He saw the plane on three more occasions as he placed snowstorms accurately over hapless Burden Bay and its presence began to worry him. But the pilot gave no indication that he knew what Wiley was up to and the discreet young public relations counsellor decided not to mention it to the men who were backing his scheme.
As a result of this step and of his own pre-occupation with promoting the balmy atmosphere of Wheedonville by the Sea, he was really caught off-guard when disaster finally struck. As fall merged into winter the reservations totals for Wheedonville hotels fell off far more sharply than it should have—especially with Burden Bay out of the picture.
It was the President of the Chamber of Commerce who broke the news to Wiley Cordes, after summoning him to his office in early December. There he simply tossed a telegram at his high powered promoter. No words were needed to explain his mood—it was evident enough from the jut of his beetling gray brows and the bayonet-angle of his Corona Corona.
"Read this," he said laconically. "Read it and pack."
Startled, Wiley complied, felt himself go gray and sick and shaky as he scanned the contents of the wire.
It read:
TO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHEEDONVILLE BY THE SEA THANK YOU STOP ESPECIAL THANKS TO WILEY CORDES FOR TRIPLING OUR OFF-SEASON RESORT TRADE STOP HIS SNOWMAKING FLIGHTS NO LONGER NEEDED STOP WE HAVE ADOPTED IDEA OURSELVES STOP ONCE AGAIN THANKS FROM THE ONLY SKI RESORT ON THE COAST STOP COME AND TRY OUR NEW RUNS AT OUR EXPENSE AS SMALL RETURN FOR YOUR FAVOR STOP BURDEN BAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.