She took one of the contracts and ran through it to make sure, and Eells coughed and sent Lapham away.
“Now let’s sit down,” he said, “and talk this matter over. And if, through an oversight, the clause 252has been left out perhaps we can make other arrangements.”
“Nothing doing,” declared Wunpost. “You’re a crook and you know it; and I don’t want that grubstake contract, nohow. And there’s a feller in town that I know for a certainty will give five hundred thousand dollars, cash.”
“Oh, no!” protested Eells, but his glance was uneasy and he smiled when Wilhelmina spoke up.
“Well, I do!” she said. “I want that grubstake contract cancelled. But forty thousand dollars─”
“I’ll give you more,” put in Eells, suddenly coming to life. “I’ll bond your mine for a hundred thousand dollars if you’ll give me a little more time.”
“And will you bring out that grubstake contract and have it cancelled in my presence?” demanded Wilhelmina peremptorily, and Eells bowed before the storm.
“Yes, I’ll do that,” he agreed, “although a hundred thousand dollars─”
“There’s a hundred thousand in sight!” broke in Wunpost intolerantly. “But what do you want to trade with a crook like that for?” he demanded of Wilhelmina, “when I can get you a certified check? Is he the only man in town that can buy your mine? I’ll bet you I can find you twenty. And if you don’t get an offer of five hundred thousand cash─”
“I’ll make it two hundred,” interposed Judson Eells hastily, “and surrender the cancelled grubstake!”