Five minutes later Carrington said good-night to Danforth. But Carrington did not immediately go to bed; he sat for a long time in a chair near the window looking out at the buildings of Dawes.
In the courtroom early the next morning he leaned over Judge Littlefield’s desk, smiling.
“Did you ever hear of Quinton Taylor being connected with a mining venture?”
“Well, rather.”
“Where?”
“At Nogel—in the Sangre de Christo Mountains.”
“How far is that?”
“About ten miles—due west.”
“What do you know about the mine?”
“Very little. Taylor and a man named Lawrence Harlan registered the claim here. I heard that Harlan died—was killed in an accident. Soon afterward, Taylor sold the mine—to a man named Thornton—for a consideration, not mentioned.” The judge looked sharply at Carrington. “Why this inquiry?” he asked; “do you think there is anything wrong about the transaction?”