“Oh, that’s too bad!” exclaimed Henry. “I didn’t realize—”
“Mr. Gonyer wanted him to ship them out on the stage,” said Pelly, “but he decided to handle them himself.”
“Quite a collection, I suppose,” said Henry.
“Two large boxes,” said Pelly. “At least five hundred pounds of fossil-bearing rocks. And his trunk and valises, too.”
“They might be recovered,” suggested Henry. “Lobo Canyon is a difficult place to get in and out, but perhaps we can—”
“I must get to Scorpion Bend,” interrupted Pelly. “My paper must be published. I almost forgot about it.”
“Not a bad idea,” said Judge soberly. “I’m sure that the public would thoroughly admire your negligence.”
Although Pelly was not in physical shape to flare-up—he made an attempt. He turned on Henry and declared, “I am announcing your resignation, Conroy.”
“My goodness! But what if I do not resign, sir?”
“You will—or get fired. By resigning you escape the stigma of being ousted bodily. I have it on such good authority that I have the story all written. And after what happened tonight—”