He smiled. “That will be a matter for the courts to determine, I suppose.”
“The courts. What do you mean?” she snapped. “This old prospector never did any real digging on my claim. He’s dead, anyhow. Who is there to make trouble?”
“Nobody will make you trouble, I’m sure, Miss Lowell,” said Dodson with a suave smile. “My brother and I will be pleased to sign over the claim to you.”
“Sign it over to me? What have you got to do with it?”
“We own it. We own practically all the Bald Knob group of mines.”
Hugh spoke for the first time. “News to me, Mr. Dodson. When did you get ’em?”
“Almost two years ago. We bought out Singlefoot Bill.”
“Who didn’t own ’em.”
“We think he did. The courts will probably have to pass on the title.”
“He never patented them. How could he, when he had done no work to speak of on them?”