XV
Thorne curtly explained himself to Plant as detained on clericalbusiness. While awaiting the vouchers from Washington, he busilygathered the gossip of the place. Naturally the cattle situation was oneof the first phases to come to his attention. After listening to whatwas to be said, he despatched a messenger back into the mountainsrequesting the cattlemen to send a representative. Ordinarily he wouldhave gone to the spot himself; but just now he preferred to remainnearer the centre of Plant's activities.
Jim Pollock appeared in due course. He explained the state of affairscarefully and dispassionately. Thorne heard him to the end withoutcomment.
"If the feed is too scarce for the number of cattle, that fact should beofficially ascertained," he said finally.
"Davidson--California John--was sent back last fall to look into it. Ididn't see his report, but John's a good cattleman himself, and therecouldn't be no two opinions on the matter."
Thorne had been shown no copy of such a report during his officialinspection. He made a note of this.
"Well," said he finally, "if on investigation I find the facts to be asyou state them--and that I can determine only on receiving all theevidence on both sides--I can promise you relief for next season. TheLand Office is just, when it is acquainted with the facts. I will askyou to make affidavits. I am obliged to you for your trouble in coming."
Jim Pollock made his three-day ride back more cheered by these few andtentative words than by Superintendent Smith's effusive assurances, orPlant's promises. He so reported to his neighbours in the back ranges.
Thorne established from California John the truth as to the suppressedreports.
Some rumour of all this reached Henry Plant. Whatever his faults, theSupervisor was no coward. He had always bulled things through by sheerweight and courage. If he could outroar his opponent, he alwaysconsidered the victory as his. Certainly the results were generally thatway.
On hearing of Thorne's activities, Plant drove down to see him. He puffedalong the passageway to Thorne's room. The Inspector was pecking away athis portable typewriter and did not look up as the fat man entered.
Plant surveyed the bent back for a moment.
"Look here," he demanded, "I hear you're still investigating mydistrict--as well as doing 'clerical work.'"
"I am," snapped Thorne without turning his head.
"Am I to consider myself under investigation?" demanded Planttruculently. To this direct question he, of course, expected a denial--adenial which he would proceed to demolish with threats and abuse.
"You are," said Thorne, reaching for a fresh sheet of paper.
Plant stared at him a moment; then went out. Next day he drove away onthe stage, and was no more seen for several weeks.
This did not trouble Thorne. He began to reach in all directions forevidence. At first there came to him only those like the Pollock boyswho were openly at outs with Plant, and so had nothing to lose byantagonizing him further. Then, hesitating, appeared others. Many ofthese grievances Thorne found to be imaginary; but in several cases hewas able to elicit definite affidavits as to graft and irregularity.Evidence of bribery was more difficult to obtain. Plant's easy-goingways had made him friends, and his facile suspension of gracingregulations--for a consideration--appealed strongly to self-interest.However, as always in such cases, enough had at some time feltthemselves discriminated against to entertain resentment. Thorne tookadvantage of this both to get evidence, and to secure information thatenabled him to frighten evidence out of others.
The vouchers arrived from Washington. In them Plant's methods showedclearly. Thorne early learned that it had been the Supervisor's habit toobtain duplicate bills for everything--purchases, livery, hotels and thelike. He had explained to the creditors that a copy would be necessaryfor filing, and of course the mountain people knew no better. Thus, by atrifling manipulation of dates, Plant had been able to collect twiceover for his expenses.
"There is the plumb limit," said Martin, while running over the vouchershe had given. He showed Thorne two bearing the same date. One read:
"_To team and driver to Big Baldy post office, $4._"
"That item's all right," said Martin; "I drove him there myself. Buthere's the joke."
He handed the second bill to Thorne:
"_To saddle horse Big Baldy to McClintock claim, $2._"
"Why," said Martin, "when we got to Big Baldy he put his saddle on oneof the driving horses and rode it about a mile over to McClintock's. Iremember objecting on account of his being so heavy. Say," reflected thelivery-man after a moment, "he's right out for the little stuff, ain'the? When his hand gets near a dollar, it cramps!"
In the sheaf of vouchers Thorne ran across one item repeated severalhundred times in the two years. It read:
"_To M. Aiken, team, $3._"
Inquiry disclosed the fact that "M. Aiken," was Minnie, Plant's niece.By the simple expedient of conveying to her title in his team andbuckboard, the Supervisor was enabled to collect three dollars everytime he drove anywhere.
Thus the case grew, fortified by affidavits. Thorne found that Planthad been grafting between three and four thousand dollars a year.
Of course the whole community soon came to know all about it. The takingof testimony and the giving of affidavits were matters for dailydiscussion. Thorne inspired faith, because he had faith himself.
"I don't wonder you people have been hostile to the Forest Reserves,"said he. "You can't be blamed. But it is not the Office's fault. I'vebeen in the Land Office a great many years, and they won't stand forthis sort of thing a minute. I found very much the same sort of thing inone of the reserves in Oregon, only there was a gang operating there. Igot eleven convictions, and a new deal all round. The Land Office is allright, when you get to it. You'll see us in a different light, afterthis is over."
The mountaineers liked him. He showed them a new kink by which the lashrope of a pack could be jammed in the cinch-hook for convenience of thelone packer; he proved to be an excellent shot with the revolver; in hisofficial work he had used and tested the methods of many wildernesstravellers, and could discuss and demonstrate. Furthermore, he gotresults.
Austin conducted a roadhouse on the way to the Power House Number One:this in addition to his saloon in Sycamore Flats. The roadhouse was, asa matter of fact, on government land, but Austin established the shadowof a claim under mineral regulations, and, by obstructionist tactics,had prevented all the red tape from being unwound. His mineral claim wasflimsy; he knew it, and everybody else knew it. But until the caseshould be reported back, he remained where he was. It was up to Plant;and Plant had been lenient. Probably Austin could have told why.
Thorne became cognizant of all this. He served Austin notice. Austinoffered no comment, but sat tight. He knew by previous experience thatthe necessary reports, recommendations, endorsements and official orderswould take anywhere from one to three months. By that time thisinspector would have moved on--Austin knew the game. But three dayslater Thorne showed up early in the morning followed by a half-dozeninterested rangers. In the most business-like fashion and despite thevariegated objections of Austin and his disreputable satellites, Thorneand his men attached their ropes to the flimsy structure and literallypulled it to pieces from the saddle.
"You have no right to use force!" cried Austin, who was well versed inthe regulations.
"I've saved my office a great deal of clerical work," Thorne snappedback at him. "Report me if you feel like it!"
The debris remained where it had fallen. Austin did not ventureagain--at least while this energetic youth was on the scene.Nevertheless, after the first anger, even the saloon-keeper had in a wayhis good word to say.
"If they's anythin' worse than a--of a--comes out in the next fiftyyear, he'll be it!" stormed Austin. "But, damn it," he added, "thelittle devil's worse'n a catamount for fight!"
Thorne was little communicative, but after he and Bob became betteracquainted the Inspector would tell something of his
past inspections.All up and down the Sierras he had unearthed enough petty fraud andinefficiency to send a half-dozen men to jail and to break anotherhalf-dozen from the ranks.
"And the Office has upheld me right along," said Thorne in answer toBob's scepticism regarding government sincerity. "The Office is allright; don't make any mistake on that. It's just a question of gettingat it. I admit the system is all wrong, where the complaints can't getdirect to the chiefs; but that's what I'm here for. This Plant is one ofthe easiest cases I've tackled yet. I've got direct evidence six timesover to put him over the road. He'll go behind the bars sure. As for thecattle situation, it's a crying disgrace and a shame. There's no earthlyreason under the regulations why Simeon Wright should bring cattle inat all; and I'll see that next year he doesn't."
At the end of two weeks Thorne had finished his work and departed. Themountain people with whom he had come in contact liked and trusted himin spite of his brusque and business-like manners. He could shoot, packa horse, ride and follow trail, swing an axe as well as any of them. Heknew what he was talking about. He was square. The mountain men"happened around"--such of them as were not in back with the cattle--towish him farewell.
"Good-bye, boys," said he. "You'll see me again. I'm glad to have had achance to straighten things out a little. Don't lose faith in Uncle Sam.He'll do well by you when you attract his attention."
Fully a week after his departure Plant returned and took his accustomedplace in the community. He surveyed his old constituents with a slightlysardonic eye, but had little to say.
About this time Bob moved up on the mountain. He breathed in a distinctpleasure over again finding himself among the pines, in the cool air,with the clean, aromatic woods-work. The Meadow Lake was completelysurrounded by camps this year. Several canvas boats were on the lake.Bob even welcomed the raucous and confused notes of several phonographsgoing at full speed. After the heat and dust and brown of the lowerhills, this high country was inexpressibly grateful.
At headquarters he found Welton rolling about, jovial, good-natured,efficient as ever. With him was Baker.
"Well," said Bob to the latter. "Where did you get by me? I didn't knowyou were here."
"Oh, I blew in the other day. Didn't have time to stop below; and,besides, I was saving my strength for your partner here." He looked atWelton ruefully. "I thought I'd come up and get that water-rights matterall fixed up in a few minutes, and get back to supper. Nothing doing!"
"This smooth-faced pirate," explained Welton, "offers to take our waterif we'll pay him for doing it, as near as I can make out--that is, ifwe'll supply the machinery to do it with. In return he'll allow us theprivilege of buying back what we are going to need for householdpurposes. I tell him this is too liberal. We cannot permit him to robhimself. Since he has known our esteemed fellow-citizen, Mr. Plant, he'sfalling into that gentleman's liberal views."
Baker grinned at his accusor appreciatively, but at the mention ofPlant's name Bob broke in.
"Plant's landed," said he briefly. "They've got him. Prison bars forhis."
"What?" cried Welton and Baker in a breath.
Bob explained; telling them of Thorne, his record, methods, and thedefinite evidence he had acquired. Long before he had finished both menrelaxed from their more eager attention.
"That all?" commented Baker. "From what you said I thought he was in thebastile!"
"He will be shortly," said Bob. "They've got the evidence direct. It'san open-and-shut case."
Baker merely grinned.
"But Thorne's jugged them all up the range," persisted Bob. "He'sconvicted a whole lot of them--men who have been at it for years."
"H'm," said Baker.
"But how can they dodge it?" cried Bob. "They can't deny the evidence!The Department has upheld Thorne warmly."
"Sure," said Baker.
"Well," concluded Bob. "Do you mean to say that they'll have the nerveto pass over such direct evidence as that?"
"Don't know anything about it," replied Baker briefly. "I only knowresults when I see them. These other little grafters that your manThorne has bumped off probably haven't any drag."
"Well, what does Plant amount to once he's exposed?" challenged Bob.
"I haven't figured it out on the Scribner scale," admitted Baker, "but Iknow what happens when you try to bump him. Bet you a thousand dollars Ido," he shot at Welton. "It isn't the wraith-like Plant you run upagainst; it's _interests_."
"Well, I don't believe yet a great government will keep in a miserable,petty thief like Plant against the direct evidence of a man likeThorne!" stated Bob with some heat.
"Listen," said Baker kindly. "That isn't the scrap. Thorne _vs._Plant--looks like easy money on Thorne, eh? Well, now, Plant has a dragwith Chairman Gay; don't know what it is, but it's a good one, apeacherino. We know because we've trained some heavy guns on itourselves, and it's stood the shock. All right. Now it's up to ChairmanGay to support his cousin. Then there's old Simeon Wright. Where wouldhe get off at without Plant? He's going to do a little missionary work.Simeon owns Senator Barrow, and Senator Barrow is on the Ways and MeansCommittee, so lots of people love the Senator. And so on in alldirections--I'm from Missouri. You got to show me. If it came to a merechoice of turning down Plant or Thorne, they'd turn down Plant, everytime. But when it comes to a choice between Thorne and Gay, Thorne andBarrow, Thorne and Simeon Wright, Thorne and a dozen others that havetheir own Angel Children to protect, and won't protect your Angel Childunless you'll chuck a front for theirs--why Thorne is just lost in thecrowd!"
"I don't believe it," protested Bob. "It would be a scandal."
"No, just politics," said Baker.