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Time went on without much to show for its passing, and Heinrich began to grow impatient, for his attempt at corrupting the garrison showed that negotiations were not without their dangers. Stout Baumstein, captain of the gate, was the man whom Heinrich most desired to purchase, for Baumstein could lessen the discipline at the portal of Schloss Eltz without attracting undue attention.

He's smart and both plots worked before we found him out. But we did find him out." Baumstein hesitated, wondering how much was supposition and how much Jim really knew. "You'll be blamed foolish if you go to law with a tale like that." "We don't propose to bother, because I think we're even. You helped us sell our claim and the Combine know what you were willing to pay.

"Baumstein will offer about half as much as he's willing to give, but I'd take hold and negotiate until I thought he'd reached his limit. It will be under what the claim is worth. Then I'd go along and try the Combine." "Would they buy?" Jim asked. "Go and see. Although Baumstein's pretty smart, he doesn't know they're quietly investing in Northern copper; I do.

Carroll felt at once that he was Mr. A. Baumstein. "What do you want, sir?" inquired the gentleman, and his tone was distinctly hostile, although he looked like a well-bred man, and it seemed puzzling that he thus received an answer to his application. "I saw your advertisement, sir " Carroll began. "My advertisement for what, pray?" repeated Mr. Baumstein.

Then he's extravagant." "Ah," said Jim. "Is that all?" Martin gave him a dry smile. "I happen to know Baumstein lent him money. It's possible he meant to get value for a risky loan." The others said nothing, but they saw the significance of the hint and Jim's face got stern. "There's something else," Martin resumed. "Davies has left me and gone back to Baumstein." "Gone back?" Jake exclaimed.

But he was an irascible German, whose strong right arm was readier than his tongue; and when Heinrich's emissary got speech with him, under a flag of truce, whispering that much gold might be had for a casual raising of the portcullis and lowering of the drawbridge, Baumstein at first could not understand his purport, for he was somewhat thick in the skull; but when the meaning of the message at last broke in upon him, he wasted no time in talk, but, raising his ever-ready battle-axe, clove the Envoy to the midriff.

As Baumstein said this, he was taking off his helmet and unbuckling his corselet, thus freeing his neck for the greater convenience of the castle hangman.

Baumstein occupied a revolving chair in front of a fine hard wood desk, and gave the others a sharp glance as they came in. The office was very well furnished and Baumstein wore fashionable clothes. There was a fine diamond in his ring. This annoyed Jim, who knew that while hard-bitten prospectors braved the risks of starvation on the snowy trail, greedy company-floaters often got the reward.

He stated his grounds for believing this, and Jake knitted his brows. "I expect you know the big mining men and what they're doing. Have you heard if Baumstein is looking for Northern copper?" "He bought a claim called the Darien not long since." Jim smiled. "The Darien? The next block to ours, but the vein begins to peter out before it crosses their boundary."

"I hope you have come to clinch the deal," Baumstein remarked. "I've met your partner as far as I can, but the bargaining has gone on long enough." "Then you can't raise your price?" Jim asked. Baumstein studied him. Winter had been compliant and apparently anxious to sell, but there was something puzzling about his partner. Baumstein got a hint of sternness that he did not like.