"Report received. I hereby appoint you my representative at the camp and the office of the Wilbur-Balasco Company until my arrival. Show this to Balasco as your authority. That railroad contract must be pushed through. Will telegraph Rice, asking him to assist you if necessary. Total output must go to railroad. Stop work on flume. Keep Dale Bradford with you until I see him. Important. "JEFFERSON WILBUR." Owen read the telegram twice and allowed Dale to do the same over his shoulder. Then the friends looked at each other. "Here's a job for you, Owen. How do you like it?" "Oh, I guess I can pull through," was the grim answer. "But just imagine Ulmer Balasco's feeling when I tell him what's doing!" "Mr. Wilbur wants me to stay with you until he sees me, and says it is important. What can that mean?" "I don't know, I'm sure, unless it has something to do with that mining claim your father owned." Dale's face lit up, and then fell again. "Oh, I'm not going to raise any false hopes," he said. "Perhaps he wants to give us both steady positions here, and don't want me to go away merely because Balasco discharged me." Owen stretched himself, as if getting ready to heave on a big stick of timber. "I've got some work cut out for me, no doubt of that," he said. "I shouldn't wonder if I'd have something like a fight with Balasco." "If he says too much I'll take a hand and let him know what I overheard in the tool house." "Do you think it worth while to send that message we were going to?" "No, for it isn't likely Mr. Wilbur will get it. He may be on the train bound for here already." "I wish I could get word to Mr. Rice. He is a fine man and will probably help me all he can." "I'll tell you how we can do it. Walk over to the Dennison camp and telephone. There is a private wire." This was agreed to, and without the loss of a moment they hurried to the Dennison camp, a mile and a half away. Permission to use the wire was readily given, and Owen soon had the owner of the saw- and shingle-mill at the telephone. "Yes, I just got the telegram from Wilbur," said Philip Rice, in reply to Owen's question. "I'm glad he's alive to the fact that something is wrong." "Will you back me up, if I have trouble?" "Certainly I will. I'll help Wilbur every time. I'll be up at your office this afternoon at four o'clock sharp. And by the way: he sent word to me to have that Baptiste Ducrot arrested. I've telephoned to the sheriff of this county, so, if you need that officer up your way, all you've got to do is to let me know." "I don't know if I'll have to go as far as that," answered Owen, and then added: "Wait a minute. My friend Dale Bradford is with me. He heard some queer talk between Balasco and Foxy Hildan a couple of hours ago. Perhaps we'll have to have Hildan held."