“Mr. Sangerly, I owe you my humblest apology as regards my rude behavior on the occasion of our first meeting. I have worried considerably about it and have made inquiries in an effort to learn your name and whereabouts. The fact that I had been drinking does not, of course, excuse my conduct. However, I sincerely hope you will forgive me for insulting you as I did. I am extremely sorry, sir.”
“The incident is past and, so far as I am concerned, forgotten, Mr. Quintell,” said Lex pleasantly. “I, in turn, am sorry that you let it bother you for, to be candid, I haven’t given it a second thought.”
Quintell drew up a chair before his desk, motioned the other into it, and resumed his own. He brought out a box of choice cigars and held a lighted match for his visitor.
“You doubtless surmise my errand, Mr. Quintell,” said Lex presently. “It is in relation to——”
“For the second time, I must ask you to bear with me,” broke in Quintell, picking up the letter he had discussed with Harrison. “Through a regrettable oversight on the part of my secretary, your communication was not called to my attention until fifteen mintes ago. You should have had an answer a week since.”
“It hardly matters. I have been away from the office since I wrote you,” said Lex and added: “To get down to business, Mr. Quintell, I see that your surveyors are going ahead, that you seem disposed to block construction of a branch line into Geerusalem.”
“Discourage the coming of the railroad!” burst out the other. “Why, Mr. Sangerly, I’m not altogether a madman! I want the railroad. The camp is a unit for it. It spells progress, greater industry, greater opportunity!”
Lex nodded. “My father, who is Western manager of the road, instructed me to speak with you quite plainly on the matter. To begin, every landowner along the entire fifty-three miles of proposed line, from the station of Mirage to Geerusalem, has granted us the privilege of a right of way for the asking. Coöperation has been extended to us on every hand. We were encouraged and we proceeded with construction. Almost twenty miles of track have been laid out of Mirage.
“To-day, at this end, we are confronted with a situation that, were it not so grave in its ultimate results, would be ridiculous to a degree. I refer to that old, abandoned group of claims—the Lucky Boy group, I believe you called them in your letter—which has suddenly come to life. As we both know, they are located across the mouth of Geerusalem Gulch, boasting as their only improvements a dilapidated twelve-foot-square shack. We have learned that you and seven other men have quite recently filed on these claims, as placer ground. Since the proposed branch must cross this ground of yours to reach the terminal site here in camp, we assume your action was taken with the deliberate intention of making us come to you. Now, the point is, Mr. Quintell, do you gentlemen propose to grant us the same right of way privileges we have been receiving, or are you simply out to hold us up?”
It was a blunt question, but Quintell laughed it away in his gayest manner.