overbearing way he said it woke the smouldering fires of her
hate.

"Mr. Jones," she said rising up to face him, "we might as well
understand each other right now. From the very first you have taken it
for granted that I have sold you out. You don't need to deny it,
because you have used those very words--but please don't do it again.
And please don't speak to me in that tone of voice, as if I had done
you some great wrong. _You_ are the one that has done _me_ a wrong and
I assure you, I will never forget. But from this time on, if you want
anything of me, please ask for it like a gentleman. Now what do you
want to know?"

"I want to know," began Rimrock slowly and then he broke down and smote
the desk. "You have too sold me out!" he exploded in a fury, "you
have--I don't care what you say! You stood in with Stoddard to pass
that dividend and, by grab, you can't deny it! If you'd voted with L.
W.----"

"Very well!" returned Mary in a tone that silenced him, "I see that you
don't wish to be friends. And I want to tell you, in parting, that you
expect a constancy from women that you signally lack yourself. I will
send Mr. Jepson down to be sworn at."

When Jepson, pale and anxious, sidled warily into the office he found
Rimrock sitting thoughtfully in a chair. Some time had passed, for
Jepson's wife had delayed him, but time alone could not account for the
change. Rimrock was more than quiet, he was subdued; but when he
looked up there was another change. In Abercrombie Jepson he saw,
without question, the tool and servitor of Stoddard, the man who had
engineered his downfall. And Jepson's smile as he came forward
doubtfully--but with the frank, open manner he affected--was sickly and
jaundiced with fear. It was a terrible position that he found himself
placed in and his wife was crying, upstairs.

"Ah, good morning, Mr. Jepson," said Rimrock pleasantly and put his
hand behind his back.

"Good morning," returned Jepson, drawing in a deep breath, "is there
anything I can do?"

"Yes," said Rimrock coldly. "I've been away for some time. I'd like
to know what's going on. You'll excuse me, Mr. Jepson, if I ask you a
few questions about the jumping of the Old Juan claim."

"Ah, yes, yes," spoke up Jepson briskly, "very regrettable case, I'm
sure. But you must remember, if you'll pardon my mentioning it, that I
spoke of this possibility before. The Old Juan claim, as I told you at
the time, placed