Just let me deal with him my way

"I'm just as sorry as you are that he made this get-away," he continued slowly. "Now I got to pull up stakes and get out. Nat'rally he'll make it too hot for me here. Then I could use that extry twenty-five hundred that was coming to me on this job. But it ain't too late. He's got away once; but he ain't in court yet. I can easy keep him out, if the original bargain stands. Of course, I'm sorry he punched your face." "Damn his soul!" burst out Oldham. "Just let me deal with him my way, instead of yours," repeated Saleratus Bill. "Do so," snarled Oldham; "the sooner the better." "That's all I want to hear," said the gun-man, and touched spurs to his horse. Part 5 Chapter 31 Bob's absence had occasioned some speculation, but no uneasiness, at headquarters. An officer of the Forest Service was too often called upon for sudden excursions in unexpected emergencies to make it possible for his chiefs to keep accurate track of all his movements. A day's trip to the valley might easily be deflected to a week's excursion to the higher peaks by any one of a dozen circumstances. The report of trespassing sheep, a tiny smoke above distant trees, a messenger sent out for arbitration in a cattle dispute, are samples of the calls to which Bob must have hastened no matter on what errand he had been bound. He arrived at headquarters late in the afternoon. Already a thin wand of smoke wavered up through the trees from Amy's little, open kitchen. The open door of the shed office trickled forth a thin clicking of typewriters. Otherwise the camp seemed deserted. At Bob's halloo, however, both Thorne and old California John came to the door. In two minutes he had all three gathered about the table under the three big firs. "In the first place, I want to say right now," he began, "that I have the evidence to win the land case against the Modoc Mining Company." "How?" demanded Thorne, leaning forward eagerly. "Baker has boasted, before two witnesses, that his mineral entries were fraudulent and made simply to get water rights and timber." "Those witnesses will testify?" "They will." "Who are they?" "Mr. Welton and myself." "Glory be!" cried Thorne, springing to his feet and clapping Bob on the back. "We've got him!"