Page:Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch.djvu/80

70 got possession of the entire Tintacker Mine holdings. Yes-sir! the records are as straight as a string. And the record was made last winter. That is what he came back here for. Now, young lady, what do you want to know about it all?"

"I want a copy, please, of the record just as it stands—the present ownership of the mine, I mean," said Ruth. "I want to send that to Uncle Jabez."

"It is all held now in the name of John Cox. The original owners were two men named Symplex and Burbridge. It is Burbridge's heirs this fellow seems to have bought up. Now, he told me his father died and left his share of the Tintacker to him. That means that 'Symplex' was this young Cox's father. One, or the other of them didn't use his right name—eh?" suggested the lawyer.

"But that doesn't invalidate the title. It's straight enough now. The Tintacker Mine—whether it is worth ten cents or ten thousand dollars belongs—to somebody known as John Cox—somebody who can produce the deeds. You say your uncle bought into the mine and took personal notes with the mine for security, Miss?"

"That is the way I understand it," Ruth replied.

"And it looks as though the young man used the money to buy out the other owners. That