Part 22 (1/2)
”There's soone back to Baumstein”
”Gone back?” Jake exclaimed
”Sure,” said Martin, quietly ”I didn't know he'd worked for the fellohen I hired him Now I've a notion he's been Baumstein's man, not mine, all the time”
Jiainst a poisonous crook,” she said, and looked at Jim ”You see why he made us trouble? He wanted to break us, so we'd sell him the Bluebird cheap”
”It's pretty plain All the saht to do about it Martin's plan doesn't quite orous”
Carrie shook her head ”You mustn't be a fool! The best way to play that kind of man is to use him When he finds out it will hurt ot at the beginning of the struggle and all that Carrie had borne Baumstein's plot had drained their resources and ree,” she urged
”Very well,” said Jiotiations; I'll co of a philosopher, but I'd probably spoil the plot if I ave them some useful advice and then went away, and a few days afterwards Bau the other's pretended indifference and arguing for better ter, and then on his next visit found grounds for delay At length, when Bau impatient, Jake took Ji chair in front of a fine hard wood desk, and gave the others a sharp glance as they came in The office was very well furnished and Baumstein wore fashi+onable clothes There was a fine dia This annoyed Jim, who knew that while hard-bitten prospectors braved the risks of starvation on the snowy trail, greedy coot the reward
”I hope you have come to clinch the deal,” Baumstein reaining has gone on long enough”
”Then you can't raise your price?” Jim asked
Baumstein studied him Winter had been compliant and apparently anxious to sell, but there was soot a hint of sternness that he did not like For all that, bluff paid when one dealt with poor men
”No,” he replied, dryly ”Your partner has raised ht now or quit”
”Oh, well,” said Jione as far as you are able----
May I use your telephone?”
”Certainly,” said Bau up the instruhtened himself He knew the number for which Jim asked
”Winter and Dearha and fix things We'll record the transfer when you like”
Bauot red
”What's that you told Lamson? What does it mean?”
”It means I've sold the Bluebird clai with the Combine all the ti, anted to find out how much you would bid It would be safe to ask another party ht to get”
Baumstein clenched his fist ”You usedyou'd fall back on me if you couldn't put it over?”
”No,” said Jiet a proper price; that was your job”
They looked at one another, with mouths set hard, and then Baumstein broke out: ”You swine!”