"Exactly. Your business connection with Mr. Foxy Hildan is well known, and does not in the least reflect to your credit. I don't know exactly how far Mr. Wilbur wishes to go in the case, but if I were you I wouldn't stir him up too much." Ulmer Balasco's jaw dropped, and now he actually leaned against the desk for support. "I--I haven't had anything to do with Hildan," he stammered weakly. "We can prove otherwise," put in Dale. "You and he are plotting to ruin Mr. Wilbur, but the scheme won't work, and the best thing you can do is to drop Foxy Hildan, and help finish that railroad contract on time." "Didn't I say I was doing all I could on the contract?" "And we know better." "Mr. Balasco, are you going to recognize my authority or not?" demanded Owen. "I'll give you ten minutes in which to make up your mind." "And if I refuse what will you do next?" "Telephone to Mr. Rice to bring up the sheriff." And as he spoke Owen stepped up to the telephone booth, which stood between the outer and the inner offices. "No! no! stop!" cried Ulmer Balasco. "Don't do that! I tell you there is some mistake." He breathed heavily. "Let me think it over. I'll give you my answer to-morrow." "No, sir, you'll give it to me now," came from Owen, and he made a move as if to enter the telephone booth. Rushing forward, Ulmer Balasco clutched him by the arm. "You must not do it--it's outrageous!" "Will you let me take charge of the work?" "You don't understand what is to be done." "Perhaps not. But Andy Westmore does, and I shall appoint him head yardmaster for the time being." "I can do the work right enough," came from Westmore. "Are you in league with Webb?" demanded the lumber dealer. "I'm willing to be, Mr. Balasco. And so are a lot of the other men." "This is a--er--a revolution!" "Oh, no; we only want to help fulfill that railroad contract," and a twinkle shone in the old lumberman's black eyes. "If you are all against me, I may as well resign at once," grumbled Ulmer Balasco, and Owen saw that the fight was fast oozing out of him. "But I must say, I didn't think Wilbur would play me such an underhanded trick." "It is no trick, Mr. Balasco. This trouble you brought on yourself. Then I am to take charge?" "What are you going to do?" "Order every stick of timber in the yards and up at the flume down to the river, and put all the men at work on the job. Then I'm going to get more fellers and sawyers at Portland, if they are to be had, and open up Yards 9 and 10, and have donkey No. 2 repaired." "You can't get men this time of the year, and that engine isn't worth fixing." "I can try for the men, and Bruce Howard says the donkey can be patched up with but little trouble--that the boiler is as good as new." "Is that boy in this scheme too? He ought to have his walking papers!" "He is a good workman, and shall stay. Now what do you say--is it peace or war? Remember what I said before: you had better not stir up Mr. Wilbur too much."