You 've put over your fake; you
've had your laugh; you 've framed it so I 'll be the butt of every
numbskull in Ohadi. But just listen to this--just listen to this!" he
repeated, the harsh voice taking on a tone that was almost a screech.
"There's another time coming--and that time 's going to be mine!"

And before Fairchild could retort, he had turned and was scrambling
down the mountain side.

CHAPTER IX

It was just as well. Fairchild could have said nothing that would have
helped matters. He could have done nothing that would have damaged
them. The cards were still the same; the deck still bore its markings,
and the deal was going on without ever a change, except that now the
matter of concealment of enmities had turned to an open, aboveboard
proposition. Whether Harry had so intended it or not, he had forced
Squint Rodaine to show his hand, and whether Squint realized it, that
amounted to something. Fairchild was almost grateful for the fact as
he went back into the tunnel, spun the flywheels of the gasoline
engines and started them revolving again, that the last of the water
might be drained from the shaft before the pumps must be returned to
their owners.

Several hours passed, then Harry returned, minus his gorgeous clothing
and his diamond ring, dressed in mining costume now, with high leather
boots into which his trousers were tucked, and carrying a carbide
lantern. Dolefully he looked at the vacant finger where once a diamond
had sparkled. Then he chuckled.

"Sam took it back," he announced. "And I took part of the money and
paid it out for rent on these pumps. We can keep 'em as long as we
want 'em. It's only costing about a fourth of what it might of.
Drowning 's worth something," he laughed again. Fairchild joined him,
then sobered.

"It brought Rodaine out of the bushes," he said. "Squint threatened us
after they 'd hauled you down town on the rail."

Harry winked jovially.

"Ain't it just what I expected? It's better that wye than to 'ave 'im
snoopin' around. When I came up to the mine, 'e was right behind me.
I knew it. And I 'd figured on it. So I just gave 'im something to
get excited about. It was n't a minute after I 'd thrown a rock and my
'at in there and let out a yell that he came thumping in, looking
around. I was 'iding back of the timbers there. Out 'e went,
muttering to 'imself, and I--well, I went to Center City and read the
papers."

They chuckled t