“That place is on mining property, and Toby understood the boarding house was to be exclusively for our employees. Of course, if you, as a stockholder, want to stay there, I’ll raise no objections. But I don’t see what we’re going to do with these boys around.”
“We don’t expect to stay around very much,” put in Randy quickly. “We’re going out on Sunset Trail to see if we can stir up any fishing and hunting.”
Another argument started over the question of the boarding house, but here Tom Rover was firm and stated that they would stay as long as the colored man would permit them. Then some one came to tell the manager that they were getting ready to set off the charge as ordered, and he said he would have to leave and see that everything was all right. But before going down into the mine he hurried off to the office, where he closed the door sharply behind him.
“Uncle Tom, those bookkeepers were not busy at all!” whispered Jack. “When we looked in at the window they were both looking over a newspaper and talking about baseball scores.”
“Never mind,” answered his uncle, with a peculiar look in his eyes. “I think I know how to handle this Peter Garrish. He puts on the front of a bulldog, and just at present I’m going to let him do it. But before I get through with him I’ll make him squeal like a stuck pig. Don’t you boys give him any information, and especially don’t say a word about those stockholders I stopped off to see in Chicago. You just go back to the boarding house, and then you can go out on Sunset Trail if you want to. I’m going to ride back to Maporah. I want to send off several telegrams. He says he has the backing of the majority of the stockholders. Well, he won’t have when I get through with him.”
“Gee, that’s the way to talk, Dad!” exclaimed Randy, in admiration. “You get the other stockholders to back you up, and you can soon give Mr. Peter Garrish his walking papers.”
All returned to the boarding house. A little later Tom Rover set off on his return to the railroad station. Then the boys, with nothing else to do, looked over their hunting and fishing outfits and, after dinner, went off on horseback to do a little exploring.
They found Sunset Trail a fairly good highway leading westward. It wound in and out among the hills and mountains, and there were numerous high spots where the descending sun might be viewed to advantage.
“I suppose that is where the name comes from,” remarked Fred, as they came to a halt at one of these high spots to view their surroundings. “It must be beautiful here when the sun is setting beyond those distant mountains.”
“I don’t believe there’s very much in the way of hunting around here,” remarked Jack. “So far I haven’t seen a sign of anything outside of a few squirrels.”