It is a curious matter of flock psychology that if the public
mind ever occupies itself fully with an idea, it thereby becomes for the
time being blind, impervious, to all others. But in other parts of the
mountains Bob was not wholly unwelcome; and in one or two cases--which
pleased him mightily--men came in to him voluntarily for the purpose of
asking his advice.
In the meantime the Samuels case had come rapidly to a crisis. The
resounding agitation had resulted in the sending of inspectors to
investigate the charges against the local officials. The first of these
inspectors, a rather precise and formal youth fresh from Eastern
training, was easily handled by the versatile Erbe. His report,
voluminous as a tariff speech, and couched in very official language,
exonerated Thorne and Orde of dishonesty, of course, but it emphasized
their "lack of tact and business ability," and condemned strongly their
attitude in the Durham matter. This report would ordinarily have gone no
farther than the district office, where it might have been acted on by
the officers in charge to the great detriment of the Service.
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