She looked at him frowning. "I don't like you that way," she said impatiently. "It sounds low and cheap, and I don't like it. And I hope when it's over and you've lost your case that you'll see that this lawlessness doesn't pay. Of course it's too late now, because I know you're going to do it, but I do want you to know how I feel. I liked you best when you were a poor, hard-handed prospector without a dollar to your name; but what happiness has it brought you--or me, either, for that matter--all this money we've got from the mine?" "Well," began Rimrock; and then he stopped and pondered. "Say, it hasn't brought us much, after all, now has it? I've helped out a few friends, but seems like they've all gone back on me. But what makes you think I'll lose?" He was watching her furtively, but she sensed his purpose and as quickly was on her guard. "Because you're wrong," she said. "You haven't a case. You know you let your title lapse and now you're trying to evade the law. You're wrong, in the first place; and in the second place you're trying to be dishonest. I hope you do lose it." "Uhrr! Thanks!" he jeered. "The same to you! If I lose, I guess you lose, too." "I don't care," she persisted, "I want you to lose--and after it's all over, I'll tell you something." She smiled in a mysterious and tantalizing way, but Rimrock's face never changed. "You'd better tell me now, while you've got the chance," he suggested sitting down by her desk. "And by the way, how come you're hearing so well?" "Oh, that reminds me!" she cried laughing gayly and picked up her ear-'phone. "What was that you said?" she asked with mock anxiety, slipping the headband over her head, and Rimrock looked at her in surprise. "By grab!" he exclaimed, "I believe you can hear! What do you carry that thing around for?" She twitched it off and gazed at him again with a triumphant but baffling smile. "Yes, I _can_ hear," she admitted quietly, "but I'll have to ask you not to tell. Why, Mr. Jepson and some of these people fairly shout when they speak to me now." She smiled again in such a cryptic manner that Rimrock became suddenly aroused. "Say, what's going on?" he cried, all excitement, "have you been listening in on their schemes?" "Why, Mr. Jones!" she exclaimed reproachfully but still with a twinkle in her eye; and Rimrock leaned forward eagerly. "Yes, that's my name," he answered, "go ahead and tell me what you know." "No, you wouldn't put it to the best of purposes--but hold this over your ear." She held up the attachment to his ear and, as she ran up the dial, she whispered: "Do you think you could hear through a wall?" "You bet!" replied Rimrock and as she took it away he gave her a searching glance. "I wonder," he said, "if you're as innocent as you look." And Mary broke down and laughed. "I wonder," she observed, but when he questioned her further she only shook her head.