"What's in the wind now, I wonder," he soliloquized.

"There was some kind of excitement here last evening, and everybody seems on the qui vive this morning. I guess I'd better look into this," and calling Minty to him, he gave her a quarter, with his most insinuating smile, saying in low tones:

"You find out to-day, if you can, whether there's anything unusual going on among those folks out there, and let me know."

She pocketed the money with her customary giggle, as she responded, nodding her head emphatically, "You jest betcher life I will."

Haight then departed for the mills, and Houston soon after left for the mines, while an hour or two later Morton Rutherford, taking one of the horses, rode leisurely in the direction of the Y, where he was to await a telegram from Van Dorn, immediately upon the arrival of the Eastern train at Silver City.

In due time the message came, in cipher:

"Party arrived all right; over on evening train."

To which Rutherford replied as follows:

"All quiet here. Will wire later if anything occurs."

Then starting on his return up the canyon, he urged his horse forward with all possible speed, conscious that the most critical time was now approaching, and fully decided regarding his course of action on reaching the camp.

At the mines, Houston found everything progressing as usual, the work going forward in the same unending, monotonous routine.

At the Silver City office of the mining company, however, the greatest excitement was prevailing. Having been utterly unable to obtain any clue as to the whereabouts or the intentions of Mr. Cameron, the mining company, to guard against being taken wholly by surprise, had devised a new scheme. Every morning had found Mr. Wilson seated on the early train which left Silver City for the East at five A. M., and which was sidetracked at a small station about ninety miles distant, to give the right of way to the regular, West-bound Pacific Express.

Here both trains stopped for about fifteen minutes, affording Mr.

Wilson ample opportunity to pa.s.s through the West-bound train, and satisfy himself whether or not there were any old acquaintances aboard. Failing to find the party for whom he was seeking, he himself returned to Silver City on the same train.

On this particular morning, however, upon cautiously entering one of the sleepers, he had seen, seated in one section, apparently in close consultation, three gentlemen, one of whom he immediately recognized as Mr. Cameron. Opposite and facing him, was an elderly man whose face Mr. Wilson was unable to see, but the back of whose head presented a severely judicial appearance, while at Mr. Cameron's right was seated the English expert who had come out early in the season with Mr.

Winters' party. Evidently, Mr, Cameron was en route for the mines.

Mr. Wilson had hastily retreated, and, stopping at the little station only just long enough to send a wire to the company, had returned to the east-bound train, to continue his journey indefinitely, which had not been a part of the programme prepared by the officers of the said company in common with their various other plans. But Mr. Wilson had suddenly come to the conclusion that there were other localities better suited to his health just at that particular time than the great and glorious North West which had so long been his favorite theme, and whose praises he had so persistently sung.

It was about ten o'clock when Mr. Wilson's telegram, announcing his discovery, reached the Silver City office, creating general consternation. After a hurried consultation, numerous papers and doc.u.ments were hastily stored in a private vault belonging to the officers of the company, a dispatch was sent out over their private wire to Haight, informing him of the situation and giving certain instructions; after which Mr. Blaisdell and a confidential clerk betook themselves to the depot to await the arrival of the Pacific Express. Concealing themselves among the crowd, they watched Mr.

Cameron and his a.s.sociates as they left the train, and having waited till they were safely ensconced within a carriage, ready to start for their hotel, Mr. Blaisdell then ordered his clerk to take another carriage and follow them, remaining at the hotel long enough to ascertain all he possibly could concerning their movements, after which he was to report at the office.

Turning once more toward the crowd, Mr. Blaisdell expected to meet Mr.

Wilson, but to his astonishment and perplexity, he was nowhere to be seen. From the conductor, however, who had thought Mr. Wilson's conduct rather peculiar, he learned the facts in the case.

"Yes, sir," said that individual in conclusion, swinging himself on to the departing train, "if that's the man you're looking for, he's vamoosed sure, and judging by the way he got aboard that train, he'll be traveling for some time to come."

Great was the indignation of the remaining officers of the company on learning of the sudden departure of their worthy president, and it was not lessened when, upon investigation at the office, it was discovered that Mr. Wilson had not only relieved the company of his presence, but of all the available funds in their private vault as well, which, at that time, happened to be considerable; nevertheless, for obvious reasons, it was decided best to say nothing about it for a few days.

The clerk, on his return from the hotel, stated that none of Mr.

Cameron's party had registered, but had gone immediately to their rooms, where they had ordered a private lunch served. He had seen nothing more of them, but had seen Van Dorn there, however, and upon inquiry had learned that he had been there since the preceding day, apparently waiting for some one, evidently this party, as, immediately upon their arrival, he had sent a cipher dispatch to some one at the Y; and one of the party had been heard to inquire quite particularly at what time the evening train would leave Silver City for c.o.keville, a small station near the Y.

It was evident that Van Dorn was in league with Mr. Cameron's party, and that they intended going out to the camp that evening; prompt action was necessary. A message was sent to Haight, and after his reply, it was decided that desperate measures were also necessary.

While Morton Rutherford was leisurely riding toward the Y, Haight, sitting at his desk in his dingy, stifling office, suddenly heard his name clicked by the little telegraphic instrument near him. Having given the usual signal in return, the following message came over the wire with peremptory haste:

"Get everything in readiness at once; Cameron coming on eastern train with mining expert and attorney. Get everything ready for the final touch and await further instructions in about two hours."

Haight sprang to his feet, and calling one of the men, ordered, "Send Maverick to me as quickly as you can."

In a few moments the slouching figure of Maverick stood in the door-way.

"Come in, Jim, and shut that door," said Haight, in a quick, decisive tone that Maverick knew meant business.

"Jim, in what shape is the powder in those mines? How long would it take to get everything ready for action?"

Maverick's eyes gleamed; here evidently was to be a piece of work such as he enjoyed!

"The powder's all there," he replied, "all there, jest in the right places, an' all there is ter do is ter lay the trains 'round there an'

fix a few fuses; 'twouldn't take more'n half an hour, or sech a matter."

"Think you could get it all done at noon, while the men are away?"

"Yes, easy."

"Very well, now listen; you are to get everything ready so that it will be nothing but 'a touch and a go,' as soon as I say the word, understand? Get everything ready this noon, give the men warning that there's going to be some blasting, and then, as quick as you've had your dinner, you be around here prompt, and stay within sight of this room till I send you word to quit. You know the rest, what directions Blaisdell left the last time he was here; you know what you're to wait for, and if you get a signal from me, you know what you're to do."

"You bet I do, and I'll do a d.a.m.ned good job, too," Maverick replied, with a grin; "but what's the signal, boss?"

"Let me see, I want something you'll recognize without any trouble, and that n.o.body else would notice, or think meant anything. Where will you be?"

"Out there, behind them rocks; I can see your winders plain from there."

"Yes, but if I made you any signal there, or put anything in the window, others would see it as well as yourself."

"I'll tell you what, boss," said Maverick, glancing at the window on the right of Haight's desk, where hung an old, dilapidated shade, which had been lowered its full length in an effort to keep out the intolerable heat, "you let that there shade hang jest as it is till you want me, and when I see that yanked up, I'll know what it means, and you'll hear from me in jest about ten minits at the latest. But say, boss, what's all this racket about, anyhow? Some o' them eastern chaps comin' out here?"

"That's none of your business, Jim," said Haight in a joking way, "you attend to what you've been told, and don't meddle with what don't concern you."

"Is old Cameron comin' out here?" persisted Maverick, with an expression of fear and hatred combined, visible in his countenance.

"Cameron!" exclaimed Haight, with a slight start, and wondering at Maverick's appearance, "What do you know about him?"

"I know he owns these 'ere mines, d.a.m.n him!" answered Maverick doggedly.

"Do you! Well, that's enough, go along, you're not interested in Cameron."

"Ain't I though!" said Maverick with a snarl and an oath, the hatred and wrath increasing in his face; "Me'n him has got an old score to settle yet. I only wisht he was a goin' ter be in them mines this afternoon. When's he comin'?"

"I don't know," answered Haight shortly, "probably before very long though."

"When you git word he's comin' I wan'ter know it, that's all," growled Maverick.

"Well," said Haight, beginning to lose his temper, "when you see that curtain raised, you may know he's coming, and pretty d.a.m.ned quick too; now get out of the way, and attend to your business. Remember I've told you to give the men warning."

"Yes," said Maverick, with a leer, "'specially the new superintendent, you'd like me ter give 'im an extra warnin' I s'pose."