"I know--Henry."

"He's hard-boilder 'n his old man. They got a lot o' money behind
'em--too much money to act like he done with me. I sure hate to
see him git that Evans lease for next to nothin', after the way he
done. I'd call it cheat-in', but--well, I can't han'le it."

The man at the window wheeled suddenly and his face was white, his
brows were drawn down. "By God!" he cried, tensely. "He _won't_
get it. Where's that option?"

"I got it right here." Briskow handed over a paper. "An' I got the
hull title abstrack, too. Had it all ready for Nelson."

When he had swiftly scanned the document, Gray said: "This deal
means little to you, Briskow, but it means much to me, and I'll
make it worth something to both of us. At first I thought the time
was too short, but--I work best when I work fast. You've had your
chance and failed. Now then, step aside and let a man run who
knows how."

Mr. Roswell, president of the bank where Gray had first made himself
known, was a shrewd, forceful man who had attained a position in
business and arrived at a time of life when he could well afford to
indulge his likes and his dislikes. Those likes and dislikes were
strong, for his was a positive character. As is the case with most
successful men who pride themselves upon their cold caution and
business acumen--and Mr. Roswell did so pride himself--he really was
a person of impulse, and intuition played a much larger part in his