Part 38 (1/2)

”Fight it,” said Bob.

”Fight what? Prefer charges against Plant? That's been done a dozen times. Such things never get beyond the clerks. There's a man in Was.h.i.+ngton now who has direct evidence of some of the worst frauds and biggest land steals ever perpetrated in the West. He's been there now four months, and he hasn't even _succeeded in getting a hearing_ yet. I tried bucking Plant, and it cost me first and last, in time, delay and money, nearly fifty thousand dollars. I'm offering you that expensive experience free, gratis, for nothing.”

”Make a plain statement of the facts public,” said Bob. ”Publish them.

Arouse public sentiment.”

Baker looked cynical.

”Such attacks are ascribed to soreheads,” said he, ”and public sentiment _isn't interested_. The average citizen wonders what all the fuss is about and why you don't get along with the officials, anyway, as long as they are fairly reasonable.” He turned to Welton: ”How much more of a delay can you stand without closing down?”

”A month.”

”How soon must your deliveries begin?”

”July first.”

”If you default this contract you can't meet your notes.”

”What notes?”

”Don't do the baby blue-eyes. You can't start a show like this without borrowing. Furthermore, if you default this contract, you'll never get another, even if you do weather the storm.”

”That's true,” said Welton.

”Furthermore,” insisted Baker, ”Marshall and Harding will be considerably embarra.s.sed to fill their contracts down below; and the building operations will go b.u.mp for lack of material, if they fail to make good. You can't stand or fall alone in this kind of a game.”

Welton said nothing, but puffed strongly on his cigar.

”You're still doing the Sister Anne toward Was.h.i.+ngton,” said Baker, pleasantly. ”This came over the 'phone. I wired Mr. Orde in your name, asking what prospects there were for a speedy settlement. There's what he says!” He flipped a piece of scratch paper over to Welton.

”Deadlock,” read the latter slowly. ”No immediate prospect. Will hasten matters through regular channels. Signed, Orde.”

”Mr. Orde is familiar with the whole situation?” asked Baker.

”He is.”

”Well, there's what he thinks about it even there. You'd better see to that fire protection. It's going to be a dry year.”

”What's all your interest in this, anyway?” asked Bob.

Baker did not answer, but looked inquiringly toward Welton.

”Our interests are obviously his,” said Welton. ”We're the only two business propositions in this country. And if one of those two fail, how's the other to scratch along?”

”Correct, as far as you go,” said Baker, who had listened attentively.

”Now, I'm no tight wad, and I'll give you another, gratis. It's strictly under your hats, though. If you fellows bust, how do you think I could raise money to do business up here at all? It would hoodoo the country.”

Silence fell on the three, while the fire leaped and fell and crackled.