Part 31 (1/2)

Rimrock Jones Dane Coolidge 47970K 2022-07-22

”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 our entire property in jeopardy. It should have been re-located before all this had happened; but I have turned over the whole affair to our attorneys, McVicker and Ord.”

”And what do they think?”

”Well, as to that, I can't say. You see, I have really been frightfully busy. Still, they are a very good firm and I think very likely the affair can somehow be compromised. Looks very bad for the Company, as far as the law goes, if you should ask my private opinion; but all such litigation, while of course very expensive, generally results, in the end, in a compromise.”

”Oh, a compromise, eh? Well, sit down a minute; I want to find out a few details. Do you think now, for instance, that Whitney H. Stoddard is back of this man, Ike Bray? Because if he is, and their claim is a good one, it might make some difference to me.”

He said this so naturally and with such apparent resignation that Jepson almost rose to the bait, but he had learned Rimrock's ways too well. Such an admission as that, if made before the trial, might seriously affect Stoddard's case. And besides, this was a matter for lawyers.

”Well, as to that, Mr. Jones,” he replied apologetically, ”I really cannot say. As superintendent of the mine, and lately as acting manager, I am fully occupied, I am sure----”

”Yes, no doubt,” observed Rimrock, suddenly changing his tone, ”but you've got more time, now--I'll take that manager job off your hands.”

”What? Take charge of the mine again?” cried Jepson aghast. ”Why, I thought----”

”Very likely,” returned Rimrock, ”but guess again. I'm still general manager, unless the Directors have fired me; and believe me, I'm going to take charge. In the next few days I'm going to go through this office with a six-shooter and a fine-tooth comb and if I find a single dollar paid out to Ike Bray some ex-manager is liable to get shot. You understand that, now don't you, Mr. Jepson? All right then; we can go ahead. Now will you kindly tell me how, as general manager and mine superintendent, and being worried so much over that claim, you came to let the ordinary a.s.sessment work lapse on the apex claim to our mine?”

He leaned back in his chair and put one hand in his pocket and Jepson broke into a sweat. It is no easy task for a man to serve two masters, and Rimrock had exposed a heavy pistol.

”Well--why, really!” burst out Jepson in desperation, ”I thought you had entrusted that to Mr. Lockhart. He told me so, distinctly, when I spoke of it in your absence, and naturally I let the matter drop.”

”Yes, naturally,” drawled Rimrock and as he reached for his handkerchief Jepson started and almost ran. ”You're a great man, Jepson,” he went on cuttingly, ”a great little piece of mechanism. Now come through--what does Stoddard want?”

”Mr. Jones,” began Jepson in his most earnest manner, ”I give you my word of honor I don't know of what you are speaking.”

”Oh, all right,” answered Rimrock, ”if that's the way you feel about it. You stand pat then, and pull the injured innocence? But you're not much good at it, Jepson; nothing like some people he has working for him. That fellow Buckbee is a corker. You're too honest, Jepson; you can't act the part, but Buckbee could do it to perfection. You should've been there to see him trim me, when I tried that little flier in Navajoa. Not an unkind word ever pa.s.sed between us, and yet he busted me down to a dollar. He was a great fellow--you ought to know him--you could take a few leaves from his book.

”But here's the proposition as I look at it, Jepson,” went on Rimrock with an ingratiating smile, ”you're supposed to be strictly on the square. You're a solid, substantial, mining engineer, chiefly interested in holding your job. But on the side, as I happen to know, you're doing all this dirty work for Stoddard. Now--as general manager, if I did my duty, I ought to fire you on the spot; but I'm going to give you a chance. So I'll make you an offer and you can take it or leave it. If you'll recognize my authority as general manager and tell me what I'm ent.i.tled to know, I'll leave you where you are; but if you don't I'll not only fire you, but I'll run you out of town.

Now how about it--ain't I the legal manager of this Company?”

”Why--why, yes, Mr. Jones,” stammered Jepson abjectly, ”as far as that goes, I'm sure no one will object. Of course it was understood, between Mr. Stoddard and me, when you went East a year ago----”

”Yes, all right, Mr. Jepson,” interrupted Rimrock easily, ”now how much money have we got?”

”Why, as to that,” began Jepson his eyes opening wider, ”there is quite a sum in the bank. Some three millions, altogether, but the most of that is set aside for the construction of the smelter.”

”Ah, yes! Exactly! But that was set aside before the Old Juan claim was jumped. A smelter's no good now, if we're going to lose our mine--it would be just like making a present of it to Ike Bray.”

”Oh, but my dear Mr. Jones!” burst out Jepson in dismay, ”you surely wouldn't stop the smelter now?”

”Well, I don't know why not,” answered Rimrock briefly. ”Don't you think so now, yourself?”