thing, after holding out
on the control, and I agreed he could name the supe. Well now, after
being the whole show, don't you think it more than likely that Mr.
Jepson might overlook the main squeeze--me?"

He tapped himself on the breast and nodded his head significantly.

"That's it," he went on as she smiled enigmatically. "I know these
great financiers. I'll bet you right now our fat friend Abercrombie is
down telegraphing the news to Stoddard. He's Stoddard's man but I've
got my eye on him and if he makes a crooked move, it's bingo!"

"All the same," defended Mary, "while I don't like him personally, I
think Jepson is remarkably efficient. And when you consider his years
of experience and the technical knowledge he has----"

"That has nothing to do with it, as far as I'm concerned--there are
other men just as good for the price--but I want him to understand so
he won't forget it that he's taking his orders from _me_. Now I happen
to know that our dear friend Stoddard is out to get control of this
mine and the very man that is liable to ditch us is this same efficient
Mr. Jepson. Don't ever make the mistake of giving these financiers the
credit of being on the level. You can't grab that much money in the
short time they've been gathering without gouging every man you meet.
So just watch this man Jepson. Keep your eye on his accounts, and
remember--we're pardners, now."

His big, excited eyes, that blazed with primitive emotion whenever he
roused from his calm, became suddenly gentle and he patted her hand as
he hurried off to order up the car.

All the way across the desert, as Mary exclaimed at the signs of
progress, Rimrock let it pass in silence. They left the end of the
railroad and a short automobile ride put them down at the Tecolote
camp. Along the edge of the canyon, where the well-borers had
developed water, the framework of a gigantic mill and concentrator was
rapidly being rushed to completion. On the flats below, where Old
Juan's burros had browsed on the scanty mesquite, were long lines of
houses for the miners and a power plant to run the great stamps. A big
gang of miners were running cuts into the hillside where the first of
the ore was to come out and like a stream of ants the workmen and teams
swarmed about each mighty task, but still Rimrock Jones remained
silent. His eyes opened wider at sight of each new miracle but to
Jepson he made no comments.

They went to the assay hou