The diamond drill., 1922-01-27

and the secret OF them kept from leak
ing out, still remained one OF the un-
solved mysteries, though BeasIey sug-
gested that probably Imported work
men were employed, and that the work
had been done under jealous super
vision with all the needfu precautions
taken against publicity. The tight
wooden box-which would figure as
part OF the shaft lining-had been
built, and into the box the creek had
been diverted by means OF the small
dam and the underground conduit.
With the water admitted. TO rise In
the box 10 the level OF Its intake In
the creek reservoir. the trap was set
and was ready to be sprung.
Beyond this point there was gap
we were obliged to bridge by conJec-.
ttfe. but the inferences were ell plausi-
BILE enough. Doubtless the plotters
had notified my grandfather that his
mine was flooded and was no longer
workable. Doubtless, again, he had
authorized them TO buy the needful
pumping machinery and 10 install IT.
which they did,
In this barefaced imposture the plot
ters had conceivably bupded some
thing upon Grandfather Jasper's ad-
yanced age as an Insurance against
any too-searching investigation but
beyond this they had carefully dis
armed any suspicion that he might
ofh no ,pl.A hxsa
ing HMM the actual purchase OF the
property--to take expert advice, and
by craftpy printing him, by under
statements OF the facts. to trust them.
Only rumors OF what had occurred
at this visit reached Angels; but Beas-
ley could testify that my grandfather
had come and returned alone. and that
after the pumping demonstration had
been made he had seemed disposed to
pocket his huge loss and 10 call II
bad days work.
The later developments were not
hard to figure out. Beasley was able
TO tell US that the proposed railroad
branch 10 run TO the new copper prop
critics In Little Cinnabar gulch was
now certainty for the very near fu-
ture. Hence the time was fully ripe
for the recovery OF the Cinnabar by
the plotters. No doubt they had con
fdently assumed that repurchase OF
the property--not directly by them
selves, OF course, hut by an agent who
would figure as n dislnterested third
party-would be easy. Beasley said
that there had been some talk OF an
undermining drainage tunnel. such as
Daddy and had figured upon-this at
the time OF the springing OF the hood
trsp-and that the cost had heen esti-
invited ~ half . million. Unquestion-
ably the robbers had assumed that an
old man who had already charged his
venture up to pront aud loss would
sell for . song rather than to venture
again and In this they were probably
we'll within the truth.
But az the moment when they were
ready 70 complete the circle OF i'm
posture, desth---the death OF Grand
father Jssper-hsd stepped In TO com
plieste matters. Somebody possibly
Cousin Percy-hsd corresponded with
whoever was representing the rsbber
syndicate. and by this means the plot.
ters had learned that they would now
have to reckon with an. heir. How
| Fullerton csme to be employed by
them almost st the instant OF his re-
turn from South America we did not
know but we could easily understand
that with the new complication which
had risen by reason OF Grandfsther
Jsspef's death. II was highly neces-
ssry for some emisssry Of the syndi-
cate TO get on the ground quickly. pre-
pared 20 forestali by purchase. guile,
or, In the last resort by force. any at
tempt OF the Dudley heirs to pry into
things they were not 10 be permitted
to know.
The pushing of the fght for posses
sion to the insl and property destroy
Ing extremity was another matter that
Beasley was able TO explain.
"Ye see, II was a case o. fish r cut
bait. and do II duick," the marshal eI-