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" -ystem, 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 lor an\ wanted greatly, ID meet and talk to a 



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



even a filing (in order to keep his land IKT husband's letter-, acted in fact as 



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



it in the t"a-hioii stated above) , for fear could neither read nor write. The 



some person might "jump" hi- claim. ranger- 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 m . ;ir ],\ . and instructed them by means 



bars and striped suit-. o f ;i M-nal that would not be noticed by 



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



at the bar over his whi-ky. 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 i-sued from this timber | U as on hand next day on schedule 



"baron." and proceeded to "break" into time, and Mrs. I '.ill made a great fuss 



his ring. Three day- of terrifically over me. She fumed and -.puttered as 



hard work, and some good result- : Cas- most fat people do. over the dinner, 



cade Bill suddenly changed his tune. ] ju t finally we -at down to a very 



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



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



the hotel, and wa- 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 un til 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 



