"H's away! H's gone t' th' citie for th' throuble that's comin' on about th' mine, y' onderstand? He's wan o' th' men t' be on hand if there's throuble." "Are you one of the new settlers'?" "Yes, sor! M' name's Meestress Leezie O'Finnigan! We're come upp t' live three years, mebba four, m' faather says we may fool 'em on less than five; an' we're goin' to be wal-thy, an' we won't hev' a thing t' do but sit toight an' whuttle an' sput an'," it was the same story, she had told Eleanor. "What trouble in the mines?" asked Wayland. "In the coal mines, sor! There's a gen'leman come from Waashington, an' soon as the Ranger's been found, there's been goin's on, sor, bad goin's ons, soon as th' Ranger's back, their expectin' throuble; un' m' faather's gone down for to be there, he saz." "Well?" said Wayland, as they rode on towards the Cabin. "They've been busy, Wayland! They've been busy, man! You're in the thick of it! More power t' y'r elbow! We've got the first licks in on th' sheriff's carcass." "And six dead men to the good," added Wayland dryly, "only I guess they don't go into the reports, they are missing!" As they approached the Cabin, a young man in gray flannels and sailor hat sat up in the hammock, looked twice at Wayland, got up and came forward. "Are you Wayland?" he asked, with a contemptuous glance at the Ranger's disguised suit. "That's my name." The young fellow handed him a letter stamped from the head department at Washington. It stated that the bearer was a Federal attorney sent out to investigate the Smelter City Coal Claims and any other matters bearing on the contests of the Holy Cross. The letter was couched--Wayland thought--with peculiar frigidity, as though he and not the coal claimants were the guilty party to an undecided contest. Then he glanced back at the bearer: an incredibly young and inexperienced youth--not more than twenty-two or three, barely out of a law school. "Glad to see you, sir," said Wayland, "Been waiting long?" The young fellow gave him a side wise look. "About a week." "I'm sorry to have delayed you; but one of the most important cases we have ever had called me away. I had intended to go down to Washington and explain the whole situation." The young man smiled very faintly, and was it, contemptuously? "A good deal needs explaining," he remarked. "I hope you made yourself at home in the Cabin?" "On the contrary, I'm with Moyese! I have arranged to have the coal cases examined this week. The claimants declare the coal is not worth a farthing, and this case is seriously disturbing the title to the land where the Smelter stands." "You're a geologist, of course?" asked Wayland innocently. "No, I'm from the law department. We considered this more a case of legality of title than coal values. The Company has kindly consented to let us examine the mine this week." "Kindly consented? By George, I like that condescending kindness from pirates and thieves!"