“Ye see, pardner,” said Hank Casey, addressing Vance, “I ‘lowed things was goin’ to be pipin’ hot in these ‘ere diggin’s, fer I heered a rumour that Steve an’ I was both to be arrested. I knowed’ t’wan’t no use fer both of us to lay ‘round here till our hands an’ feet were tied, so, sez I to Steve Gibbons, sez I, ‘Steve, you make your perch here in Gold Bluff, an’ don’t you run nary an inch, and I’ll scoot out an’ try an’ scare up some help an’ turn the tables on these ‘ere chaps. Of course, nuther of us liked Rufus Grim any too well; that is, we had no hankerin’ love for him; but I ‘low were not quite low enough down to commence murderin’ people, even if they did cheat us out of a rich mine like the Peacock. This game ain’t out yet,” he went on, “the higher courts may reverse the decision of the court below, and in that event Steve an’ I will yet have justice, though it s been dangnation slow ‘bout comin’.”
“I am greatly astonished,” said Vance, “at your revelation. It is entirely contrary to my theory of the case. I am beginning to feel, however, that my judgment amounts to but very little in this western country, though I must say I have received great encouragement from your words, Mr. Donald, in regard to Waterville property. I will throw a bomb into the enemy’s camp by writing an editorial for the Prospector that will touch a tender place, if Mr. Casey is correct in his statement.”
It so happened that on the very day that Louise and her father were working in the mine, the Prospector was issued, and contained the following editorial:
THE RUFUS GRIM MURDER.
The history of Rufus Grim’s demise, though still shrouded in mystery, will doubtless, when the facts are known, startle the people of Gold Bluff even more than the murder itself. It is true that Steve Gibbons is accused and languishes in the county jail, and that a warrant is out for the arrest of his old associate, Hank Casey. In the excitement of the hour, our people may have interpreted circumstantial evidence as proof of guilt. As a matter of fact, not one jot or tittle of damaging evidence, in the Prospector’s judgment, can be produced against these men.
The idea of suicide has been effectually set aside by the findings at the coroner’s inquest. No one doubts that it was a cold-blooded, cowardly murder. We believe the murderer is in Gold Bluff to-day, and like the wolf of old, is clad in sheep’s raiment.
Our people should understand the difference between circumstantial and real evidence. It is probably true that both Steve Gibbons and Hank Casey were on anything but friendly terms with Rufus Grim, but they were not his only enemies; indeed, there is one in Gold Bluff who was secretly, if not openly, a much greater enemy to the rich mine owner than either of the suspected parties.
It is time that prejudice gave way to reason, and that others, who profited much more by Rufus Grim’s removal, should not only be suspected, but subjected to the crucial test of a thorough investigation.
This article set the people of Gold Bluff agog. The entire camp, from center to circumference, seemed startled by the boldness of Vance Gilder’s double-leaded editorial. When J. Arthur Boast read the article, he was dazed by its audacity. He sent for his attorney, and throughout the afternoon a consultation that lasted far into the night was held.
Work on the Peacock was shut down the following morning at Boast’s request, and the men assembled at the company’s office. Boast, addressing the miners, said:
“You, doubtless, have read the editorial in yesterday’s Prospector, written by a stranger and interloper in our midst, Mr. Vance Gilder, who foully accuses me of murdering Rufus Grim.
