“So I have, partner, mighty good news. Wo-o-w!” He flung his cap above their heads. “We’re going to beat that muckery pair, Fish and Madge, sure’s you’re born!”
“Either you’ve gone plumb crazy, Ben, or else— Tell me ’bout it, boy! How’d you down ’em?”
During the recital of the story, Mundon gave Ben a keen glance when he came to the part relating to Ng Quong.
It was an awkward moment for both; and Ben regretted his silence at the time the incident occurred.
“You forgot to mention the Chinaman’s visit at the time,” Mundon remarked. “But time’ll tell, Ben, and I ain’t never ben afraid of time.”
On the day following the investigation, the Gazette published the story of the “Smelting Works Claim.”
Ben read the account aloud to Mundon, sitting on the fence outside the Works. Of course, in the tale, Ben was made a hero and Mr. Fish a double-dyed villain.
“They haven’t got him black enough to suit me,” said Mundon, fiercely whittling the stick he held. “I hope they’ll paint him blacker and blacker every day for a year.”
There were two items of news in the article, however, that Ben had not foreseen,—the simultaneous disappearance of Mr. Fish and one of the clerks in the City Hall.
“Now that there’s no one here to stop us, I’d like to smash open those gates and finish our work.”