“Are you an officer?”
“I am.”
“What ground—” Ben stopped, for he felt his voice tremble.
“It’s to compel you to stop working another man’s property.”
“But I bought the right to work it—from the owner!” Ben cried.
“That he did,” Mundon spoke up stoutly, “and I signed as a witness.”
“Where is the owner? Where is old Madge? I’ve got his signature to the paper! He can’t go back on that!” the boy exclaimed. “He’s done this from spite, because I refused to take him into partnership!”
“Don’t get excited,” the officer said. “Mr. Madge has nothing to do with this.”
There was an angry light in Ben’s eyes.
“Well, who has, then?” he defiantly inquired.