"That's the one," admitted Billy. "I had been warned to be on the lookout for him, and it was well that I was. He is a dangerous man."
"Was that why you acted so strangely?" inquired Frank.
"Yes. I couldn't tell when he might sneak up on me."
"What did he want?" came from Andy.
"Certain valuable papers which I had secured from the corporation, giving us the right to flood their land. Among them was the final document we needed to allow us to go ahead with our work, and it included a court order. It is very valuable, for one of the signatures on it is that of a man who has since disappeared. If I lost the document, or if it was taken from me, we would have no authority for going ahead with the scheme until we could find the missing man to get him to sign a new paper. And he might not do it. So you see I have to be on my guard."
"But what about this Sam Shackmiller?" Frank wanted to know.
"Well, while he and some others with him, whom I have not been able to locate, claim Golden Peak, they really have no right to it. But they have certain papers, which seem to prove their title to it, and the courts have recognized that right. My uncle claims that their documents are forged—at least the name of one man is—the same man who has disappeared, and if we can prove that his signature is not genuine it would invalidate their claim to Golden Peak."
"Then you could go ahead with the irrigation scheme?" suggested Andy.
"Yes, but I think my uncle is going ahead anyhow," said Billy. "He is relying on being able to prove later that Shackmiller and his crowd have no legal claim to Golden Peak, and so he is going to take a chance.
"In fact the dam is almost built, and soon the waters of the stream will begin to back up, making the irrigation lake. Then Golden Peak will be under water."