“I’d say he did,” the man answered fiercely.
“Why didn’t you report him to the ranger?” Scott asked.
“Lot of good that would do and he knew it,” the man growled.
Scott was perplexed. He did not like to listen to the slander of his service and yet if it was true it ought to be investigated. He wisely decided to end the discussion now and investigate it later.
“Well, Mr. Simpson,” he said with dignity, “possibly this has been done in the past, and possibly that is the reason that the man was fired. I don’t know anything about it and I did not come here to hear the service accused of graft. I came to find out how many head of stock you wanted on free use permit and I am not used to being accused of graft. If you do not want a permit, say so.”
Simpson eyed him for a moment in silence and then said briefly, “Put me down for the limit.”
“Any extras?” Scott asked as he made out the permit.
“Thought the ranger took care of that.” Simpson objected suspiciously.
“So he does,” Scott replied, “but I am supposed to report where there are any.”
“All right,” Simpson said, “tell him I’ll have a hundred.”