A just reward.The festivities in the mansion of Las Cruces had gone on into the night. It was there that the day before, the counterfeit Miles had invited Mr. Messnahimer to close the deal. Judging by the haste with which the silver magnate had concluded the negotiations, the mine must have proven to be far more productive than had been expected. So, it was all said and done for six hundred and fifty thousand dollars, of which, three hundred thousand in advance was already in their pockets. Everyone seemed happy. Everyone except Aaron Mansill who was likely tormented by the possibility that if he had paid a little something for a real appraisal, he could have asked for even more money. Or was it something else that weighed on him? Anyway, the first sale was not bad and they still had nine
