“Mr. Weir stepped out for a moment to make a round of the camp and the horse corrals,” the easterner replied in answer to an inquiry from the doctor. “Will you be seated?” And he politely placed chairs for Janet and 240 Mary, while his look scrutinized the party with discreet interest.
“Oh, Mr. Martinez, you’ve escaped!” Janet exclaimed, after a surprised stare at the lawyer.
The Mexican smiled, bowed and drew one point of his black mustache through his fingers.
“I have indeed, Miss Janet,” said he. “Not without an unpleasant experience, however. I understand you secured the paper concerning which I telephoned you, and though I understand it has since been lost––through no fault of yours––I desire to express my thanks for your excellent assistance in the matter.”
“But it has been found again; we have it with us.”
Martinez gave a start, none the less sincere for being dramatic.
“What! Saurez’ deposition? Weir thought it burned. Why, this is the most wonderful luck in the world! It gives us the whip-hand again.”
Janet nodded.
“Mary Johnson here found it in a crack in the rocks when she and her father went up to the cabin to bring Ed Sorenson down. Father has it. That’s one reason we’re here. But there’s another; Mr. Sorenson has learned of his son’s accident, has seen him, talked with him, been told lies and now is in a dreadful rage, threatening every one concerned. He was at our house and made a scene. He’s coming here, or so he said, to kill Mr. Weir and obtain the document. So we hurried to the dam to give warning.”
At this juncture Mr. Pollock stepped forward.