, yourself, how much trouble I’d have in New York getting all the money I wanted. Amalgamated knows that, and my ore will continue to be smelted in Anaconda. Of course if I were within a mile or so of Butte I might be in some danger. They’d bore through and then claim that my ore vein apexed in one of their properties. But I’m too far away for that.” Gregory saw the other man’s eyes flash wide open before they were hastily lowered. Mr. Robinson regarded the point of his cigar. “Ah, yes,” he said. “That’s all very true. Luck is with you in a measure, but--well, take my advice and don’t fight Amalgamated. They have in their employ some of the most resourceful brains in the country--that are always on the job. Heinze taught them a lesson they’ll never forget.” “Let’s drop the subject.” Gregory rose and opened a cupboard. “Have something?” He poured whiskey into two glasses. The men smiled as they drank, Gregory sardonically, Mr. Robinson ruefully but with thoughtful eyes. He had what Ida called the quick-rich face, large and round and fat, and it was an admirable mask. “Like to see the mine?” asked Gregory. “Why, yes--do you mean it?” “Why not? If it had any secrets your spies would have turned them over before this. Glad to show it to you.” They went to the shafthead and descended in one of the buckets. “How far down have you gone?” asked Mr. Robinson, with an air of polite interest. “We found chalcopyrite at one hundred and ten feet, after a narrow vein leading from the chamber near the surface, and are stoping.” As they left the bucket they were greeted by the cheerful rhythmical sound of hammers on the drills, and by the light of the miners’ candles they saw the men working at different points of the dark chamber, two on a scaffolding above. “Great waste of labor,” said Gregory. “I shall install a compressor before long as well as electric lighting. Of course it is only the beginning of a mine.”