"Then I will go. I do not think you do know it. If you did, you would not--"
"Never mind. I want no more advice from you," snarled Wickersham.
"I would like to have a letter saying that the work that has been done since you took charge has been under your express orders."
"I'll see you condemned first. I suppose it was by my orders that the cutting ran so near to the creek that that work had to be done to keep the mine from being flooded?"
"It was, by your express orders."
"I deny it. I suppose it was by my orders that the men were set on to strike?"
"You were told of the danger and the probable consequences of your insisting."
"Oh, you are always croaking--"
"And I will croak once more," said the discharged official. "You will never make that mine pay, for there is no coal there. It is all on the other side of the line."
"I won't! Well, I will show you. I, at least, stand a better chance to make it pay than I ever did before. I suppose you propose now to go over to Keith and tell him all you know about our work. I imagine he would like to know it--more than he knows already."