"I'll buy it for that," said the little man promptly, while our chums held their breath.
"Not so fast," said the lawyer. "I'm not setting a price yet. I'm just figuring up things. Twelve thousand dollars was the price at Jupiter, but it cost a lot more to set it up and get it on the ground to work; then, there's the camp outfit, mules, truck, etc. The whole thing should be worth at least $18,000."
"I'll take it at that," said Mr. Jones quickly.
"Don't be so hasty," reproved the lawyer. "I am not half through my figuring yet. I believe the lads here have done a lot of work which they haven't been paid for yet."
"About $2,000 worth," Charley said; "then there is $1,700 coming on work that Murphy did."
"That makes $3,700," said the lawyer with satisfaction.
"It's highway robbery!" exclaimed the little man excitedly.
"We haven't counted in the good will of the business yet, nor the mental anguish my clients have suffered from troubles caused by enemies to this road-building. I think $25,000 would be a fair selling price."
"It's blackmail!" shouted the little man. "It's nothing but pure blackmail."