Part 111 (1/2)

Baker's mocking face became instantly grave; and, leaning forward, he hit the desk a thump with his right fist.

”Orde,” said he, ”I want you to believe me in this: I never was more sorry for anything in my life! I wouldn't have had that happen for anything in the world! If I'd had the remotest idea that Oldham contemplated something of that sort, I should have laid very positive orders on him. He said he had something on you that would keep your mouth shut, but I never dreamed he meant gun play.”

”I don't suppose you dreamed he meant kidnapping either,” observed Bob.

Baker threw himself back with a chuckle.

”Being kidnapped is fine for the health,” said he. ”Babies thrive on it.

No,” he continued, again leaning forward gravely, ”Oldham got away from his instructions completely. Shooting or that kind of violence was absurd in such a case. You mustn't lay that to me, but to his personal grudge.”

”What do you know of a personal grudge?” Bob flashed back.

”Ab-so-lute-ly nothing; but I suspected. It's part of my job to be a nifty young suspector--and to use what I guess at. He just got away from me. As for the rest of it, that's part of the game. This is no croquet match; you must expect to get your head b.u.mped if you play it. I play the game.”

”I play the game, too,” returned Bob, ”and I came here to tell you so.

I'll take care of myself, but I want to say that the moment you offer any move against Welton, I shall bring in my testimony against both of you on this bribery matter.”

”Sapient youth!” said Baker, amused; ”did that aspect of it just get to you? But you misinterpreted the spirit of my greeting when you came in the room. In words of one syllable, you've got us licked. We lie down and roll over. We stick all four paws in the air. We bat our august forehead against the floor. Is that clear?”

”Then you drop this prosecution against Welton?”

”Nary prosecution, as far as I am concerned.”

”But the Modoc Land case----”

”Take back your lands,” chaffed Baker dramatically. ”Kind of b.u.m lands, anyway. No use skirmis.h.i.+ng after the battle is over. Your father would tell you that.”

”Then you don't fight the suit?”

”That,” said Baker, ”is still a point for compromise. You've got us, I'm willing to admit that. Also that you are a bright young man, and that I underestimated you. You've lifted my property, legally acquired, and you've done it by outplaying my bluff. I still maintain the points of the law are with me--we won't get into that,” he checked himself. ”But criminal prosecution is a different matter. I don't intend to stand for that a minute. Your gang don't slow-step me to any bastiles now listed in the prison records. Nothing doing that way. I'll fight her to a fare-ye-well on that.” His round face seemed to become square-set and grim for an instant, but immediately rea.s.sumed its customary rather careless good-nature. ”No, we'll just call the whole business off.”

”That is not for me to decide,” said Bob.

”No; but you've got a lot to say about it--and I'll see to the little details; don't fret. By the way,” mentioned Baker, ”just as a matter of ordinary curiosity, _did_ Oldham have anything on you, or was he just a strong-arm artist?” He threw back his head and laughed aloud at Bob's face. At the thought of Pollock the young man could not prevent a momentary expression of relief from crossing his countenance. ”There's a tail-holt on all of us,” Baker observed.

He flipped open a desk drawer and produced a box of expensive-looking cigars which he offered to his visitors. Orde lit one; but Bob, eyeing the power-man coldly, refused. Baker laughed.

”You'll get over it,” he observed--”youth, I mean. Don't mix your business and your personal affairs. That came right out of the copy book, page one, but it's true. I'm the one that ought to feel sore, seems to me.” He lit his own cigar, and puffed at it, swinging his bulky form to the edge of the desk. ”Look here,” said he, shaking the b.u.t.t at the younger man. ”You're making a great mistake. The future of this country is with water, and don't you forget it. Fuel is scarce; water power is the coming force. The country can produce like a garden under irrigation; and it's only been scratched yet, and that just about the big cities. We are getting control; and the future of the state is with us. You're wasting yourself in all this toy work. You've got too much ability to squander it in that sort of thing. Oldham made you an offer from us, didn't he?”

”He tried to bribe me, if that's what you mean,” said Bob.

”Well, have it your way; but you'll admit there's hardly much use of bribing you now. I repeat the offer. Come in with us on those terms.”

”Why?” demanded Bob.

”Well,” said Baker quaintly, ”because you seem to have licked me fair and square; and I never want a man who can lick me to remain where he is likely to do so.”

At this point Orde, who had up to now remained quietly a spectator, spoke up.