"Yes, all right, Mr. Jepson," interrupted Rimrock easily, "now how much money have we got?" "Why, as to that," began Jepson his eyes opening wider, "there is quite a sum in the bank. Some three millions, altogether, but the most of that is set aside for the construction of the smelter." "Ah, yes! Exactly! But that was set aside before the Old Juan claim was jumped. A smelter's no good now, if we're going to lose our mine--it would be just like making a present of it to Ike Bray." "Oh, but my dear Mr. Jones!" burst out Jepson in dismay, "you surely wouldn't stop the smelter now?" "Well, I don't know why not," answered Rimrock briefly. "Don't you think so now, yourself?" He gazed at his superintendent with an unwinking smile and Jepson bowed his head. "Oh, very well, sir," he said with a touch of servility, "but Mr. Stoddard will be greatly put out." "You're working for me!" spoke up Rimrock sharply, "and we'll spend that money for something else." "Spend it?" "Yes, for lawyers! I hate the whole outfit--they're a bunch of lousy crooks--but we'll see if money don't talk. I'm going to hire, Jepson, every lawyer in this Territory that's competent to practice in the courts. Now look at it fairly, as a business proposition; would it be right to do anything else? Here's a copper property that you could sell to-morrow for a hundred million dollars gold, and the apex claim is jumped. The whole title to the mine is tied up right there--they can claim every shovelful you mine, and your mill and your smelter to boot. What kind of a business man would I be if I left this to McVicker and Ord? No, I'm going to send to San Francisco, and Denver, and Butte, and retain every mining attorney I can get. It's the only thing to do; but listen, my friend, I'm not going to tell anybody but you. So if Stoddard finds this out, or McVicker and Ord, or whatever blackleg lawyers Ike Bray has, I'll just know where to go. And one thing more--if I find you've split on me, I'll kill you like a Mexican's dog." He rose up slowly and looked Jepson in the eye with glance that held him cold. "Very well, sir," he said as he started to his feet. "And now, if you'll excuse me----" "All right," nodded Rimrock and as he watched him pass out he gave way to a cynical smile. "Good enough!" he said. "They can all go back on me, but there's one man I know I can trust!" CHAPTER XXVI A CHAPTER OF HATE