CHAPTER XII.
KEITH DECLINES AN OFFER With the growth of Gumbolt, Mr.Wickersham and his friends awakened to the fact that Squire Rawson was not the simple cattle-dealer he appeared to be, but was a man to be reckoned with.

He not only held a large amount of the most valuable property in the Gap, but had as yet proved wholly intractable about disposing of it.

Accordingly, the agent of Wickersham & Company, Mr.Halbrook, came down to Gumbolt to look into the matter.

He brought with him a stout, middle-aged Scotchman, named Matheson, with keen eyes and a red face, who was represented to be the man whom Wickersham & Company intended to make the superintendent of their mines as soon as they should be opened.
The railroad not having yet been completed more than a third of the way beyond Eden, Mr.Halbrook took the stage to Gumbolt.
Owing to something that Mr.Gilsey had let fall about Keith, Mr.
Halbrook sent next day for Keith.

He wanted him to do a small piece of surveying for him.