A half-smile spread over the prospector’s face.
“Not nigh––Zip’s?” he suggested.
The half-grin in Bill’s eyes was becoming more savage.
“Yep––an’ I bought it.”
His information increased the interest with a bound. Every man there knew, or believed, that Zip’s claim was the only one on the Creek.
“I didn’t know there was any other but Zip’s,” said Joe Brand, his interest outrunning his discretion.
“Ah, you buttin’ in again,” sneered Bill. “Guess you know right, too. Ther’ ain’t.”
It was curious to glance down at the double row of faces lining the table and note the perplexity which suddenly gathered on them. Bill saw it and enjoyed it. It suited his mood. Finally the heavy-faced prospector blurted out the question that was in everybody’s mind, yet which the others dared not ask.
“You––you bought Zip’s claim?” he asked incredulously.
“Ha’f of it. Me an’ Zip’s partners. You got anything to say?”