"The Prairie Highlands outfit—Senator Fairclothe is its president. Do you run up there?"
"No. It's bad enough to get up to what they call the Colony; never been there myself," said the stranger, "but you're beyond that. We don't go there ourselves."
"How far up do you go?"
"To what's on the maps as the Colony. Get there at about noon."
"My land is Sections 16 and 17."
"That prairie tract is beyond the headwaters. Do you know this country—anything about the people, and so on?"
"All I know is that I've got some money invested in some land up the river and I'm going up to have a look at it."
The stranger had made up his mind. He looked round to make sure he was not observed or overheard.
"There's a little cabin on the foredeck of the Cormorant," he said.
"It isn't used nowadays. Nobody on board. Move fast."
He wheeled and was gone.