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How vast was the power of Garman's plunder organization might be estimated by the degree of ignorance in which the land-buying public throughout the country was kept concerning the true situation in the district. Full-page advertisements in Sunday newspapers created a golden dream in the public mind concerning the Western Everglades; not one single news item crept into print revealing the truth.
The morning sun was high in the heavens when Roger emerged from the woods onto the prairie on his way back to Garman's house. He followed no path. He was running head down, seeing and hearing nothing.
How do you expect to get out of here?" Payne finished his piece of venison and wiped his fingers. "Garman," said he, "who are you? What are you? What are you butting in for?" Garman's smoking paused for a moment and his fat, rosy countenance was suffused with a darker red. "That was a bad break, Payne. I don't like it." "I didn't think you would.
No statesmen ever lost any money there, for only those whom Garman can use and who will listen to business reason are invited. No statesman accepts a vulgar bribe, but several who attend Garman's stags win heavily and consistently at poker. "At Jacksonville, in his suite of offices, there is one door without a name on it, and that is Mr. Garman's private office.
Then he saw how they had scattered, searching the country round, and had returned to the spot where Garman lay. From there they had gone toward the path leading to Garman's house. There were tracks of half a dozen men. Garman's was among them. He had, apparently, been helped to his feet and led away.
"You shoot ojus quick," said the Indian. "I had to, Willy; I had to," protested Higgins. "Couldn't make you out, and I couldn't risk any one getting the drop on me." "Shoot first; look who is by'm by. Holowaugus. No good." "I took him for one of Garman's gang," explained Higgins to Payne. "I couldn't see for the brush." "Did purty well, consid'ring that," ventured Blease.
They led, not to the river or toward Garman's as might have been expected, but scattered and lost themselves to the southward in the tangle morass of the cypress swamp. Here and there articles had been left behind in what savored of a flight; unopened canned goods, a deer carcass, a frying pan, a rifle and a pair of shoes.
Roger returned the look steadily; and by the flickering mockery in Garman's eyes he knew that it was Garman's ring that gleamed on Annette's finger. "I was just thanking Senator Fairclothe for influencing me in the purchase of land down here," said Roger deliberately. "If it hadn't been for him, Garman, I wouldn't be here now." "If that is so," returned Garman, "we must thank him, too.
Garman had been right; he had been dwelling in the Fool's Paradise of Youth, accepting dreams for realities. Now, he had "torn the mask of illusions from the face of Life and seen the old hag as she really is." Garman's phrases kept ringing in his ears, and with repetition they came to hold a note of mocking triumph. Garman was whipped, yet he had won. His words remained to cut and torture.
"I'll say they have. Got to have pretty good tools, too; and most of the rifles I've seen round here are the old forty-fours." "If they are Garman's men they'll have up-to-date rifles all right." "Sure. The best money can buy." Higgins shrewdly estimated the range to the palms. "Say, Payne, if they've got Springfields or something as good, and can use them, we're making a fool play standing here."
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