"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!" 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."
"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.
The Honorable William Moore hurried on. He breathed as one having put forth more strength than was required--breathed as he had breathed when the detachment of Mounted Police rode up to the small trading-post where he had barely succeeded in concealing his smuggled whiskey. He laughed a little, threw his cigar away and put his thumbs firmly together with fingers clasped--a familiar mannerism.
"See here, Danvers! This case mustn't go against Burroughs. Bob's a good fellow. He did what any one else would have done. He wasn't looking out for Joe Hall. He did all the head-work, and at the time Joe was satisfied with the price. Of course you know that Bob's going to run for United States Senator next winter. And he's not over popular in Montana; you know how it is, moneyed interest against labor (so the common herd think), and this case has made more talk than everything else put together that Bob ever did."