or.

"Twelve o'clock!" announced Orcutt, in a voice that held a ring of
triumph. "And I don't mind telling you that, sure as I was that McNabb
would not be here, I am breathing easier now than I was two minutes
ago."

Leaning forward, Cameron verified the announcement, and dipping the pen
in ink, he signed the contract and passed the instrument across to
Orcutt, who hastily affixed his signature. Then from the fat bundle
upon which his elbow had rested, the banker removed the wrapping and
counted out three hundred and fifty thousand dollars in gold
certificates of five- and ten-thousand dollar denominations. Cameron
recounted, and receipted for the money, and after depositing it in his
pocket he extended his hand. "I congratulate you, Mr. Orcutt, upon
your purchase, and trust that you have launched upon an enterprise that
will prove immensely profitable to yourself and your associates. But
for the life of me, I cannot understand McNabb's failure to put in an
appearance."

Orcutt's eyes flashed. "Nor can I, except on the theory that he is
breaking--losing his grip on affairs. For years we have been business
rivals, and for years I have tried to get the upper hand of him, but
until this moment I have always failed. It will be a different story
from now on," he added vindictively. "Never again will he have the old
confidence, the nerve and sureness that has been his chief asset. John
McNabb is done. But I'm wasting time. I should right now be on my way
to the mill site."

"You will wait for dinner?"

"No. We can eat as we travel," he answered impatiently. "Good-by!"
And stepping to the door, he called to Wentworth and the guides and
plainclothes-men who waited beside the door.

"Come on! We strike out at once for the mill site. The deal is
closed, and we're wasting time. We've got a forty mile hike ahead of
us! We'll snatch a lunch later. By the way, Cameron, you may not be
here when I return, so I will inform you now that until further notice
Mr. Wentworth will be our accredited representative in the field. If
anything should come up that needs my attention, take it up with him."

"Just put it on paper, Mr. Orcutt," advised the canny Scot, and with a
show of impatience Orcutt scribbled the memorandum.

"Where are we going?" asked Wentworth.

"To the mill site. I want to look it over and return here by the day
after to-morrow. All ready?"

The guides swung their packs to their backs and s