"Well, let's think this over," objected Wiley cannily. "I don't like to put up that option for security. That bond and lease is worth half a million dollars and----"

"Just give me your note," broke in Blount hurriedly, "and hurry up--here comes Mrs. Huff."

"All right," cried Wiley, and scribbled out the note while Blount was writing the check.

CHAPTER XVI

A SHOW-DOWN WITH THE WIDOW

If the benevolent Samuel Blount could have seen Wiley Holman's monthly statement from that mysterious "other bank" he would have crushed him with one blow of his ready, financial club and gone off with both bond-and-lease and option. But the pure, serene fire in those first water diamonds which graced the ring on Wiley's hand--that dazzled Samuel J. Blount as it had dazzled the Widow and many a store-keeper in Vegas. For it is hardly to be expected that a man with such a ring will have a bank account limited to three figures, any more than it is expected that a man with so little capital will be sitting in a game with millionaires. But Wiley was sitting in, holding his cards well against his chest, and already he had won ten thousand dollars. Which is one of the reasons why all mining promoters wear diamonds--and poker faces as well.

Yet Blount was playing a game which had once won him a million dollars from just such plungers as Wiley, and if he also smiled as he tucked away the note it was not without excuse. There had been a time when this boy's father had sat in the game with Blount and now he was engaged in raising cattle on a ranch far back in the hills. And Colonel Huff, that prince of royal plungers, had surrendered at last to the bank. It was twelve per cent, compounded monthly, with demand, protest and notice waived, which had brought about this miracle of wealth; and since it is well known that history repeats itself, Mr. Blount could see Wiley's finish. The thing to do first was to regain his confidence and get him into his power and then, at the first sign of financial embarra.s.sment, to call his notes and freeze him out. Such were the intentions of the benevolent Mr. Blount--if the Widow Huff did not kill him.

She came toiling up the trail, followed by Virginia and Death Valley Charley and a crowd of curious citizens; and as they awaited the shock, Blount shuddered and smiled nervously, for he knew that she would demand back her stock. Wiley shuddered too, but instead of smiling he clenched his jaws like a vise; and as the Widow entered he signaled a waiting guard, who followed in close behind her. She halted before his desk, one hand on her hip the other on the b.u.t.t of a six-shooter, and glanced insolently from one to the other.

"Aha!" she exclaimed, "so you're talking it over,--how to take advantage of a poor widow! But I want to tell you now, and I don't care who knows it, I've been imposed upon long enough. Here you sit in your office, both of you worth up into the millions, and discuss the division of your spoils; while the daughter and the widow of the man that found this mine are slaving away in a restaurant."

"Yes, I'm sorry, Mrs. Huff," interposed Blount, smiling gently. "We were just discussing your case. But it often happens that the best of us err in judgment, and in this case I've been caught worse than you were. Yes, I must admit that when I first heard about this tungsten and realized that I had sold out for nothing, I was moved for the moment to resent it; but under the circ.u.mstances----"

"Aw, what are you talking about?" demanded the Widow scornfully. "Don't you think I can see through your game? You pretend to be enemies until you get hold of my stock and then you come out into the open. I always knew you were partners, but now I can prove it; because here you are, thick as thieves."

"Yes, we're friendly," admitted Blount with a painful smile at Wiley, "but Wiley owns the mine. That is, he owns a bond and lease on the property, with the option of buying for fifty thousand dollars. And then besides that, I regret to say, he has an option on all my stock."

"Oh! Yes!" scoffed the Widow. "You've been cleaned by this whipper-snapper that's just a few months out of college! He's taken away your mine and your stock and everything--but of course you don't mind a little thing like that. But what I want to know, and I came here to find out, is which of you has got my stock--because I'll tell you right now----" she whipped out her pistol and brandished it in the air--"I'll tell you right now I intend to get it back or kill the one or both of you!"

Blount's lips framed a lie, and then he glanced at Wiley, who was standing with his hand by his gun.

"Well, now, Mrs. Huff," he began at a venture, "I--perhaps this can all be arranged."

"No! I want that stock!" cried the Widow in hot anger, "and I'm going to get it, too!"

"Why--why yes," stammered Blount, "but you see it was this way--I had no idea of the value of the stock. And so when Wiley came to see me I gave him an option on it for--well, I believe it was five cents a share."

"Ah!" triumphed the Widow, whirling to train her gun on Wiley, "so now I've got you, Mr. Man! You've been four-flushing long enough but I've got you dead to rights, and I want--that--Paymaster--stock!"

She threw down on him awkwardly, but as the pistol was not c.o.c.ked, Wiley only curled his lip and smiled indulgently, with a restraining glance at his guard.

"Yes, Mrs. Huff," he agreed quite calmly, "I don't doubt you want it back. You want lots of things that you'll never get from me by coming around with these gun-plays. So put up that gun before you pull it off and I'll tell you about your husband's stock."

"My _husband's_ stock!" cried the Widow in surprise, letting the six-shooter wobble down to her side. "Well I'd just like to tell you that that stock is _mine_, and furthermore----"

"Oh, yes! Sure! Sure!" shrugged Wiley scornfully. "Of course you know it all! But that stock wasn't yours, and you couldn't transfer it, and so I didn't take any option on it. It's in the bank yet; and if you want to get it, why, here's the man to talk to."

He jerked his thumb towards the cringing Blount, and exchanged scornful glances with Virginia. She was standing behind her mother and her glance seemed to say that he was pa.s.sing the buck again; but his feeling for Virginia had suffered a great change and he replied to her head-toss with a sneer.

"Now--now Wiley!" protested Blount, rising weakly to his feet and regarding his pseudo-partner reproachfully, "you know very well----"

"Gimme that stock!" snapped the Widow, suddenly c.o.c.king the heavy pistol and throwing down savagely on Wiley; and then things began to happen.

The watchful guard, who had been standing at her side, reached over and struck up the gun and as it went off with a bang, shooting a hole in the ceiling, he seized it and wrenched it away.

"You're under arrest, Madam," he said with some asperity, and flashed his officer's star.

"Well, who are you, sir?" demanded the Widow, vainly attempting to thrust him aside.

"I'm a deputy sheriff, ma'am," replied the officer respectfully, "and I'd advise you not to resist. It'll be a.s.sault with intent to kill."

"Why--I wouldn't kill anybody!" exclaimed the Widow breathlessly. "I was--I didn't intend to do anything."

"Will you swear out a warrant?" inquired the deputy and Wiley nodded his head.

"You bet I will," he said, "this is getting monotonous. She took a shot at me, once before."

"Oh, Wiley!" wailed the Widow suddenly weakening in the pinch. "You know I never meant it!"

"Well, maybe not," replied Wiley evenly, "but you hit me in the leg."

"But _he_ pulled off my gun!" charged the Widow angrily, "I never went to do it!"

"Well, come on;" said the deputy, "you can explain to the judge." And he took her by the arm. She went out, sobbing violently, and in the succeeding silence Wiley found himself confronted by Virginia. He had seen her before when the wild light of battle shot forth from her angry eyes but now there was a glow of soft, feminine reproach and the faintest suggestion of appeal.

"Oh, Wiley Holman!" she cried, "I'll never forgive you! What do you mean by treating Mother like this?"

"I mean," replied Wiley, "that I've taken about enough, and now we'll leave it to the law. If your mother is right the judge will let her go, but I guess it's come to a showdown."

"What? Are you going to let them put my mother in jail?" she asked with tremulous awe, and then she burst into tears. "You ought to be ashamed!"

she broke out impetuously. "I wish my father was here!"

"Yes, so do I," answered Wiley gravely. "I'd be dealing with a gentleman, then. But if your mother thinks, just because she is a woman, she can run amuck with a gun, then she gives up all right to be treated like a lady and she has to take what's coming to her."

"But Wiley!" she appealed, "just let her off this time and she'll never do it again. She's over-wrought and nervous and----"

"Nope," said Wiley, "it's gone past me now--she'll have to answer before the judge. But if you think you can restrain her I'll be willing to let it go and have her bound over to keep the peace."

"Oh, that'll be fine! If she just promises not to bother you and----"

"And puts up a five-thousand-dollar bond," added Wiley. "And the next time she makes a gun-play or comes around and threatens me the five thousand dollars is gone."

"Oho!" she accused, "so that's your scheme! You've been framing this up, all the time!"

"Sure," nodded Wiley, with his old cynical smile, "I just love to be shot at. I got her to come over on purpose."

"Well, I'll bet you did!" cried Virginia excitedly. "Didn't you have that officer right there? You've just framed this up to rob us. And how are we going to give a five-thousand-dollar bond when you know we haven't a cent? Oh, I--I hate you, Wiley Holman; and if you put my mother in jail I'll--I'll come back and kill you, myself!"

She stamped her foot angrily, but a light leapt into Wiley's eyes such as had flamed there when he had faced Stiff Neck George.