“That’s right, Tom,” Donovan agreed. “Oil was everywhere, so those dowsers, or ‘creekologists’ as they often were called, did very well until the search for oil moved west where deposits were scarcer and much deeper underground.
“Around 1913, geologists had to be called in to do the exploration. They’ve been responsible for finding practically all the fields discovered since then. But the creekologists didn’t give up easily. They built pseudo-scientific gadgets called doodlebugs and equipped them with lots of fancy dials and flashing lights. One doodlebug even had a phonograph in it. As it was carried across a field, a ghostly voice would be heard saying, ‘Your sainted Aunt Minnie bids me tell you to drill right here and you will bring in a second Spindletop.’”
“You can’t call me a crook!” Cavanaugh, his face scarlet with rage, lunged to his feet and advanced on his tormentor.
“I’m not calling you a crook—yet.” Donovan stood up too, knocked out his pipe and put it into his pants pocket. “If you would just stop making all of those wild-eyed claims for your detector, though, you would make out better out here.”
As Cavanaugh continued to advance he added mildly, “I suppose I ought to warn you that I studied judo when I was in college.”
“Excuse me for interrupting your fun, gentlemen,” a quiet voice broke in. “Is there anyone here named Quincy Taylor? An urgent telegram for him was just relayed down from Farmington.” Kenneth White, the Indian Agent, stood in the motel doorway holding a yellow envelope.
Nobody answered for a moment, but Cavanaugh took the opportunity to stomp out of the room while Donovan sat down quietly and started stoking his pipe.
“Hey, Quiz!” Sandy exploded at last. “Don’t you recognize your own name? It’s for you!”
His friend blushed with embarrassment as he accepted the wire, but his round face turned pale as he read it.
“Mr. Hall,” he choked at last. “It’s from Dad. He slipped and broke his leg in two places. I’m to come home immediately and run the restaurant while he’s laid up. Gee whiz!” He bit his lips to keep back the tears.