The opposition won't gain much by digging up
that old charge against the integrity of our land titles. We'll count
that much wiped off the slate."
"I'm glad to hear it," said Bob heartily. "Well, the trouble with Mr.
Welton is that the previous administration held him up--" He detailed
the aspects of the threatened bribery case; while Orde listened without
comment. "So," he concluded, "it looked at first as if they rather had
him, if I testified. It had me guessing. I hated the thought of getting
a man like Mr. Welton in trouble of that sort over a case in which he
was no way interested."
"What did you decide?" asked Orde curiously.
"I decided to testify."
"That's right."
"I suppose so. I felt a little better about it, because they had me in
the same boat. That let me out in my own feelings, naturally."
"How?" asked Orde swiftly.
"There had been trouble up there between Plant--you remember I wrote you
of the cattle difficulties?"
"With Simeon Wright? I know all that."
"Well, one of the cattlemen was ruined by Plant's methods; his wife and
child died from want of care on that account.
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