The Rules of the Game
Page 96
XXXVIII
The two men found Baker seated behind his flat-top desk. He grinnedcheerfully at them; and, to Bob's surprise, greeted him with greatjoviality.
"All hail, great Chief!" he cried. "I've had my scalp nicelysmoke-tanned for you, so you won't have to bother taking it." He bowedto Orde. "I'm glad to see you, sir," said he. "Know you by your picture.Please be seated."
Bob brushed the levity aside.
"I've come," said he, "to get an explanation from you as to why, in thefirst place, you had me kidnapped; and why, in the second place, youtried to get me murdered."
Baker's mocking face became instantly grave; and, leaning forward, hehit the desk a thump with his right fist.
"Orde," said he, "I want you to believe me in this: I never was moresorry for anything in my life! I wouldn't have had that happen foranything in the world! If I'd had the remotest idea that Oldhamcontemplated something of that sort, I should have laid very positiveorders on him. He said he had something on you that would keep yourmouth shut, but I never dreamed he meant gun play."
"I don't suppose you dreamed he meant kidnapping either," observed Bob.
Baker threw himself back with a chuckle.
"Being kidnapped is fine for the health," said he. "Babies thrive on it.No," he continued, again leaning forward gravely, "Oldham got away fromhis instructions completely. Shooting or that kind of violence wasabsurd in such a case. You mustn't lay that to me, but to his personalgrudge."
"What do you know of a personal grudge?" Bob flashed back.
"Ab-so-lute-ly nothing; but I suspected. It's part of my job to be anifty young suspector--and to use what I guess at. He just got away fromme. As for the rest of it, that's part of the game. This is no croquetmatch; you must expect to get your head bumped if you play it. I playthe game."
"I play the game, too," returned Bob, "and I came here to tell you so.I'll take care of myself, but I want to say that the moment you offerany move against Welton, I shall bring in my testimony against both ofyou on this bribery matter."
"Sapient youth!" said Baker, amused; "did that aspect of it just get toyou? But you misinterpreted the spirit of my greeting when you came inthe room. In words of one syllable, you've got us licked. We lie downand roll over. We stick all four paws in the air. We bat our augustforehead against the floor. Is that clear?"
"Then you drop this prosecution against Welton?"
"Nary prosecution, as far as I am concerned."
"But the Modoc Land case----"
"Take back your lands," chaffed Baker dramatically. "Kind of bum lands,anyway. No use skirmishing after the battle is over. Your father wouldtell you that."
"Then you don't fight the suit?"
"That," said Baker, "is still a point for compromise. You've got us, I'mwilling to admit that. Also that you are a bright young man, and that Iunderestimated you. You've lifted my property, legally acquired, andyou've done it by outplaying my bluff. I still maintain the points ofthe law are with me--we won't get into that," he checked himself. "Butcriminal prosecution is a different matter. I don't intend to stand forthat a minute. Your gang don't slow-step me to any bastiles now listedin the prison records. Nothing doing that way. I'll fight her to afare-ye-well on that." His round face seemed to become square-set andgrim for an instant, but immediately reassumed its customary rathercareless good-nature. "No, we'll just call the whole business off."
"That is not for me to decide," said Bob.
"No; but you've got a lot to say about it--and I'll see to the littledetails; don't fret. By the way," mentioned Baker, "just as a matter ofordinary curiosity, _did_ Oldham have anything on you, or was he just astrong-arm artist?" He threw back his head and laughed aloud at Bob'sface. At the thought of Pollock the young man could not prevent amomentary expression of relief from crossing his countenance. "There's atail-holt on all of us," Baker observed.
He flipped open a desk drawer and produced a box of expensive-lookingcigars which he offered to his visitors. Orde lit one; but Bob, eyeingthe power-man coldly, refused. Baker laughed.
"You'll get over it," he observed--"youth, I mean. Don't mix yourbusiness and your personal affairs. That came right out of the copybook, page one, but it's true. I'm the one that ought to feel sore,seems to me." He lit his own cigar, and puffed at it, swinging his bulkyform to the edge of the desk. "Look here," said he, shaking the butt atthe younger man. "You're making a great mistake. The future of thiscountry is with water, and don't you forget it. Fuel is scarce; waterpower is the coming force. The country can produce like a garden underirrigation; and it's only been scratched yet, and that just about thebig cities. We are getting control; and the future of the state is withus. You're wasting yourself in all this toy work. You've got too muchability to squander it in that sort of thing. Oldham made you an offerfrom us, didn't he?"
"He tried to bribe me, if that's what you mean," said Bob.
"Well, have it your way; but you'll admit there's hardly much use ofbribing you now. I repeat the offer. Come in with us on those terms."
"Why?" demanded Bob.
"Well," said Baker quaintly, "because you seem to have licked me fairand square; and I never want a man who can lick me to remain where he islikely to do so."
At this point Orde, who had up to now remained quietly a spectator,spoke up.
"Bob," said he, "is already fairly intimately connected with certaininterests, which, while not so large as water power, are enough to keephim busy."
Baker turned to him joyously.
"List' to the voice of reason!" he cried. "I'm sorry he won't come withus; but the next best thing is to put him where he won't fight us. Ididn't know he was going back to your timber--"
Bob opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again at a gesture from hisfather.
Baker glanced at the clock.
"Well," he remarked cheerfully, "come over to the Club with me to lunch,anyway."
Bob stared at him incredulously. Here was the man who had employedagainst him every expedient from blackmail to physical violence; who hadbut that instant been worsted in a bald attempt at larceny,nevertheless, cheerfully inviting him out to lunch as though nothing hadhappened! Furthermore, his father, against whose ambitions one of thedeadliest blows had been aimed, was quietly reaching for his hat. Bakerlooked up and caught Bob's expression.
"Come, come!" said he; "forget it! You and I speak the language of thesame tribe, and you can't get away from it. I'm playing my game, you'replaying yours. Of course, we want to win. But what's the use of cuttingout lots of bully good people on that account?"
"You don't stick to the rules," insisted Bob stoutly.
"I think I do," said Baker. "Who's to decide? You believe one way, Ibelieve another. I know what you think of my methods in business; andI'd hate to say what I think of you as the blue ribbon damn fool inthat respect. But I like you, and I'm willing to admit you've got stuffin you; and I know damn well you and your father and I can have a fineyoung lunch talking duck-shooting and football. And with all my faultsyou love me still, and you know you do." He smiled winningly, and hookedhis arm through Bob's on one side and his father's on the other. "Comeon, you old deacon; play the game!" he cried.
Bob laughed, and gave in.