He asked this last softly, bowing his bristling head to where he could look Judson Eells in the eye, and the oppressor of the poor took counsel. Undoubtedly he _would_ get certain results, some of which were very unpleasant to contemplate, but behind it all he felt something yet to come, some counter-proposal involving peace. For no man starts out by laying his cards on the table unless he has an ace in the hole--or unless he is running a bluff. And he knew, and Wunpost knew, that the thing which irked him most was that sure-fire Prospector's Contract. There Eells had the high card and if he played his hand well he might tame this impassioned young orator. His lawyer was not yet retained, none of the suits had been brought, and perhaps they never would be brought. Yet undoubtedly Wunpost had consulted some attorney. "Why--yes," admitted Eells, "I'm quite sure you'd get results--but whether they would be the results you anticipate is quite another question. I have a lawyer of my own, quite a competent man and one in whom I can trust, and if it comes to a suit there's one thing you _can't_ break and that is your Prospector's Contract." He paused and over Wunpost's scowling face there flashed a twinge that betrayed him--Judson Eells had read his inner thought. "Well, anyhow," he blustered, "I'll deal you so much misery----" "Not necessary, not necessary," put in Judson Eells mildly, "I'm willing to meet you half way. What is it you want now, and if it's anything reasonable I'll be glad to consider a settlement. Litigation is expensive--it takes time and it takes money--and I'm willing to do what is right." "Well, gimme back that contract!" blurted out Wunpost desperately, "and you can keep your doggoned mine. But if you don't by grab I'll fight you!" "No, I can't do that," replied Eells regretfully, "and I'll tell you, Mr. Calhoun, why. You're just one of forty-odd men that have signed those Prospector's Contracts, and there's a certain principle involved. I paid out thirty thousand dollars before I got back a nickel and I can't afford to establish a precedent. If I let you buy out, they will all want to buy out--that is, if they've happened to find a mine--and the result will be that there'll be trouble and litigation every time I claim my rights. When you were wasting my grubstake I never said a word, because that, in a way, was your privilege; and now that, for some reason, you are stumbling onto mines, you ought to recognize my rights. It is a part of my policy, as laid down from the first, under no circumstances to ever release anybody; otherwise some dishonest prospector might be tempted to conceal his find in the hope of getting title to it later. But now about this mine, which you have named The Stinging Lizard--what would be your top price for cash?" "I want that contract," returned Wunpost doggedly but Judson Eells shook his head.