CHAPTER XIV 

THE RECKONING 

When the line reached the settlement Jim and his party returned to Vancouver. Shortly after their arrival Martin came to see them. 

"I've been in town some time, and seeing a notice in the _Colonist_ that you had finished the job, thought I'd like to tell you I was glad," he said. 

Carrie thanked him and by and by he asked: "Have you had a fresh offer from Baumstein for your copper claim?" 

Jim said they had not and Martin smiled. "I reckon the offer will arrive, and now he knows you have got your pay he'll put up his price." 

"If it does arrive, we won't reply," said Carrie, firmly. 

"I don't know if that's a good plan," Martin remarked. "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. There's another thing; if you have got specimens, send some for assay to a different man." 

Jim pondered. The analysis of the ore was not as good as he had expected and the miner who had examined the specimens at his camp agreed. For all that, assayers were generally honest and skillful. 

"What's the matter with the man I went to?" he asked. 
who will offer 1/2 as much ?
did they think it was a good plan ?
was Baumstein smart ?
who returned to vancover ?
who came to see them ?
how soon ?
who was glad ?
why ?
who gave thanks ?
what was the offer for ?
would carrie reply ?
hoe did she say that ?
will it be negotiations ?
thii when ?
will it be over what its worth ?
what does Baumstein not know ?
what sould he do with the specimens
what did he think of the assayers ?
and what else ?
who pondered ?
Baumstein
Baumstein
No
I don't know if that's a good plan
Yes
Baumstein's pretty smart
Jim and his party
 Jim and his party
Martin
Martin
Shortly
Shortly 
Martin
Martin
Jim  had finished the job
 had finished the job
Carrie
Carrie
copper claim
copper claim
No
 we won't reply
firmly
firmly
Martin thinks it will
 "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 
Baumstein reaches his limit
 he'd reached his limi
No
under what the claim is worth
Combine is investing in Northern copper
 investing in Northern copper
some for assay to a different man
some for assay to a different man
were generally honest
were generally honest
skillful
skillful
Jim
Jim 