It was late in the day when he reached the forester's office. The forester seemed greatly surprised to see him.
"I came to talk to you about my work," explained Charley.
The forester frowned. "What is the telephone for?" he asked a bit brusquely.
"I didn't want to talk over my business before that man," protested Charley.
The forester looked at him sharply. "What business do you have excepting the business of the forest?" he asked.
"None," said Charley.
"Then surely you could discuss forest matters in the presence of a ranger."
"It may be that I am unreasonable," said Charley, "but I don't like that man. There's something about him that I don't trust."
The forester looked at Charley searchingly. "Sometimes," he said, "I almost feel that way myself. I realize that Lumley is mouthy and inquisitive and disagreeable personally, but he has been in the Forest Service a long time and it hardly seems right not to trust him. He's a pretty efficient ranger."
"Well, I'm here, anyway," continued Charley. "I came to find out what my first duties are to be and how to do them."