He sat lost in thought for some minutes, his watch still held in the palm of his hand. He was thinking of the immediate rather than of the significance of his friend's discovery. His cheerful face was grave. He was calculating chances with all the care of a clear-thinking, experienced brain.
John Kars was thinking too. But the direction which absorbed him was quite different. He was regarding his discovery in connection with Fort Mowbray.
At last he stirred restlessly.
"I can't get it right!" he exclaimed. "I just can't."
"How's that?"
Bill's plans were complete. For a day or so he knew that his would be the responsibility. Kars would have to take things easy.
"What can't you get right?" he added.
"Why, the whole darn play of it. That strike has been worked years, I'd say. We've trailed this country with eyes and ears mighty wide. Guess we haven't run into a thing about Bell River but what's darn unpleasant. Years that's been waiting. Shrieking for us to get around and help ourselves. Gee, I want to kick something."
Bill regarded his friend with serious eyes.
"You're going to butt in? You're going to play a hand in that—game?"