"I can't believe—you never told me. It's curious you shouldn't have said something before."

"I can't believe—you never told me. It's curious you shouldn't have said something before."

"Why should I? No man likes to admit that he's a failure."

"Why should I? No man likes to admit that he's a failure."

"You've leased the 'Lone Tree'? To whom?"

"You've leased the 'Lone Tree'? To whom?"

"To Wray. He made me a proposition yesterday. I've accepted it. In fact, I'm out of the thing altogether."

"To Wray. He made me a proposition yesterday. I've accepted it. In fact, I'm out of the thing altogether."

"Jeff? I don't understand. Why, only yesterday he——"

"Jeff? I don't understand. Why, only yesterday he——"

Was it loyalty to Jeff that made her pause? He turned quickly.

Was it loyalty to Jeff that made her pause? He turned quickly.

"What—did he say anything?"

"What—did he say anything?"

"Oh, nothing—only that the mine was a failure. That seems curious if he had decided to lease it."

"Oh, nothing—only that the mine was a failure. That seems curious if he had decided to lease it."

"Oh!" he said smiling, "it's only Wray's way of doing business. When anything is hanging fire he always says exactly what he doesn't mean. He doesn't worry me. I've gone over that hole with a fine-tooth comb, and I'm glad to get out of it."

"Oh!" he said smiling, "it's only Wray's way of doing business. When anything is hanging fire he always says exactly what he doesn't mean. He doesn't worry me. I've gone over that hole with a fine-tooth comb, and I'm glad to get out of it."

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