Rathburn laughed as the mine manager stared at mention of Carlisle’s name again.
“Don’t worry,” he said contemptuously. “I know it was Carlisle who held me up. I take it he figured that you’d actually put money in that package. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was him that you got to try that stunt. An’ he started away with the package as soon as he got it instead of sneakin’ back home to split with you. He double crossed you an’ you double crossed him an’ me. Now I’m double crossing the two of you.”
Sautee’s look had changed to one of anger. He glared at Rathburn, forgetting his predicament.
“You’d have a fine time proving any of this nonsense,” he found the courage to say.
“I’m not only goin’ to prove what I’ve said so far, but I’m goin’ to prove that these robberies were a put-up job between you an’ Carlisle, with somebody helping you,” said Rathburn. “I’ve been in the mining game myself, Sautee, but in our country men spend their lives hunting metal to make some bunch of stockholders rich. Maybe they get something out of it themselves, an’ maybe they don’t; but they’re square, an’ the men that run the mines are square ’most always. Anyway they develop properties, an’ that’s more’n you’re doing. You’re not doing this camp any good. You’re bleeding the mine an’ the company, too.”
“And I suppose you––The Coyote––are taking a hand in this business as a matter of principle,” sneeringly replied Sautee.
“I didn’t take a hand,” Rathburn pointed out sternly. “You an’ Carlisle forced a hand on me, an’ I’m goin’ to play it out. I’ve another reason, too,” he added mysteriously.
“Did you say you had Carlisle?” Sautee asked in feigned anxiety.
“I’ve got him dead to rights,” replied Rathburn 167 shortly, taking some paper and a pencil from a pocket.