582 CONSERVATION 



But all good things come to an end this character who had collected home- 

 in time, and so when I arrived on the stead fees to the amount of something 

 scene with two big husky rangers, to like $25,000 in the twenty years he 

 make investigations of the land frauds operated in that country, 

 in that section, Cascade Bill was at Cascade Bill found that his threats 

 first panic stricken. He knew it would had failed to drive us from the work 

 now only be a question of a short time we had been detailed to do, and changed 

 until his crooked work would be his tactics. He outlined a generous 

 exposed, but like all rascals he had dis- plan by which we could all make a 

 posed of his money lavishly, on the nice "rake off" and still hold our posi- 

 "come easy, go easy" system, until he tions. I declined with thanks, and he 

 had little left but the notes of his vie- switched again, and asked me to par- 

 tims, an occasional fee for a short time, take of Sunday dinner with his wife 

 and generally a comfortable "cargo" of and himself. I accepted in haste, for 

 Index whisky. Then he was afraid to this would give me an opportunity I 

 leave his homestead claim for any wanted greatly, to meet and talk to a 

 length of time, as he had never ofifered woman whom I understood wrote all of 

 even a filing (in order to keep his land ber husband's letters, acted in fact as 

 off the records, so that he might juggle his private secretary, for Cascade Bill 

 it in the fashion stated above), for fear could neither read nor write. The 

 some person might "jump" his claim, rangers were greatly worried over my 

 On the other hand the old grizzled going alone to this man's cabin up in 

 mountaineer saw the "handwriting on the woods, but I arranged to have them 

 the wall," and dreaded to think of iron near by, and instructed them by means 

 bars and striped suits. of a signal that would not be noticed by 

 So Cascade Bill fumed and stormed the locator or his wife, that I could 

 at the bar over his whisky, and threat- give in case I needed them. They were 

 ened that if "that damned inspector did to remain in hiding until after the din- 

 not 'come in," he would scatter his ner hour, then saunter leisurely in, as 

 brain matter about the sidewalks of if they had accidently happened that 

 Index." I paid no atention to the way. 



statements issued from this timber i was on hand next day on schedule 



"baron," and proceeded to "break" into time, and Mrs. Bill made a great fuss 



his ring. Three days of terrifically over me. She fumed and sputtered as 



hard work, and some good results ; Cas- most fat people do, over the dinner, 



cade Bill suddenly changed his tune, but finally w-e sat down to a very 



and became diplomatic. With three of excellent repast, with chicken as the 



his right-hand men he called on me at principal feature. Everything moved 



the hotel, and was very gracious. His smoothly, and our conversation became 



smile was a painful effort, and did not quite animated on various subjects, 



add to the beauty of his already dis- until coffee appeared. I noticed a 



torted features, caused by his blind eye. queer odor about it the moment Mrs. 



He held out his clammy hand, and Bill placed the cup beside me. I also 



sprawled into a rocker, chewing tobacco noticed the woman was unusually pale, 



like a cow her cud. He beamed on my despite her red face. Then I detected 



two rangers, who ignored the honor, a rather greenish scum appearing on 



and stationed themselves near me, in the top of the coffee, and decided that 



close proximity to their six-shooters. I would only make a pretext of drink- 



The fact seemed to get out that Cas- ing it. You see, I was on the lookout 



cade Bill was a "dead shot," and the for almost anything to happen, and 



boys were loath to gather up my gray knew that Cascade Bill had some "ax 



matter, and ship me in sections back to to grind" by that invitation. The old 



Washington. Of course I was amused, man eyed me cautiously, and noticed 



but concerned, not to sav interested, in I did not drink the coffee. 



