"Why, we can't do that," protested Hal warmly. "Why let it drop?"
"Well, son, here's the situation. We got a bill before Congress, ain't we? To make good our title if it ain't good already. Well, we're a menace to the Trust. They may queer our bill, but if they do, they got to prove the lands are Government lands, and that shuts them out, except for a lease from the Injins, and that we can make cost 'em a pretty penny, maybe we can queer it altogether. If everything is quiet in Washington our bill has a good chance, because we can make terms with the Trust to let it go through by agreein' to sell them our rights if it does go through. We are bound to git something! How much we can make 'em pay depends on how close we stick together. Now, if we put up a fight against Ladd in Washington, Ladd is the Trust's agent, they're goin' to stand behind him, and we've got a big fight on our hands, and if we get to screamin' at each other in Washington, why, every newsboy in America'll know all about it."
"Suppose he does?" asked the preacher, deeply interested.
"Well, the present Secretary of the Interior has intimated that he might on investigation insist on these lands being held for the benefit of the general public. The 'general public'! What do you think of that? Did you ever hear anything so funny in your life?"
"Why, that doesn't strike me as funny, McShay," said the preacher. "That seems to be a very just and splendid solution of the difficulty."
"And where would we come in?" yelled the Irishman.
"You're part of the general public."
"Hah!" he snorted, then turning to Hal; "ain't parsons the limit?"
"I know Secretary Walker slightly," added McCloud. "He strikes me as a strong man."
"I'll tell you how strong he is," bellowed McShay. now thoroughly aroused. "He can't hold his job. That's how much the 'general public' amounts to. He don't please anybody. He's got to resign."