The Golden Quest

CHAPTER XVIII. DEFENDERS PREPARE

“INCREDIBLE!” exclaimed Cortland Laspar. “Utterly incredible!”

The lumber magnate had heard Rex Brodford’s story, terse but complete. He had learned how Harry and Rex had gained a new ally following the fight in the shack. He had been told the details of the flight through the mine shafts.

“Incredible,” repeated Rex, “yes. But it is true.”

“I do not need your word for that,” smiled Laspar. “Your appearance in the cellar of this lodge stands as proof of these astounding events. The identity of this man” — he indicated Vic Marquette — “is but another amazing point in the sequence. Yet there are details which still need clearing.”

“There are,” agreed Rex. “To begin with, our first trouble in the shaft. Who was it that opened fire from up by the mouth of the Quest mine? Who followed us down into the uncovered shaft?”

“I can answer that,” put in Vic Marquette. “Jubal and his outfit must have come up to the shack. Not finding you fellows, they looked about and spotted that open mine shaft.”

“But what brought them up to the shack?” quizzed Rex.

“They probably went to my island first,” replied Vic, in a rueful tone. “They found me missing. They thought they’d better start up the hill.”

“Do you think they found your skiff?” inquired Harry.

“No,” returned Vic, “because I buried it under some bushes in a cove near the landing. I don’t think they could have discovered it.”

“What about the crew from the Chalice mine?” queried Rex. “What brought them into the game?”

“They heard the firing on the hill,” responded Vic. “That’s why they decided to take a step.”

“But they went underground—”

“Yes — to stop us.”

“Then they must have known that we would be in the mine—”

Rex paused, puzzled. It was Cortland Laspar who took up the theme. The millionaire raised his hand for silence.

As the others quieted, he listened, to make sure there was no noise from below. Then he spoke in a quiet tone.

“THE situation appears quite clear to me,” he stated. “Let us analyze it from the beginning. First of all, how did Jubal and Firth, coming here, learn where you two were?”

“I don’t know,” admitted Rex.

“They must have visited Trebold,” asserted Laspar. “They could well have been hiding in the vicinity of the Chalice mine. There is every reason to suppose that Jubal and Trebold would be in league. Jubal was a promoter of the Chalice mine; Trebold a hireling.”

“But how,” asked Rex, “did Trebold figure that we were in the mine shaft?”

“Very easily,” replied Laspar. “Apparently, workers in the Chalice mine drove a shaft off their own property and struck the old Quest shaft. You say that the Quest mine showed signs of ore. Trebold, the supervisor, must have known it.

“Jubal learned it through Trebold. That was why Jubal tried to block your efforts to find the shaft of the Quest mine. It also tells us why he wanted to buy your stock. By adding the Quest property to the Chalice property, he would have a paying mine.

“But Jubal, from all that we have learned of him, was a rogue. Probably he was trying to keep his discoveries from the investors in the Chalice mine. He wanted that new enterprise to go broke. He planned thievery of a big sort.

“The tunnel drilled into this lodge was an example. This place was empty until I took it. Jubal probably had Trebold put through the submarine corridor so that this building could be used as a rendezvous or a mode of getaway.

“I understood, when I bought this property, that unknown persons had already been dickering for it. Jubal, I suppose, was trying to purchase it by proxy. When I made the buy, the old owners wanted to hold off until they heard from the other buyers. I settled that argument by putting up spot cash.”

“And in that way,” chuckled Rex, “you put Jubal in a hole.”

“Without knowing it,” added Harry.

“Exactly,” nodded Cortland Laspar. “I presume that Jubal decided to forget the lodge for the time. His chief task, Rex, was to eliminate you. But he failed. Right now, gentlemen, it is Jubal and his men who are in the bad spot.”

Laspar paused for emphasis; then he explained.

“PROBABLY,” he stated, “Jubal and Trebold have met within the connected mines. They are trying to decide what to do. Whether to attack here, or to retreat. They can either follow your path or they can go back to their outlets. To the Chalice mine or the Quest mine. Either one.”

“And if they retreat?” asked Harry.

“They will either take to flight,” responded Laspar, “or they will prepare for a mass attack upon this lodge. To do so, they will have to cross the lake. By that time, we will be ready for them.”

“But suppose they come through the tunnel!” exclaimed Rex. “They’ll arrive here sooner if they do.”

“No sooner than my men,” asserted Laspar. “I talked with Hoxon, my lumber camp superintendent. He is coming with a picked crew, by car. We can expect them any minute.”

“And what’s our step then?” put in Vic.

“To wait,” decided Laspar. “To guard this lodge at all cost. It is the focal point. We shall be prepared for attack either from below or from outside.”

“How about scouring the countryside?” asked Rex. “Those rogues may have taken to flight.”

“We shall hold council regarding that,” replied Laspar. “We must not make the mistake of dividing our force. By keeping ourselves concentrated, we shall be able to resist attack. If our enemies have become fugitives, it will be simple enough to capture them.”

“How?”

“Through the law. All this land is forest and wilderness. The nearest railroad is a dozen miles away. There are no through highways that can not be blocked. I shall notify Sheriff Hawlings by telephone. He will form a posse and pass the word to other counties.

“Bands of men will close in upon the terrain. Jubal, Firth, Trebold — all with them — will be trapped. The mine shafts, when examined, will be definite proof of crookedness on the part of these criminals.

“The work of capture rightfully belongs to the law. We have no right to wage battle except in self-defense. That is why I propose that we should stay close to this lodge. We can hold it as a fortress. If we are attacked, we can shoot to kill.”

Vic Marquette stepped over and clapped Laspar on the shoulder. The bearded operative turned to Rex and Harry. Vic spoke with commendation.

“Here’s a man,” he told his friends, “who uses headwork when he plans. Mr. Laspar has the right idea. Young chaps like you should listen to him. Even I can profit by his advice.

“We’ve only got our own word that Jubal and Trebold are in league. Even the fact that I’m a government man doesn’t give me every privilege. We can’t swear that it was Jubal who fired from the entrance of the Quest mine.

“We can testify, of course, that Trebold aimed shots at us. But when he opened fire, you, Vincent, and I were in a passage that belonged to the Chalice mine. We were lucky to get through to this lodge; now that we’re here, we’d better stay.

“We’re in the right at present. We can fight and so can Mr. Laspar’s men, if we are attacked. It’s our business to stay here, where we can’t be anything but right. We’ve got enough of a case against these crooks to demand their arrest. It’s the sheriff’s job to get them.”

Laspar nodded. He smiled at Vic’s support.

“When they’re rounded up,” concluded Vic, “we tell our story. I can state that I was bribed to commit murder. You two can testify that you overheard the plot. Then the mines can be investigated. The rights of the Quest mine will be upheld. The crooks connected with the Chalice mine will be due for State and Federal trial.”

BOTH Harry and Rex were impressed by Vic Marquette’s sagacity. At the same time, they realized that the Secret Service man had merely echoed Cortland Laspar’s statements. To the lumber magnate belonged the real credit for showing the way to a successful and complete conclusion.

A lull followed Vic Marquette’s emphatic statements. In that pause, all listened, tensely wondering if attackers had yet arrived in the cellar. All remained silent below. Cortland Laspar smiled in satisfaction.

“Three minutes more will bring my men,” declared the lumber man. “Even if those raiders do come through, it will take them longer than that to smash through the metal-sheathed door at the top of the cellar stairway. Moreover, there are four of us, all armed. We have nothing to fear.

“We can afford to be tranquil. Our plan is complete. I shall take advantage of these few minutes to put in that call to Sheriff Hawlings. The forces of the law will have time to function; but the sooner they begin, the better.

“Remain here while I make the call. If Hoxon arrives, explain matters to him and tell him to await my orders. He is likely to appear while I am still at the telephone.”

Laspar walked out into the hall, toward the rear of the lodge. Harry and Rex seated themselves. Vic followed suit.

They chatted quietly for another minute; then became alert as they heard a sound in front of the lodge.

Gleaming lights showed as they peered toward the windows. They caught the rumble of motors.

Two cars were pulling up to the steps of the lodge. Cortland Laspar had estimated the time correctly; reinforcements had arrived from the lumber camp. Hoxon and his men were on hand to aid in the defense of the lodge.