An hour later Lander was at the Washington Avenue store of Sublette and Company, or the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, which was to give the American Fur Company the strongest opposition it had ever contended against. Ordinarily the store would have been closed, but Lander hoped the work of getting up the new equipment for the expedition about to start for the mountains would necessitate its being kept open. Nor was he disappointed, for although the store was dark there was a glimmer of light at one end. Making his way to the office entrance he looked through the window and saw Jim Bridger busily checking up some lists.
"Come in if you have to," rumbled Bridger's voice after Lander had rapped for the second time.
Lander entered. Bridger peered up from his work and greeted:
"What does a A. F. C. man want here at this hour?"
"Work," was the laconic reply.
"Through?"
"Dismissed."
"Why?"
"Hurry-Up Parker."
