He tapped his pistol and a wry, cynical smile came over her tear-stained face. "Yes! Wait!" she mocked. "You'll be a long time waiting. He's under the protection of the court. No, you can put up that pistol and never miss it--this case will be tried by law." "Well, we'll see about that," he answered significantly. "I've got a look-in on this, myself." "No, I don't think you have," she responded firmly. "The claim was the property of the Company." "Well, what of that?" "Why, only this, that the case is out of your hands. Ike Bray has disappeared, the claim is recorded, and only the Company can sue." "What, do you mean to say that when my claim is jumped I can't begin suit to get it back?" "Why, certainly. You have transferred that claim to the Company." "Well, why didn't Jepson do that work? Do you mean to say that that high-priced man, getting his twenty-five thousand a year, deliberately sat down and let that assessment work lapse and then let Ike Bray jump it?" "Yes," she nodded, "that's it." "But----" He stopped and a wave of sudden intelligence swept the passion from his face. "It's Stoddard!" he said and once more she nodded, then waited with an understanding smile. "Yes, it's Stoddard," she said. "But of course we can't prove it. Mr. Bray has already begun suit." "What, suit to dispossess us? Does he claim the whole works? Well, there must be somebody behind him. You don't think it could be--what? Well, doesn't that--beat----" "Yes, it does!" she cut in hastily. "The whole thing has been very carefully thought out." He slapped his leg and, rising from his chair, paced restlessly to and fro. "How'd you know all this?" he demanded at last and something in the nagging, overbearing way he said it woke the smouldering fires of her hate. "Mr. Jones," she said rising up to face him, "we might as well understand each other right now. From the very first you have taken it for granted that I have sold you out. You don't need to deny it, because you have used those very words--but please don't do it again. And please don't speak to me in that tone of voice, as if I had done you some great wrong. _You_ are the one that has done _me_ a wrong and I assure you, I will never forget. But from this time on, if you want anything of me, please ask for it like a gentleman. Now what do you want to know?" "I want to know," began Rimrock slowly and then he broke down and smote the desk. "You have too sold me out!" he exploded in a fury, "you have--I don't care what you say! You stood in with Stoddard to pass that dividend and, by grab, you can't deny it! If you'd voted with L. W.----" "Very well!" returned Mary in a tone that silenced him, "I see that you don't wish to be friends. And I want to tell you, in parting, that you expect a constancy from women that you signally lack yourself. I will send Mr. Jepson down to be sworn at."