Part 13 (2/2)

”It's for you to state your grievance”

Martin's face was inscrutable; one could not tell if he knew or not

It was curious, but Jiranted that he did know and he told hiine Davies paid the fellow to cut your underpinning?” the contractor re's obvious”

”Then I don't understand why you caonist he has hit you pretty hard”

”I wanted you to understand that you hadn't hit us hard enough Your bloas not a knockout, and we ainst the next We have taken the contract and are going to put it over; I want you to get that You can't scare us off, and while I don't know if you can sh Hadn't you better calculate if the thing's worth while?”

”You were far North for some time,” Martin said carelessly

”I was,” Jim admitted with surprise, for he could not see where the remark led ”So were you”

Martin nodded ”A blah, since we et your proposition Your idea is, we had better reed

”Very well,” said Martin, who paused and s I don't like your butting in, but I did not put Davies on your track”

Jih he was surprised did not doubt his stateine he made the plan hi when it didn't work as sht”

Martin was silent for a fewhard Then he said, ”It's possible; that's all”

”Perhaps the Cartner people sent hiested

”Cartner rumble much because Probyn hired your men Cartner is hard and I allow he'd like to break you, but I haven't known hiht at all”

”It's puzzling,” Martin agreed

Ji strange about his talking confidentially to a onist, but he was persuaded that Martin was honest

The latter see, for Jiht touched his face It had got dark, but the fire leaped up now and then and threw a red glow upon the rows of trunks

The creek shone and faded; sometimes the smoke curled about the tent and sometimes bleay

”You struck copper up North,” Martin resumed after a tiave us an offer twice”

”Ah,” said Martin, thoughtfully, ”I suppose you wouldn't sell?”

”Not at his price We thought we had better hold on; soht buy”