id, rising up to go. "Think of me and that
Tecolote common!"

Rimrock grinned, but Stoddard had come there for a purpose and he did
not choose to unbend.

"Mr. Jones," he began, as they were left alone, "I see we are not able
to agree. Every point that I bring up you oppose it on general
principles. Have you any suggestions for the future?"

"Why, yes," returned Rimrock, "since I'm in control I suggest that you
leave me alone. I know what you'd like--you'd like to have me play
dead, and let you and Jepson run the mine. But if you've got enough,
if you want to get out, I might take that stock off your hands."

A questioning flash came into Stoddard's keen eyes.

"In what way?" he enquired cautiously.

"Well, just place a value on it, whatever you think it's worth, and
we'll get right down to business." Rimrock hitched up his trousers,
and the square set of his shoulders indicated his perfect willingness
to begin. "You're not the only man," he went on importantly, "that's
got money to put into mines."

"Perhaps not," admitted Stoddard, "but you take too much for granted if
you think I can be bought out for a song."

"Oh, no," protested Rimrock, "I don't think anything like that. I
expect you to ask a good price. Yes, a big price. But figure it out,
now, what you've put into the mine and a reasonable return for your
risk. Then multiply it by five, or ten, or twenty, whatever you think
it's worth, and make me an offer on paper."

"Not at all! Not at all!" rapped out Stoddard hastily, "I'm in the
market to buy."

"Well, then, make me an offer," said Rimrock bluffly, "or Miss Fortune
here, if she'd like to sell. Here, I'll tell you what you do--you name
me a figure that you'll either buy at, or sell! Now, that's fair,
ain't it?"

A fretful shadow came over Stoddard's face as he found himself still on
the defense and he sought to change his ground.

"I'll tell you frankly why I make this offer--it's on account of the
Old Juan claim. If you had shown any tendency to be in the least
reasonable I'd be the last to propose any change----"

"Never mind about that," broke in Rimrock peremptorily, "I'll take your
word for all that. The question is--what's your price?"

"I don't want to sell!" snapped out Stoddard peevishly, "but I'll give
you twenty million dollars for your hundred thousand shares of stock."

"You offered that before," countered Rimrock coolly, "when I was shut
up in the County Jail.