"
"Even if the mineral is a fake?"
"A patent is a patent. The time to head off the fraud is when the
application is made."
"Cannot the title be upset if fraud is clearly proved?"
"I do not see how," replied Thorne. "Plant is dead. The law is very
liberal. Predetermining the value of mineral deposits is largely a
matter of personal judgment. The company could, as we have seen, bring
an enormous influence to bear."
"Well," said Bob, "that land will average sixty thousand feet to the
acre. That's about a billion and a half feet. It's a big stake."
"If the company wasn't scared, why did they try so hard to head us off?"
observed California John shrewdly.
"It will do us no harm to investigate," put in Bob, his eye kindling
with eagerness. "It won't take long to examine the indications those
claims are based on."
"It's a ticklish period," objected Thorne. "I hate to embarrass the
Administration with anything ill-timed. We have much to do straightening
out what we now have on hand. You must remember we are short of men; we
can't spare many now."
"I'll tell you," suggested Amy.
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