“Other people have over half a million dollars locked up in it. I’m representing them as well as you. You know the majority rule, and I am taking my orders from the majority.”
After this there was a sharp exchange of words lasting ten minutes or more. During that time Peter Garrish tried to draw Tom out, but the father of the twins refused to commit himself any further than stating that he had come West to look over the mine and likewise the books.
“Well, you can’t go down in the mine to-day, and probably not to-morrow,” said Peter Garrish at last. “We are using a lot of dynamite and it might be dangerous. As soon as it’s safe you can go down and take a look around.”
“All right, that’s fair,” answered Tom. “Now, what about the books?”
“The two bookkeepers are busy to-day making out the pay roll and doing some other things, but I’ll fix it so you can go over the books with them in a couple of days.”
This was as much as Peter Garrish was willing to concede. Then he added that they might obtain accommodations from the general storekeeper at Maporah.
“Yes, we stopped there last night,” answered Tom. “But now we have already made arrangements to stay at Toby White’s boarding house.”
“Toby White’s!” exclaimed the manager, and it was evident that this information did not please him in the least. “Toby had no business to take you in. That boarding house is run exclusively for mine employees.”
“Well, he had room, and he took us in. I don’t see what harm there is in it when the rooms are vacant.”