m a traitor. Eh? But I don't laugh at you, Garry. I simply explain to
you why I have to have Landis back. Listen!"

He counted off his points upon the tips of his fingers, in the confident
manner of a teacher who deals with a stupid child, waiting patiently for
the young mind to comprehend.

"We've been bleeding Jack Landis. Do you know why? Because it was Lester
who made the strike up here. He started out to file his claim. He
stopped at the house of Colonel Macon. That old devil learned the
location, learned everything; detained Lester with a trick, and rushed
young Landis away to file the claims for himself. Then when Lester came
up here he found that his claims had been jumped, and when he went to
the law there was no law that could help him. He had nothing but his
naked word for what he had discovered. And naturally the word of a
ruffian like Lester had no weight against the word of Landis. And, you
see, Landis thought that he was entirely in the right. Lester tried the
other way; tried to jump the claims; and was shot down by Landis. So
Lester sent for me. What was I to do? Kill Landis? The mine would go to
his heirs. I tried a different way--bleeding him of his profits, after
I'd explained to him that he was in the wrong. He half admitted that,
but he naturally wouldn't give up the mines even after we'd almost
proved to him that Lester had the first right. So Landis has been mining
the gold and we've been drawing it away from him. It looks tricky, but
really it's only just. And Lester and Lebrun split with me.

"But I tell you, Garry, that I'd give up everything without an
afterthought. I'll give up the money and I'll make Lebrun and Lester
shut up without a word. I'll make them play square and not try to knife
Landis in the back. I'll do all that willingly--for you! But, Garry, I
can't give up taking Landis back to Lebrun's and keeping him there until
he's well. Why, man, I saw him in the hut just now. He wants to go. He's
afraid of the old colonel as if he were poison--and I think he's wise in
being afraid."

"The colonel won't touch him," said Donnegan.

"No?"

"No. I've told him what would happen if he does."

"Tush. Garry, Colonel Macon is the coldest-blooded murderer I've ever
known. But come out in the open, lad. You see that I'm ready to listen
to reason--except on one point. Tell me why you're so set on this
keeping of Landis here against my will and even against the lad's own
will? I'm reasonabl