“I have invested—bought the whole outfit, lock, stock and barrel.”
“But why? What do you want with it if the property is no good?” asked Eaton in surprise.
Ridgway laughed shortly. “I don’t want it, but the Consolidated does. Two of their experts were up at Alpine last week, and both of them reported favorably. I’ve let it leak out to their lawyer, O’Malley, that Miller thought well of it; in fact, I arranged to let one of their spies steal a copy of his report to us.”
“But when they know you have bought it?”
“They won’t know till too late. I bought through a dummy. It seemed a pity not to let then have the property since they wanted it so badly, so this morning he sold out for me to the Consolidated at a profit of a hundred and fifty thousand.”
Eaton grinned appreciatively. It was in startling finesse of this sort his chief excelled, and Stephen was always ready with applause.
“I notice that Hobart slipped out of town last night. That is where he must have been going. He’ll be sick when he learns how you did him.”
Ridgway permitted himself an answering smile. “I suppose it will irritate him a trifle, but that can’t be helped. I needed that money to get clear on that last payment for the Sherman Bell.”
“Yes, I was worried about that. Notes have been piling up against us that must be met. There’s the Ransom note, too. It’s for a hundred thousand.”
“He’ll extend it,” said the chief confidently.