"
"Why the secrecy?"
"It's an affair of my own," insisted Oldham, "but I have it on him. If
he attempts to testify as to the Basin lands, I'll have him in the
penitentiary in ten days."
"And if he agrees?"
"Then," said Oldham quietly, "I'll have him in the pen a little
later--after the Basin matter is settled once and for all."
Baker considered this a little.
"My judgment might be worth something as to handling this," he
suggested.
"The matter is mine," said Oldham firmly, "and I must choose my own time
and place."
"Very well," Baker acquiesced; "but I'd advise you to tackle Orde at
once. Time is short. Try out your club to see if it will work."
"It will work!" stated Oldham confidently.
"Of course," remarked Baker, relaxing abruptly his attitude, physical
and mental, and lighting a cigar, "of course, it is all very well to
yank the temples down around the merry Philistines, but it doesn't do
your Uncle Samson much good. We can raise hell with Welton and Orde and
a half-dozen others, and we will, if they push us too hard--but that
don't keep us the Basin if this crazy reformer testifies and pulls in
Welton to corroborate him.
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