used different words, gave somewhat
the same reply as had the sheriff.

"I refuse to listen to any more such wild talk," he said. "If our
property has been destroyed, as you say, there will be an accounting,
you may be sure of that. And now, Mr. Smith, get this straight, you
tell Rawson, wherever he is hiding, to come and see me at once."

"But I tell you he has been captured," said Smithy desperately. "He's
gone."

"I rather think we will find him," was the reply. "He had better come
of his own accord. His connection with us will be severed and all
drilling operations in Tonah Basin will be discontinued, but Mr.
Rawson will find that his responsibility is not so easily evaded."

The sheriff could not have failed to realize the unsatisfactory nature
of the conversation; he must have wondered at the satisfied grin that
spread across Smithy's tired face.

"Do you mean you're through?" he demanded. "You're abandoning Rawson's
work?"

"Exactly," was Mr. Erickson's crisp response.

* * * * *

Smithy, as the telephone clicked in his ear, turned again to the
sheriff. "That unties my hands," he said cryptically. "One more call,
if you please."

Then to the operator: "Get me the offices of the Mountain Power and
Lighting Corporation in San Francisco. I will talk with the
president."

The sheriff of Cocos County chuckled audibly. "You'll talk to the
president's sixteenth assistant secretary, son," he told Smithy. "And
I take back what I said before--now I know you're plumb loco. By the
way, son, it costs money for telephone calls like that. I hope you
ain't, by any chance, overlookin'--"

But Smithy was speaking into the telephone unmindful of the sheriff's
remarks.

"Is Mr. Smith in his office?" he was inquiring. "Yes, President
Smith.... Would you connect me with him at once, please? This is
Gordon Smith talking."

"Hello, Dad," he said a moment later. "Yes, that's right. It's the
prodigal himself. Now, listen, Dad, here's something important. Can
you meet me in Sacramento and arrange for us to see the Governor--get
his private, confidential ear? I'll beat it for Los Angeles--charter
the fastest plane they've got...."

There was more to the conversation, much more, although Smithy
refrained from giving details over the phone. An operator was breaking
in on the conversation as he was about to hang up.

"Emergency call," the young woman's voice was saying. "We must have
the lin