They surely earned it. You know what the North is in the dead of
winter. They bucked their way through a hell of frost and snow and
staked the claims. If ever men were entitled to what was due them,
they were. And not one of them stuttered over his bargain, even though
they were taking out weekly as much gold as they were to get for their
full share. They'd given their word, and they were white men. They
took me for a white man also. They took my word that they would get
what was coming to them, and gave me in the company's name clear title
to every claim. I put those titles on record in Hazleton, and came
home.
Lorimer and Brooks deliberately proposed to withhold that stock, to
defraud these men, to steal--oh, I can't find words strong enough.
They wanted to let the matter stand; wanted me to let it be adjusted
later; anything to serve as an excuse for delay. Brooks said to me,
with a grin; "The property's in the company's name--let the roughnecks
sweat a while. They've got no come-back, anyhow."
That was when I smashed him. Do you blame me? I'd taken over those
fellows' claims in good faith. Could I go back there and face those
men and say: "Boys, the company's got your claims, and they won't pay
for them.
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