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Updated: June 16, 2025
You say he'll testify?" "If he has to," replied Bob, by a strong effort bringing himself back to a practical consideration of the matter in hand. "At least he'll never perjure himself, if he's called. Welton's case is different. Look here; it's bound to come out, so you may as well know the whole situation." He paused, glancing from one to another of his hearers.
"But," said Welton, carefully, "don't you see that you took chances on losing me a lot of property?" Bob looked up at him a moment wearily. "From my point of view I have nothing to regret," said he stiffly, and turned away. The humorous lines about Welton's eyes had been deepening throughout this interview. "That tops it off," said he.
His waving brown hair was slicked back from his square, placid brow, his wide, cowlike eyes shone with the glow of the common or domestic fire, his brown beard was neat, and his holiday clothes were clean. At Welton's invitation he sat, but bolt upright at the edge of a chair.
At the sight of his homely, jolly countenance, Bob experienced a pleasant sensation of slipping back from an environment slightly off-focus to the normal, accustomed and real. Nevertheless, at the first opportunity, he tested his new doubts by Welton's common sense. "I rode through our slash on 18," he remarked. "That's an awful mess." "Slashes are," replied Welton succinctly.
Welton spoke earnestly and in a low tone, and his face was red. Bob, passing, drew rein in astonishment. Never, in his long experience with Welton, had he seen the older man plainly out of temper. Welton's usual habit in aggravating and contrary circumstances was to show a surface, at least, of the most leisurely good nature.
Or: "Bob, it sure will seem scrumptious to ride out and boss the whole country on ninety a month. Guess I'll join you." Or: "You going to make me sweep up my slashings, or will a rake do, Mr. Ranger?" To these feeble jests Bob always replied good-naturedly. He did not attempt to improve Welton's conception of his purposes. That must come with time.
"We won't neither of us be near as much trouble to ourselves to-morrow, will we?" So he had overheard the riverman's remark that morning. Bob laughed. "That's right," approved Welton, "take it easy. Necessities is a great comfort, but you can do without even them." After supper all sprawled around a fire. Welton's big bulk extended in the acme of comfort.
The glamour whatever it was would soon wear off; and then Bob, his fling over, would return to sober, real business once more. All Welton's joviality returned. From time to time he would throw a facetious remark in Bob's direction, when, in the course of the day's work, he happened to pass. "It's sure going to be fine to wear a real tin star and be an officer!"
"This department is only doing its sworn duty," replied the old man. His blue eyes met Welton's steadily; not a line of his weatherbeaten face changed. For twenty seconds the lumberman tried to read his opponent's mind. "Well," he said at last. "You can tell your chief that if he thinks he can annoy and harass me into bribing him to be decent, he's left."
If I should go to him and say; 'Plant, my agile sylph, these people are my friends. Give them their nice little permit and let them run away and play, why, he'd do it in a minute." Baker rolled his eyes drolly at Welton. "Can this be the shadow of doubt! You disbelieve my power?" He leaned forward and tapped Welton's knee. His voice became grave: "I'll tell you what I'll do.
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