for the gentleman farmer and the gentleman
poultry fancier and the gentleman lumberman--if there are any. But when
it comes to business----"

Bob laughed. "Just the same," said he, "I'm beginning to see that it's a
good thing to keep some of this timber standing; and the only way it can
be done is through the Forest Reserves."

"That's all right," agreed Welton. "Let'em reserve. I don't care. But
they are a nuisance. They keep stepping on my toes. It's too good a
chance to annoy and graft. It gives a hard lot of loafers too good a
chance to make trouble."

"They are a hard lot in general," agreed Bob, "but there's some good men
among them, men I can't help but admire."

Welton rolled his eyes drolly at the younger man.

"Who?" he inquired.

"Well, there's old California John."

"There's three or four mossbacks in the lot that are honest," cut in
Welton, "but it's because they're too damn thick-headed to be anything
else. Don't get kiddish enough to do the picturesque mountaineer act,
Bobby. I can dig you up four hundred of that stripe anywhere--and
holding down just about as valuable jobs. Don't get too thick with that
kind. In the city you'll find them holding open-air meetings. I suppose
our friend Plant has been pinched?"

"Not yet," grinned Bob, a trifle shamefacedly.

"Don't get the reform bug, Bob," said Welton kindly, "That's all very
well for those that like to amuse themselves, but we're busy."

[Footnote A: The accounts of one man showed that for a long period he
had so disbursed from his own pocket an average of thirty dollars a
month. His salary was sixty dollars.]

XVIII

The following spring found Plant still in command. No word had come from
the silence of political darkness. His only concession to the state of
affairs had been an acknowledgment under coercion that the cattle ranges
had been overstocked, and that outside cattle would not be permitted to
enter, at least for the coming season. This was just the concession to
relieve the immediate pressure against him, and to give the Supervisor
time to apply all his energies to details within the shades.

Details were important, in spite of the absence of surface indications.
Many considerations were marshalled. On one side were arrayed plain
affidavits of fraud. In the lower ranks of the Land Office it was
necessary to corrupt men, by one means or another. These lesser
officials in the course of routine would come face to face wit