declared Johnson, "when I first throwed in with you. I knew we could find
the mine and you'd be needed for bait to attract capital. I rustled a
little expense money at Tucson. Say, I didn't tell you about that.
Listen!"

He recited at length his joyous financial adventures in Tucson.

"But won't your man Marsh tell Zurich about your unruly behavior?" said
Stan at the finish.

"I think not. He's got too much to lose. I put the fear of God in his
heart for fair. I couldn't afford to have him put Zurich on his guard.
It won't do to underestimate Zurich. The man's a crook; but he's got
brains. He hasn't overlooked a bet since he came here. Zurich is
Cobre--or mighty near it. He's in on all the good things. Big share in
the big mines, little share in the little ones. He's got all the water
supply grabbed and is makin' a fortune from that alone. He runs the
store, the post-office, and the stage line. He's got the freight
contracts and the beef contracts. He's got brains. Only one weak point
about him--he'll underestimate us. We got brains too. Zurich knows that,
but he don't quite believe it. That's our chance."

"Just what will you ask my cousin to do? And when shall I go?"

"Day before to-morrow. You hike back to Cobre and hit the road for all
points East, I'll go over to the Gavilan to be counted--take this
dynamite and stuff, and make a bluff at workin', keeping my ears open and
my mouth not. Pledge cousin to come see when we wire for him--as soon as
we get possession. If he finds the sight satisfactory, we'll organize
a company, you and me keepin' control. We'll give 'em forty per cent for