"Oh, I hope not," drawled Tom.

"You will know more within twenty-four hours. You have treated me, with
your own crowd about you, like a dog."

"You're wrong again," laughed Tom.. "Jim is fond of dogs. They are
fine fellows."

"You may laugh as much as you want, just now," jeered Jim Duff. "You've
made an enemy, and one of the worst in Arizona! I won't waste any more
talk on you--except to warn you."

"Warn me? About what?" asked Tom curiously.

Instead of answering, Jim Duff turned on his heel, stalking off with a
majesty that, somehow, looked sadly damaged.

"He has warned you," murmured Superintendent Hawkins in an undertone.
"That is your hint that Duff will fight you to the death at the first
opportunity."

"May it be long in coming!" uttered Tom devoutly.

Then, as he turned about and saw scores of laborers coming in his
direction, Reade remembered what he wished to do.

"Mr. Hawkins," he continued, turning toward the superintendent, "I see
that Mr. Payson's gang is coming in from work. As all our men are now
idle, I wish you would direct the foremen to see that all hands assemble