"What do you mean by all these questions?
Is that good ore--or is n't it ?" "Son, just one more question--and I hope you won't get mad at me.

I 'm a funny old fellow, and I do a lot of things that don't seem right at the beginning.

But I 've saved a few young bloods like you from trouble more than once.

You ain't been high-grading ?" "You mean--" "Just exactly what I said--wandering around somebody else's property and picking up a few samples, as it were, to mix in with your own product?
Or planting them where they can be found easily by a prospective buyer ?" Fairchild's chin set, and his arms moved slowly.

Then he laughed--laughed at the small, white-haired, eccentric old man who through his very weakness had the strength to ask insulting questions.
"No--I 'll give you my word I have n't been high-grading," he said at last.