“We’ve been bleeding Jack Landis.  Do you know why?  Because it was Lester who made the strike up here.  He started out to file his claim.  He stopped at the house of Colonel Macon.  That old devil learned the location, learned everything; detained Lester with a trick, and rushed young Landis away to file the claims for himself.  Then when Lester came up here he found that his claims had been jumped, and when he went to the law there was no law that could help him.  He had nothing but his naked word for what he had discovered.  And naturally the word of a ruffian like Lester had no weight against the word of Landis.  And, you see, Landis thought that he was entirely in the right.  Lester tried the other way; tried to jump the claims; and was shot down by Landis.  So Lester sent for me.  What was I to do?  Kill Landis?  The mine would go to his heirs.  I tried a different way—­bleeding him of his profits, after I’d explained to him that he was in the wrong.  He half admitted that, but he naturally wouldn’t give up the mines even after we’d almost proved to him that Lester had the first right.  So Landis has been mining the gold and we’ve been drawing it away from him.  It looks tricky, but really it’s only just.  And Lester and Lebrun split with me.

“But I tell you, Garry, that I’d give up everything without an afterthought.  I’ll give up the money and I’ll make Lebrun and Lester shut up without a word.  I’ll make them play square and not try to knife Landis in the back.  I’ll do all that willingly—­for you!  But, Garry, I can’t give up taking Landis back to Lebrun’s and keeping him there until he’s well.  Why, man, I saw him in the hut just now.  He wants to go.  He’s afraid of the old colonel as if he were poison—­and I think he’s wise in being afraid.”

“The colonel won’t touch him,” said Donnegan.

“No?”

“No.  I’ve told him what would happen if he does.”

“Tush.  Garry, Colonel Macon is the coldest-blooded murderer I’ve ever known.  But come out in the open, lad.  You see that I’m ready to listen to reason—­except on one point.  Tell me why you’re so set on this keeping of Landis here against my will and even against the lad’s own will?  I’m reasonable, Garry.  Do you doubt that?”

Explaining his own mildness, the voice of Lord Nick swelled again and filled the room, and he frowned on his brother.  But Donnegan looked on him sadly.

“There is a girl—­” he began.

“Why didn’t I guess it?” exclaimed Lord Nick.  “If ever you find a man unreasonable, stubborn and foolish, you’ll always find a woman behind it!  All this trouble because of a piece of calico?”

He leaned back, laughing thunderously in his relief.

“Come, come!  I was prepared for a tragedy.  Now tell me about this girl.  Who and what is she?”

“The daughter of the colonel.”

“You’re in love with her?  I’m glad to hear it, Garry.  As a matter of fact I’ve been afraid that you were hunting in my own preserve, but if it’s the colonel’s daughter, you’re welcome to her.  So you love the girl?  She’s pretty, lad!”