"No," he replied, dryly. "Your partner has raised me to my limit and I've got to stop. You can agree right now or quit."
"Oh, well," said Jim. "If you have gone as far as you are able——. May I use your telephone?"
"Certainly," said Baumstein, and when Jim, picking up the instrument on the desk, called the exchange, suddenly straightened himself. He knew the number for which Jim asked.
"Winter and Dearham," said the latter. "Mr. Lamson? All right; I'll come along and fix things. We'll record the transfer when you like."
Baumstein swung round his chair and his face got red.
"What's that you told Lamson? What does it mean?"
"It means I've sold the Bluebird claim."
"Then, you have been negotiating with the Combine all the time? Why in thunder did you come to me?"
"For one thing, we wanted to find out how much you would bid. It would be safe to ask another party more than you would give. We didn't know how much we ought to get."
Baumstein clenched his fist. "You used me for a base to bluff from; reckoning you'd fall back on me if you couldn't put it over?"