"Well, Gentle Stranger," sang out the power man, "what jungle have you
been lurking in? I laboured in about three and went all over the works
looking for you."
"I've been over watching the ranger examinations at their headquarters,"
said Bob. "It's pretty good fun."
Baker leaned forward.
"Have you heard the latest dope?" he demanded.
"What sort?"
"They're trying to soak us, now. Want to charge us so much per horse
power! Now _what_ do you think of that!"
"Can't you pay it?" asked Bob.
"Great guns! Why _should_ we pay it?" demanded Baker. "It's the public
domain, isn't it? First they take away the settler's right to take up
public land in his own state, and now they want to _charge_, actually
_charge_ the public for what's its own."
But Bob, a new light shining in his eyes, refused to become heated.
"Well," he asked deliberately, "who _is_ the public, anyhow?"
Baker stared at him, one chubby hand on each fat knee.
"Why, everybody," said he; "the people who can make use of it. You and I
and the other fellow."
"Especially the other fellow," put in Bob drily.
Baker chuckled.
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