man or abduct him. I'm obliged to
gum-shoe. I have to keep my own executive details away from the home
office, even. We're waiting on the courts for law and on the legislature
for more favors." Craig was sweating copiously, and he wiped his
forehead with the back of his hand. "It's touchy business. If I can pull
old Flagg into camp, it's my biggest stroke outside of nailing the
Latisans in the Tomah. A monopoly will give us settled prices and
control of the flowage. But I insist on doing the job through Latisan.
I'm after him! Now do some thinking for me. No violence,
however--nothing which can be traced to the Three C's."

In the silence Miss Kennard asked, "How do you spell Latisan, Mr.
Craig?"

He told her. "First name Ward. He's the grandson of old John of the
Tomah."

"I'm trying to get the facts straight for Mr. Mern. Do I understand you
to say that the Latisans have failed in their business?"

"They're down and out. I gave the young fool a good tip to save the
remnants, but he wouldn't take it. The only thing I'll give him after
this is poison--if it can't be traced to me or my company."

Mern had swung about in his chair, his vacant stare on the murky sky,
doing the thinking to which he had been exhorted by his client. "Suppose
I slip a picked crowd of my operatives into his crew?"

"He's too wise to take on strangers. And while he's on the job with the
crew the men are so full of that hell-whoop spirit that they can't be
tampered with. Mern, he's got to be cut out of the herd."

"What's his particular failing?"

Craig, if his sour rage against Latisan had been less intense, might
have been less ready to believe that Latisan had taken several months
off as a prodigal son. But Craig wanted to believe that the young man
had been doing what scandal said he had done. That belief strengthened
Craig's hopes. He affected to believe in the reports. He told Mern that
Latisan had been leading a sporting life in the city until the family
money gave out.

"How about bumping him on his soft spot?"

Craig asked questions with his eyes, blinking away the perspiration.

"With a girl," Mern explained. "With one who looks as if she had been
picked right out of the rosy middle of the big bouquet he was attracted
by in the city. With the background of the woods, a single bloomer will
surely hold his attention."

Craig showed interest; he had been obliged to pass up violence, bribery,
bluster. This new plan promised s