Briefly, the swindle was this: investigation had shown that the land owned by the Desert Scorpion was not where it had been represented to be, but more than a mile distant therefrom.

Chance alone had brought forth the truth; the hour of vengeance had struck.
Calvin Gray withdrew quietly from the hubbub and asked Mallow, "Can that be true ?" The eminent scientist shrugged; out of the corner of his mouth he murmured: "Why not?
It all looks alike." McWade and Stoner were not in the least dismayed by this amazing intelligence; as a matter of fact, the former assumed an air of even greater geniality than usual and nodded a careless agreement to every accusation hurled against him.

"Right you are, men! Absolutely right.
We were victimized, but we're tickled to death to rectify the error.
Mighty fortunate mistake, as a matter of fact.

Brick, out with the old check book and give these birds back their money." With alacrity Mr.
Stoner cleared off his desk and seated himself, pen in hand.

"Step up and get a dollar a share--just what you paid.