"By purchase. Bought 'em from the owner."
"The owner? Meaning?"
"The Earl of Kerhill."
"You bought them from the Earl of Kerhill?" persisted the other, but he pronounced the name as if it were spelled "Karhill," and Mike corrected him with obvious patience.
"Surest thing you know. We bought 'em from Charley Short and Andy Openheim, two of his old cowboys, who bought 'em from the earl direct."
"I'm afraid you've been taken in, Mr. McShay."
"Taken in? Not me. Not a take-in. Never been took in—wouldn't know how."
"I'm afraid you were a bit too eager to get these lands. For once your rapacity got the better of your caution."
The muscles around the Irishman's eyes contracted.
"Parson, I don't care much for the word rapacity."