Farnham’s suspended breath burst through his compressed lips in sudden relief.

“Very probably not,” he admitted, quietly, yet having the grace to lower his eyes slightly.  “My own intimacy with Craig occurred since his college days.  However, he has spoken to me regarding you quite frequently, and I naturally esteem it a pleasure to meet with you personally.”

Winston did not immediately reply, puzzling his confused mind in a wholly useless attempt at recalling his ever having heard this man’s name before.  But Farnham, placed completely at his ease regarding possible recognition, proceeded coolly.

“Yet, that does not sufficiently account for my inviting you here.”  And he leaned farther across the table, slightly lowering his voice.  “My important reason for speaking is entirely a business one.  You are, I understand, a mining engineer?”

Winston permitted his eyes to acquiesce, fully determined now to allow this man to exhibit his own hand completely before making any return play.  Farnham, watching the face of the other closely, paused to relight his cigar.

“The simple fact is,” he resumed, carelessly, “we are having some little difficulty at present regarding certain mining claims we are operating up in Echo Canyon.  Nothing at all serious, you understand, but there ’s plenty of bad blood, and we naturally prefer keeping the entire controversy out of the courts, if possible.  A lawsuit, whatever its final result, would be quite certain to tie up the property for an indefinite period.  Besides, lawsuits in this country cost money.  The man who has been making the greater part of the existing trouble, a drunken, quarrelsome old mountain shell-back, named Hicks, came in here to see me this afternoon.  He was in blamed bad humor, and threatened to blow my brains out unless I came to his terms.  No doubt he meant it, and consequently I got rid of him the easiest way I could, and that was by lying.  I ’ve always preferred to lie rather than get shot.  Hard to account for tastes, you know.  However among other things the fellow chanced to mention while here was that you had been employed to look after their interests.  I presume that statement was merely a bluff?”

“Well, not precisely,” admitted Winston, when the other paused.  “I agreed to go out there, and look over the ground.”

Farnham smiled deprecatingly, his cigar gripped tightly between his white teeth.

“Just about as I supposed.  No particular harm done as yet, and no contract made; time enough left to draw out of a bad bargain.  Well, Winston, I am here to tell you that outfit is not the kind you want to associate yourself with if you desire to stand well in this camp.  That ’s the straight goods.  They ’re simply a lot of blackmailers and irresponsible thieves.  Why, damn it, man, the actual fact is, they can’t get a single reputable mining engineer in all this whole district to take hold of their dirty work.  That ’s why they ’ve had to hunt up a new man, and got track of you.”