ss that's got to be handled well or it'll all
end in smoke. _I_ can't work on the driblets you've been bringing
me--and, what's more, I should be a fool to try."

"But ye wouldn't give it up!" cried Stamps, in a panic. "Ye couldn't
throw me over, Linthicum!"

"There's no throwing over about it," Linthicum said. "I shall have to
give the thing up if I can't keep it going. Money's _got_ to be used over
a claim like this. I have had to ask men for a thousand dollars at a
time--and the thing they were working was easier to be done than this
is."

"A thousand dollars!" cried Stamps. He grew livid and a lump worked in
his throat, as if he was going to cry. "A thousand dollars 'ud buy me and
sell me twice over, Mr. Linthicum."

"I'm not asking you for a thousand dollars yet," said Linthicum. "I may
have to ask you for five hundred before long--but I'm not doing it now."

"Five hundred!" gasped Stamps, and he sat down in a heap and dropped his
damp forehead on his hands.

That night, as Latimer entered the house of an acquaintance with whom he
was going to spend the evening, he caught sight of the, by this time,
familiar figure on the opposite side of the street.

The night was cold and damp, and rain was falling when the door closed
behind him. He heard it descending steadily throughout the evening, and
more than once the continuance of the downpour was commented upon by some
member of the company. When the guests separated for the night and
Latimer turned into the street again, he had scarcely walked five yards
before hearing a cough; he cast a glance over his shoulder and saw the
small man in blue jeans. The jeans were wet and water was dropping from
the brim of the old felt hat. The idea which at once possessed his mind
was that for some mysterious reason best known to himself the wearer had
been waiting for and was following him. What was it for? He turned about
suddenly and faced the person who seemed so unduly interested in his
actions.

"Do you want to speak to me?" he demanded.

This movement, being abrupt, rather upset Mr. Stamps's calculations. He
came to a standstill, looking surprised and nervous.

"Thar ain't no harm done," he said. "I aimed to find out whar ye lived."

"Have you been waiting for me to come out of the house?" asked Latimer,
feeling some curiosity.

Stamps admitted that he had, the admission being somewhat reluctant, as
if he felt it might commit him to something. Having so far betray