Part 7 (2/2)
”Yes. It was one located by a prospector some years ago, but he died after he came into town with some mighty rich nuggets. He gave the location of the mine to a friend, but the latter lost the papers and never could find the claim. Lately a relative discovered the doc.u.ments in an old coat pocket, and sent them to me, suggesting that we work the claim on shares.
”I went into it with Wayde, and we've found the mine. It's rich, too, and it isn't far from here. But there are certain legal forms to comply with before we can actually begin work, and these letters refer to those matters. The reason Wayde didn't want to send them the other time was because he feared a counter legal move on the part of some men who are trying to locate the mine and get it away from those ent.i.tled to it But now matters are about straightened out, and I'm going to send off these letters by you. I'll expect answers back soon, and when they come--”
Mr. Argent paused suddenly, for a sound came from around the corner of the porch where he and Jack had been standing during their talk. The miner suddenly turned the corner of the hotel, with Jack following. They saw a man walking rapidly away along the other part of the porch.
CHAPTER VII
THE STRANGERS AGAIN
”Was he listening?” asked Jack of the miner.
”It rather looks so,” was the answer. ”I thought I heard some one moving about there as I was talking to you, and I wanted to make sure.”
”Well, you did all right,” replied Jack, grimly. ”Do you know who he is?”
”No, but--”
”Say! Wait a minute!” suddenly exclaimed Jack. He had but a glimpse of the man's back, but there seemed to be something familiar about the manner in which the man walked off. Like a flash it came to Jack.
”I think I know him--at least I've seen him before,” he said hurriedly to Mr. Argent. ”I'm going to find out for sure.”
In a flash Jack had sprung over the porch railing, and was rapidly running alongside the porch on the soft gra.s.s. He did this in order to get ahead of the retreating man. Had he remained on the porch Jack's footfalls on the boards would have given the alarm.
As it was, he was able to get ahead of the eavesdropper, and obtain a view of his face. And Jack was not mistaken in his surmise. It was one of the two men who had annoyed Jennie in the post office. The fellow seemed startled on confronting our hero.
”So you're here now, eh?” asked Jack.
”Well, is that any of your business?” was the challenge. ”Isn't this a free country?”
”Of course,” Jack answered. ”But even in a free country there are certain laws about causing trouble, and listening to private talk.”
”Who was listening?” demanded the fellow.
”You were!” Jack exclaimed.
At that moment Mr. Argent came sauntering along the piazza. The fellow turned sharply. Neither appeared to recognize the other.
”This chap is the same one I thought he was,” explained Jack, ”It was he and a partner of his who made the fuss in the Golden Crossing office, Mr.
Argent. If you could find Mr. Perkfeld we might make a charge against him.”
The man seemed disconcerted at this.
”Charge? What charge?” he bl.u.s.tered.
”You'll find out soon enough,” Jack replied.
<script>