urn back. If you didn't know it,
why it was evident you wasn't intended to know it. But I was in the
country when your father bought the land, so I happened to know about
it."

Bob stared at the old man so long that the latter felt called upon to
reassure him.

"I wouldn't take it so hard, if I was you, son," said he. "I really
don't think all these bluffs of Baker's amount to much. The findings of
that commission ain't never been acted on, which would seem to show that
it didn't come to nothing at the time; and I don't have the slightest
notion in the world but what the whole thing will blow up in smoke."

"As far as that is concerned, I haven't either," said Bob; "though you
never can tell, and defending such a suit is always an expensive matter.
But here's the trouble; my father is Congressman from Michigan, he's
been in several pretty heavy fights this last year, and has some
powerful enemies; he is up for reelection this fall."

"Suffering cats!" whistled California John.

"A lot could be made of a suit of that nature," said Bob, "whether it
had any basis, or not."

"I've run for County Supervisor in my time," said California John
simply.

"Well, what is your advice?" asked Bob.

"Son, I ain't got none," replied the old man.

That very evening a messenger rode over from the mill bringing a summons
from Welton. Bob saddled up at once. He found the lumberman, not in the
comfortable sitting room at his private sleeping camp, but watching the
lamp alone in the office. As Bob entered, his former associate turned a
troubled face toward the young man.

"Bob," said he at once, "they've got the old man cinched, unless you'll
help out."

"How's that?"

"You remember when we first came in here how Plant closed the road and
the flume right-of-way on us because we didn't have the permit?"

"Of course."

"Now, Bob, you remember how we was up against it, don't you? If we
hadn't gone through that year we'd have busted the business absolutely.
It was just a case of hold-up and we had to pay it. You remember?"

"Yes."

"Well!" burst out Welton, bringing his fist down, "now this hound,
Baker, sends up his slick lawyer to tell me that was bribery, and that
he can have me up on a criminal charge!"

"He's bluffing," said Bob quietly. "I remember all about that case. If
I'd known as much then of inside workings as I do now, I'd have taken a
hand. But Baker himself ran the whole show. If he brings that matter
into