"My troubles—yes, there are a lot of them. Perhaps you won't care for me so much when I'm down and out, Camilla. I suppose I ought to tell you. He—my father is going to have me indicted for conspiracy—about the mines. He's going to try to jail me—if he can."
She started up, terror-stricken.
"Oh, he couldn't—even he—couldn't do a thing like that."
"Oh, yes, he could," grimly. "He has bribed Reimer and Fritz Weyl. They swear I tried to murder Max."
"But you didn't, Jeff—tell me you didn't," she said tremulously. "You know you never told me what happened, and I've feared—you were desperate in those days—and lawless."
"I'm desperate and lawless yet," he muttered. "But I'd never try to kill a man just for money. We offered Max Reimer a share in the mine—a good share—but he wanted to hog it all. I told him he was a drunken fool, and he tried to shoot me. Mulrennan struck him, and knocked him out. I wouldn't be here now if he hadn't. I don't know why I never told you. I suppose I thought you wouldn't understand. I left Mulrennan trying to bring him around—and went down and bought that lease. That's all."
"Thank God," she crooned. "I've been so afraid. There have been so many stories."
"Lies—all lies—circulated by him. Now he's got Reimer to swear to them."
She threw her arms around his neck and searched his face anxiously.
"Jeff—he can't make people believe——"