"
"Will he!" shouted Welton. "You don't know the lowlived skunk! Erbe told
me that if this suit was brought and you testified in the matter, that
Baker would turn state's evidence against me! That would let him off
scot-free."
"What!" said Bob incredulously. "Brand himself publicly as a criminal
and tell-tale just to get you into trouble! Not likely. Think what that
would mean to a man in his position! It would be every bit as bad as
though he were to take his jail sentence. He's bluffing again."
"Do you really think so?" asked Welton, a gleam of relief lightening
the gloom of his red, good-natured face. "I'll agree to handle the worst
river crew you can hand out to me; but this law business gets me running
in circles."
"It does all of us," said Bob with a sigh.
"I concluded from Erbe's coming up here that you had decided to tell
about what you knew. That ain't so, is it?"
"I don't know; I can't see my duty clearly yet."
"For heaven's sake, Bobby, what's it to you!" demanded Welton
exasperated.
But Bob did not hear him.
"I think the direct way is the best," he remarked, by way of thinking
aloud.
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