The Rules of the Game

  XXIII

  The office was expensively but plainly furnished in hardwoods. A thickrug covered the floor, easy chairs drew up by a fireplace, several goodpictures hung off the wall. Near the windows stood a small desk for astenographer, and a wide mahogany table. Behind this latter, his back tothe light, sat Baker.

  The man's sturdy figure was absolutely immobile, and the customaryfacetiously quizzical lines of his face had given place to an expressionof cold attention. When he spoke, Bob found that the picturesque dictiontoo had vanished.

  At Bob's entrance, Baker inclined his head coldly in greeting, but saidnothing. Bob deliberately crossed the room and rested his two fists,knuckle down, on the polished desktop. Baker waited stolidly for him toproceed. Bob jerked his head toward the stenographer.

  "I want to talk to you in private," said he.

  The stenographer glanced toward her employer. The latter nodded,whereupon she gathered a few stray leaves of paper and departed. Boblooked after her until the door had closed behind her. Then, quitedeliberately, he made a tour of the office, trying doors, peering behindcurtains and portieres. He ended at the desk, to find Baker's eye fixedon him with sardonic humour. "Melodramatic, useless--and ridiculous," hesaid briefly.

  "If I have any evidence to give, it will be in court, not in a privateoffice," replied Bob composedly.

  "What do you want?" demanded Baker.

  "I have come this far solely and simply to get a piece of information atfirst hand. I was told you had threatened to become a blackmailer, andI wanted to find out if it is true?"

  "In a world of contrary definitions, it is necessary to come down tofacts. What do you mean by blackmailer?"

  "It has been told me that you intend to aid criminal proceedings againstMr. Welton in regard to the right-of-way trouble and the 'sugaring' ofPlant."

  "Well?"

  "And that in order to evade your own criminal responsibility in thematter you intended to turn state's evidence."

  "Well?" repeated Baker.

  "It seemed inconceivable to me that a man of your social and businessstanding would not only confess himself a petty criminal, but one whoshelters himself by betrayal of his confederate."

  "I do not relish any such process," stated Baker formally, "and wouldavoid it if possible. Nevertheless, if the situation comes squarely upto me, I shall meet it."

  "I suppose you have thought what decent men----"

  Baker held up one hand. This was the first physical movement he hadmade.

  "Pardon me," he interrupted. "Let us understand, once and for all, thatI intend to defend myself when attacked. Personally I do not think thateither Mr. Welton or myself are legally answerable for what we havedone. I regret to observe that you, among others, think differently. Ifthe whole matter were to be dropped at this point, I should rest quitecontent. But if the matter is not dropped"--at last he let his upliftedhand fall, "if the matter is not dropped," he repeated, "my sense ofjustice is strong enough to feel that every one should stand on the samefooting. If I am to be dragged into court, so must others."

  Bob stood thoughtful for a moment.

  "I guess that's all," said he, and walked out.

  As the door closed behind him, Baker reached forward to touch one ofseveral buttons. To the uniformed messenger who appeared he snapped outthe one word, "Oldham!" A moment later the land agent stood before thewide mahogany desk.

  "Orde has just been here," stated Baker crisply. "He wanted to know if Iintended to jail Welton on that old bribery charge. I told him I did."

  "How did he take it?"

  "As near as I can tell he is getting obstinate. You claimed veryconfidently you could head off his testimony. Up to date you haven'taccomplished much. Make good."

  "I'll head him off," stated Oldham grimly, "or put him where he belongs.I've saved a little persuasion until all the rest had failed."

  "How?"

  "That I'll tell you in time, but not now. But I don't mind telling youthat I've no reason to love this Orde--or any other Orde--and I intendto get even with him on my own account. It's a personal and privatematter, but I have a club that will keep him."

  "Why the secrecy?"

  "It's an affair of my own," insisted Oldham, "but I have it on him. Ifhe attempts to testify as to the Basin lands, I'll have him in thepenitentiary in ten days."

  "And if he agrees?"

  "Then," said Oldham quietly, "I'll have him in the pen a littlelater--after the Basin matter is settled once and for all."

  Baker considered this a little.

  "My judgment might be worth something as to handling this," hesuggested.

  "The matter is mine," said Oldham firmly, "and I must choose my own timeand place."

  "Very well," Baker acquiesced; "but I'd advise you to tackle Orde atonce. Time is short. Try out your club to see if it will work."

  "It will work!" stated Oldham confidently.

  "Of course," remarked Baker, relaxing abruptly his attitude, physicaland mental, and lighting a cigar, "of course, it is all very well toyank the temples down around the merry Philistines, but it doesn't doyour Uncle Samson much good. We can raise hell with Welton and Orde anda half-dozen others, and we will, if they push us too hard--but thatdon't keep us the Basin if this crazy reformer testifies and pulls inWelton to corroborate him. I'd rather keep the Basin. If we could stopOrde----"

  "I'll stop him," said Oldham.

  "I hope," said Baker impressively, "that you have more than one stringto your bow. I am not inquiring into your methods, you understand"--hispause was so significantly long at this point, that Oldham nodded--"_butyour sole job is to keep Orde out of court_."

  Baker looked his agent squarely in the eye for fifteen seconds. Thenabruptly he dropped his gaze.

  "That's all," said he, and reached for some papers.