In the first place, the tying up of the mine by placing it in the care of a court would mean just that many more difficulties for Fairchild, and it would mean that the mine would be placed in a position where work could be hampered for years if a first conviction could be obtained.

Further, Rodaine could see that if by any chance the bond should be forfeited, it would be an easy matter for the claims to be purchased cheap at a public sale by any one who desired them and who had the inside information of what they were worth.

And evidently Rodaine and Rodaine alone possessed that knowledge.
It was late now.

Fairchild went to a junk yard or two, searching for the materials which Harry had ordered, and failed to find them.

Then he sought a hotel, once more to struggle with the problems which the interview with Barnham had created and to cringe at a thought which arose like a ghost before him: Suppose that it had been Anita Richmond after all who had arranged this?
It was logical in a way.