sure--in fact, I am told to
say with authority--that Mr. Baker would be only too pleased to have you
come in with him on this new enterprise he is opening up."

"As how?"

"As stockholder to the extent of ten thousand shares preferred, and a
salaried position in the field, of course. But, that is a small matter
compared with the future opportunities--"

"It's cheering to know that I'm worth so much," interrupted Bob. "Shares
now worth par?"

"A fraction over."

"One hundred thousand and some odd dollars," observed Bob. "It's a nice
tidy bribe; and if I were any sort of a bribe taker at all, I'd surely
feel proud and grateful. Only I'm not. So you might just as well have
made it a million, and then I'd have felt still more set up over it."

"I hope you don't think I'm a bribe giver, either," said Oldham. "I
admit my offer was not well-timed; but it has been long under
contemplation, and I mentioned it as it occurred to me."

Having thus glided over this false start, the land agent promptly opened
another consideration.

"Perhaps we are at fatal variance on our economics," said he; "but how
about the justice of the thing? When you get right down to cases, how
about the rest of them? I'll venture to say there are not two private
timber holdings of any size in this country that have been acquired
strictly within the letter of the law. Do you favour general
confiscation?"

"I believe in the law," declared Bob, "and I do not believe your
statement."

Oldham rose.

"I tell you this, young man," he said coldly: "you can prosecute the
Modoc Company or not, as you please--or, perhaps, I should say, you can
introduce your private testimony or not, as you please. We are
reasonable; and we know you cannot control government prosecutions. But
the Modoc Company intends that you play no favourites."

"I do not understand you," said Bob with equal coldness.

"If the Modoc Company is prosecuted, we will make it our business to see
that every great land owner holding title in this Forest is brought into
the courts for the same offence. If the letter of the law is to be
enforced against us, we'll see that it is enforced against all others."

Bob bowed. "Suits me," said he.

"Does it?" sneered Oldham. He produced a bundle of papers bound by a
thick elastic. "Well, I've saved you some trouble in your next case.
Here are certified copies of the documents for it, copied at Sacramento,
and subscribed to before a notary. Of c