"I think you would facilitate matters, Mr. Ladd," added the preacher, "if you instructed your man to comply with Mr. Calthorpe's request."
"Please don't make him," begged Wah-na-gi timidly.
"Come on, little man," said Hal coaxingly.
"Oh, well, apologize, Cadger, and get it over with. We're wasting time." And Ladd walked away. Hal applied a sharp squeeze to the back of the trader's neck, just under the ears, and he squirmed with pain.
"Oh, hell, I apologize," he blithered.
"She accepts your apology," said Hal graciously, and every one except Cadger breathed a sigh of relief. That was a closed incident.
"Now sit down here where I can see you," and he tossed him lightly on a bale of goods that was leaning against the steps waiting to be unpacked, and he brushed his hands as if they had been soiled. "Now I feel more comfortable in my mind"—and added to himself—"and in my back."
"Now see here, Calthorpe," said Ladd, coming down swiftly and gripping the situation with at least the show of authority. "What do you mean by this? Didn't you tell me these lands were on the Reservation?"
"I did not!"
The issue was joined. For a moment the agent's mind refused to face the situation. His jaw dropped and he looked at the other blankly.