"W'y, there wasn't a prospector in the state of Nevada that hadn't worked old Eells for a grubstake. We thought he was easy, kind of bugs on mining like all the rest of these nuts, but the minute I struck the Wunpost--_bing_, he's there with his contract and we find where we've all been stung. We're tied up, by grab, with more whereases and wherefores, and the parties of the first part, and so on, than you'd find in a book of law; and the boys all found out from what he did to me that he had us euchered at every turn. I thought I could fool him by covering up the hole----" "Oh, did you do that!" burst out Billy reproachfully, "and I made Dusty Rhodes apologize!" "Never mind," said Wunpost, "that was nothing but jaw-bone. He just said it to get a share in our mine." "No, but listen," protested Billy, "that isn't what I mean. Do you think it was right to deceive Eells?" "Was it _right_, kid!" laughed Wunpost. "That ain't nothing to what I'm _going_ to do if I ever get the chance. Didn't he hire that black-leg lawyer to draw up a cinch contract with the purpose of grabbing all I found? Well then, that shows how honest _he_ was--and now I'm out after his scalp. I've got to raise a stake, so I can fight him dollar for dollar; and then, sure as shooting, I'm going to bust his bank and make him walk out of camp. Was it right--say, that's a good one--you ain't been around much, have you? Well, that's all right, Billy; I like you, all the same." He nodded approvingly and Billy sat staring, for her world had gone topsy-turvy again. She had wanted to leave Jail Canyon and go out into the world, but was it possible that there existed a state of society where there was no right and wrong? She sat thinking a minute, her head in a whirl, and then she came back again. "But when you covered up this mine and tried to keep it for yourself, he--had Mr. Eells ever done you any harm?" "Well, not yet, kid--that is, I didn't know it--but believe me, his intentions were good. The time hadn't come, that's all." "He was your friend, then," contended Billy, "because Dusty Rhodes said----" "Dusty Rhodes!" bellowed Wunpost and then he paused. "Go on, let's get this off your chest." "Well, he said," continued Billy, "that Mr. Eells gave you everything and that you lived off his grubstake for two years; so I don't think it was right, when you finally found a mine----" "Say, listen," broke in Wunpost leaning over and tapping her on the knee while he fixed her with intolerant eyes, "who's your friend, now--Dusty Rhodes or me?" "Why--you are," faltered Billy, "but I don't see----" "All right then," pronounced Wunpost, "if I'm your friend, _stay with me_. Don't tell me what Dusty Rhodes said!" "That's all right," she defended, "didn't I make him apologize? But I'm _your_ friend, too, and I don't think it was right----"