The Rules of the Game

  XVII

  "Union hours suit me," said Baker. "Why work while papa has his health?What I want to know is, how high is the limit on this game anyway?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "This confounded so-called 'investigation' of yours? In other words, doyou intend to get after me?"

  "As how?"

  Baker's shrewd eyes looked at him gravely from out his smiling fat face.

  "Modoc Mining Company's lands."

  "Then you are the Modoc Mining Company?" asked Bob.

  Baker eyed him again.

  "Look here, my angel child," said he in a tone of good-humoured pity, "Ican make all that kind of talk in a witness box--if necessary. In anycase, I didn't come 'way out here to exchange that sort with you. Youknow perfectly well I'm the Modoc Mining Company, and that I've got afine body of timber under the mineral act, and all the rest of it. Youknow all this not only because you've got some sense, but because I toldyou so before a competent witness. It stands to reason that I don't mindtelling you again where there are no witnesses. Now smoke up and jointhe King's Daughters--let's have a heart-to-heart and find out how westand."

  Bob laughed, and Baker, with entirely whole-hearted enjoyment, laughedtoo.

  "You're next on the list," said Bob, "and, personally, I think----"

  Baker held up his hand.

  "Let's not exchange thinks," said he. "I've got a few thinks comingmyself, you know. Let's stick to facts. Then the Government is going toopen up on us?"

  "Yes."

  "On the grounds of fraudulent entry, I suppose."

  "That's it."

  "Well, they'll never win----"

  "Let's not exchange thinks," Bob reminded him.

  "Right! I can see that you're acting under orders, and the suit must bebrought. Now I tell you frankly, as one Modern Woods-pussy of the Worldto another, that you're the only fellow that has any real testimony.What I want to know is, are you going to use it?"

  Bob looked at his companion steadily.

  "I don't see why, even without witnesses, I should give away governmentplans to you, Baker."

  Baker sighed, and slid from the boulder.

  "I'm practically certain how the cat jumps, and I've long since made myplans accordingly. Whatever you say does not alter my course of action.Only I hate to do a man an injustice without being sure. You needn'tanswer. Your last remark means that you are. I have too much sense to dothe little Eva to you, Orde. You've got the gray stuff in your head,even if it is a trifle wormy. Of course, it's no good telling you thatyou're going back on a friend, that you'll be dragging Welton into thegame when he hasn't got a chip to enter with, that you're betrayingprivate confidence--well, I guess the rest is all 'thinks.'"

  "I'm sorry, Baker," said Bob, "and I suppose I must appear to be a spyin the matter. But it can't be helped."

  Baker's good-humoured, fat face had fallen into grave lines. He studieda distant spruce tree for a moment.

  "Well," he roused himself at last, "I wish this particular attack ofmeasles had passed off before you bucked up against us. Because, youknow, that land's ours, and we don't expect to give it up on account ofthis sort of fool agitation. We'll win this case. I'm sorry you're mixedup in it."

  "Saleratus Bill?" hinted Bob.

  Baker's humorous expression returned.

  "What do you take me for?" he grinned. "No, that's Oldham's bodyguard.Thinks he needs a bodyguard these days. That's what comes from having abad conscience, I tell him. Some of those dagoes he's sold bum farms toare more likely to show up with a desire to abate him, than thatanything would happen to him in these hills. Now let's get thisstraight; the cases go on?"

  "Yes."

  "And you testify?"

  "Yes."

  "And call Welton in for corroboration?"

  "I hardly think that's necessary."

  "It will be, as you very well know. I just wanted to be sure how westood toward each other. So long."

  He turned uncompromisingly away, and stumped off down the trail on hisfat and sturdy legs.

  Bob looked after him amazed, at this sudden termination of theinterview. He had anticipated argument, sophistry, appeal to oldfriendship, perhaps a more dark and doubtful approach. Though consciousthroughout of Baker's contempt for what the promoter would call hischildish impracticability, his disloyalty and his crankiness, Bobrealized that all of this had been carefully subdued. Baker's manner atparting expressed more of regret than of anger or annoyance.