"Yes, you did. But I'm glad of it now. I'm going to Hell about as fast as a man can, but I might as well do it comfortably."
"What do you mean?" she asked in alarm.
"Your relatives, the Bents. They've got me in a corner."
"Yes, I heard. What will be the end of it?"
Jeff ran a finger around his throat with a significant gesture.
"Won't you tell me about it?"
"It wouldn't interest you. It's a long story. They have more money than I have. That's the amount of it."
"I thought you were so wealthy."
"I am. But I can't go up against the whole of Wall Street. They've cost me a lot. If I won this fight I'd be the richest man west of the Missouri River. It isn't over yet." He paced the room violently, beginning to rant, as he still did when to talked of himself. "No, by G—d! not yet. They've got to come to me in the end. They can't get my mine." He went over to his desk and took out a piece of ore. "See that, Rita; that came out of 'Lone Tree' only yesterday. They may get a control of the Denver and Saguache and even of the Development Company, but they can't get the 'Lone Tree.' I reckon I won't starve."
"But how can they get the Development Company?"