“He’s safe. Now for the papers.”
With no fear that he would be interrupted in his nefarious project Clymer went deliberately about his work.
He pulled the coat from under Prawle’s head and began to rummage the inside pockets for the faded red pocketbook he had seen the man produce before the boys.
Of course he found it.
“One wouldn’t think such a disreputable looking affair as this contained the germ of a big fortune,” he whispered to himself, while his little gray eyes twinkled greedily as he nervously fumbled with the rubber strap which held it together.
The option given by Jim Sanders was soon in his fingers, and he perused it eagerly.
After that he examined the directions which located the position of the mine.
There were also some newspaper clippings touching the recent market price of copper, as well as other odds and ends, which didn’t interest Clymer at that moment.
Returning all the documents to the pocketbook he restrapped it and put it into his pocket.
“That ought to satisfy Plunkett that I’ve a good thing in sight. I’ll offer him a third interest as an inducement for him to put up the money necessary to win out. If the mine is as valuable as this fellow, who seems to be an expert in such matters, asserts it to be, Plunkett and I will surely make a fortune.”