"I'm going to keep on going to headquarters. I'm going to write
father and put it straight to him how he did get those lands and tell
him the whole situation; and I'm going down to interview Baker, and
discover, if I can, just how much of a bluff he is putting up."
"In the meantime----" said Welton apparently not noting the fact that
Bob had become aware of the senior Orde's connection with the land.
"In the meantime I'm going to postpone action if I can."
"They're summoning witnesses for the Basin trial."
"I'll do the best I can," concluded Bob.
Accordingly he wrote the next day to his father. In this letter he
stated frankly the situation as far as it affected the Wolverine lands,
but said nothing about the threatened criminal charges against Welton.
That was another matter. He set out the great value of the Basin lands
and the methods by which they had been acquired. He pointed out his
duty, both as a forest officer and as a citizen, but balanced this by
the private considerations that had developed from the situation.
This dispatched, he applied for leave.
"This is the busy season, and we can spare no one," said Thorne.
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