colonists,'" said Bob, "took up this land merely for the
purpose of turning it over to the company. The intention of the law is
that the timber is for the benefit of the original claimant."

"Well, it's for his benefit, if he gets paid for it, ain't it?" demanded
Welton ingenuously. "You can't expect him to cut it himself."

"That is the intent of the law," insisted Bob, "and that's what I'll be
called upon to do. What shall I do about it?"

"Quit the game!" said Welton, promptly and eagerly. "You can see
yourself how foolish it is. That crew of young squirts just out of
school would upset the whole property values of the state. Besides, as
I've just shown you, it's foolish. Come on back in a sensible business.
We'd get on fine!"

Bob shook his head.

"Then go ahead; bring your case," said Welton. "I don't mind."

"I do," said Bob. "It looks like a strong case to me."

"Don't bring it. You don't need to report in your evidence as you call
it. Just forget it."

"Even if I were inclined to do so," said Bob, "I wouldn't be allowed.
Baker would force the matter to publicity."

"Baker," repeated Welton; "what has he got to do with it?"

"It's in regard to the lands in the Basin. He took them up under the
mineral act, and plainly against all law and decency. It's the plainest
case of fraud I know about, and is a direct steal right from under our
noses."

"I think myself he's skinning things a trifle fine," admitted Welton;
"but I can't see but what he's complied with the law all right. He don't
have any right to that timber, I'll agree with you there; but it looks
to me like the law had a hole in it."

"If he took that land up for other purposes than an honest intention to
mine on it, the title might be set aside," said Bob.

"You'd have a picnic proving anything of the sort one way or another
about what a man intends to do," Welton pointed out.

"Do you remember one evening when Baker was up at camp and was kicking
on paying water tolls? It was about the time Thorne first came in as
Supervisor, and just before I entered the Service."

"Seems to me I recall something of the sort."

"Well, you think it over. Baker told us then that he had a way of
beating the tolls, and mentioned this very scheme of taking advantage of
the mineral laws. At the time he had a notion of letting us in on the
timber."

"Sure! I remember!" cried Welton.

"Well, if you and I were to testify as to that conversation, we'd
establi