handle Ford; and he has proved once or twice that he can
handle Mr. Colbrith. If he hadn't been out of the way when you went to
New York with Mr. North, you'd never have seen the thin edge of this
contract, Brian. Well, then what happens? With Adair on the ground to
back him, Ford wins out. Do you know what that means? Investigations,
muck-rakings, and worse. There are two or three of us here, and some
more on the other side of the range, who won't get off with less than
ten years apiece. I'm willing to take the chance of a few more years
for another play on the red. How is it with the rest of you?"

The elder MacMorrogh spread his hands.

"It's all in the same boat we are. You've a notion in the back par-rt of
your head, Misther Eckstein; lave us have it."

"As I've said, we can't stick at trifles. If Adair's train is on the
extension, it mustn't get here. Somebody goes up the line on a hand-car
to-night and stops it."

"Is it to ditch it, ye mane?" asked the youngest of the brothers in a
hoarse whisper.

Eckstein laughed cynically. "What a lot of crude cutthroats you are!" he
jeered. "Now if it were Ford, instead of Adair--but pshaw! a rail or two
taken up and flung into the river well beyond walking distance from this
camp does the business. Only the man who does it wants to make sure he
has gone far enough back to cover all the possible chances."

"That's me," said Dan MacMorrogh; and he rose and let himself out, with
the younger brother to lock the door behind him.

The door-keeping attended to, the younger brother drew closer into the
circle.

"There's wan thing," he said, looking furtively at Eckstein. "I was in
Copah this day: I got the buckboards for Misther Colbrith. Goin' past
the bank, who would I see but our old bookkeeper, Merriam, chinnin' wid
the bank president. I thought he was out o' the way entirely."

Stiff and saddle-sore as he was, Eckstein leaped out of his chair with
an oath.

"Merriam? What the devil is he back here for? It's a put-up job!"

It was the chief of the MacMorroghs who flung in the calming word.

"'Tis only a happen-so, Misther Eckstein. Merriam owns a mine or two in
the Copah, and ye know the fever: a man can't keep away from thim."

"That may be; but it's a cursed unlucky combination, just the same. I
tell you, Brian, he knows too much--this fellow Merriam. He knew what
was up when he was steering Frisbie. You told him too much. And
afterward, when we gave him the Or