in where there are no witnesses. Now smoke up and join
the King's Daughters--let's have a heart-to-heart and find out how we
stand."

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

"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 coming
myself, you know. Let's stick to facts. Then the Government is going to
open 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 be
brought. Now I tell you frankly, as one Modern Woods-pussy of the World
to 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 government
plans to you, Baker."

Baker sighed, and slid from the boulder.

"I'm practically certain how the cat jumps, and I've long since made my
plans 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't
answer. Your last remark means that you are. I have too much sense to do
the 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 that
you're going back on a friend, that you'll be dragging Welton into the
game when he hasn't got a chip to enter with, that you're betraying
private confidence--well, I guess the rest is all 'thinks.'"

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

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

"Well," he roused himself at last, "I wish this particular attack of
measles had passed off before you bucked up against us. Because, you
know, that land's ours, and we don't expect to give it up on account of
this sort of fool agitation. We'll win this case. I'm sorry you're mixed
up 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 a
bad conscience, I tell him