Ruth never knew how near Mary had come to revealing the secret to her of the real hiding place of her dead father’s precious papers. But Mary suspected Max Lieberstein, and so was suspicious of every one else. Now, to cover her confusion, she said, with a grim little smile:
“You see, if we lose the papers we lose everything. And that’s why we keep Dad’s shotgun always handy!”
“Who is this Lieberstein, anyway?” asked Ruth suddenly. “Where does he come from?”
“Dawson City,” answered Ellen.
“I wish he were back there now!” cried Mary, speaking with a swift, passionate rush of words. “I wish I had some way of sending him back so that he would never, never dare come here again!”
“He is close by, then?” It was more a statement than a question.
Mary nodded.
“He stays at The Big Chance at Knockout Point,” she said.
“The Big Chance is run by a new man,” Ellen contributed, with apparent irrelevance. “His name is Sol Bloomberg.”
Ruth rose from her chair so swiftly that it overturned and went clattering on the bare board floor. She caught Mary by the shoulders and shook her, scarcely knowing what she did.