A dangerous look--a look that made Wild Cat Bill remember the night of the dance at the trading-post--warned the Honorable William to drop personalities. The one fact that made the position of his sister tolerable to Danvers was the knowledge that Burroughs took pride in his wife and child and lavished his wealth upon them. "And you and the doctor still cling to Fort Benton!" The next remark of the caller was spoken with commiseration. "Is the doctor still preaching its future?" Danvers winced at what seemed a thrust at an old friend. "My cattle make it necessary for me to ship from Fort Benton and--I like the place," he acknowledged without apology. "And Joe Hall--you recall Toe String Joe?" There was ample reason why Philip Danvers should remember the disloyal trooper, dishonorably discharged. "Queer idea of Joe's to enlist in the first place," continued Moore. "He made a much better miner. You're following his case in court, I suppose?" A subtle change in expression made the cattleman aware that all his visitor's remarks had been preliminary to this one. It was, then, the famous case of Hall vs. Burroughs that for some reason Bill Moore thought worth a trip from Helena to discuss. "Burroughs can't afford to lose that case," declared Moore. "He'll lose it if Joe has fair play!" cried Danvers. Philip felt no love for the recruit of early days, but his sense of justice asserted itself when he recalled the years that Burroughs had made a tool of Toe String Joe at Fort Macleod, and later robbed him of his mining claim at Helena. Burroughs had grub-staked him and secured a half interest. At a time when Joe was down sick, and hard pressed with debts, Burroughs rushed a sale with Eastern capitalists and forced Joe Hall to relinquish the claim for $25,000. When Joe discovered that it had brought $125,000, and that Burroughs had pocketed the difference, he went to law and won his suit. Burroughs had appealed, and now the case was before the Supreme Court. "There are politics in the Supreme Court as well as elsewhere," ventured Moore, with a meaning look. "It is usually thought otherwise, I believe." "I don't know what's usually thought. I know it's a fact." "Perhaps corruption can be found----" "Perhaps!" sneered the caller. "I tell you politics is a matter of a-gittin' plenty while you're gittin'." "I was not speaking of politics, but of corruption." "What's the difference?" cynically. "Now, I say that Judge Latimer can be influenced." "Indeed!" "I'm thinking that it would be safe to approach him in this case of Bob's." "Are you going to try it?" Danvers' tone continued impersonal.