However, he was too wary to approach the window again, fearing some trap, but crept cautiously along the slope of the hill through the black shadows until he attained safe shelter close in against the dump.  His hope was that Enright’s arguments would induce Lacy to discontinue operations for the present and thus give him time in which to prepare for resistance.  In this he was not disappointed.  What took place within the office could only be guessed at, but in less than half an hour a man emerged from the open door and hailed the fellows at work in the shaft-house.  The messenger stood in the full glare of light, revealing to the silent watcher the face and figure of Moore, convincing evidence that this worthy had not been seriously injured during the late encounter.

“Hey, Tom!” he shouted.

The lantern above was waved out over the edge of the timbered platform and a deep voice responded.

“Well, what’che want?”

“Send word down to the boys to come up.  They’re laid off fer a while, an’ their pay’s ready for ’em.”

“Lay ’em off!  Who says so?”

“Lacy, of course; hustle them out now—­them’s the orders.”

“Well, that beats hell!” But the lantern vanished as he went grumbling back to his engine.

They came up, talking excitedly among themselves, stumbled down the rough path, and filed into the open door of the lighted office.  There were twenty of them, according to Westcott’s count, and the interview within must have been satisfactory as they departed quietly enough, disappearing down the trail toward Haskell.  Moore remained outside, apparently checking the fellows off as they passed, and when the last one vanished again hailed the shaft-house: 

“What’s the matter with you, Tom?  Why don’t you close down and come and get your stuff?”

“You want me too?”

“Sure—­we’re here waitin’ fer yer.”

Westcott clung to his hiding-place, but greatly relieved in mind.  This unexpected action had postponed his struggle and left him free to plan for defence.  For the first time almost his brain grasped the full significance of this movement, its direct connection with the disappearance of Frederick Cavendish, and the presence of Stella Donovan.  Enright had suggested and urged the closing down of the mine temporarily to avoid unnecessary publicity—­to throw Westcott off the trail.  His argument must have been a powerful one to thus influence Lacy—­nothing less than a pledge of money could cause the latter to forego immediate profit.

Undoubtedly the lawyer had convinced the man of the certainty of their gaining possession of the Cavendish fortune, and had offered him a goodly share for his assistance.  Then the plan was at a head—­if Cavendish was not dead he was safely in their hands, where his death could be easily accomplished, if other means failed.