REVENGE IS SWEET

“And then, after that day on the Colorado was ended, after the agony of toil, the wrestling with death while our little boats withstood the shock of destiny itself, oh, then, the wonder and the peace of the night’s camp.  Rest!  Rest at last!”—­Enoch’s Diary.

January slipped swiftly by and February, with its alternate rain and snow came on.  The splendid mental and physical poise that Enoch had brought back with him from the Canyon stood him in good stead under the pressure of office business which never had been so heavy.  One morning, late in February, Cheney came to see the Secretary.

“Well, Mr. Cheney, have you made your discovery?” asked Enoch.

Cheney nodded slowly.  “But I didn’t make it until last night, Mr. Huntingdon.  I’ve followed up all sorts of leads that landed me nowhere.  Last night, a newspaper reporter came to my house.  He’s with the News now, but he used to be with Brown.  He came round to learn something about our men finding gold in the Grand Canyon.  He wanted the usual fool thing, an expression of opinion from me as Director.  As soon as he let slip that he’d been on the Brown papers, I began to question him and I found that he’d been fired because he’d refused to go out to Arizona and follow up your vacation trip.  But, he said, two weeks ago they started another fellow on the job.”

Enoch did not stir by so much as an eye wink.

“I thought you ought to know this, although, personally, it may be a matter of indifference to you.”

Enoch nodded.  “And what are your conclusions, Mr. Cheney?”

“That Brown is determined to discredit the Department of the Interior and you, until you are ousted and a man in sympathy with his Mexican policy is put in.”

“I agree with you, entirely.  And what are your plans?”

“I shall stick by my Bureau until we lick him.  I haven’t the slightest desire to desert my Chief.  When I thought it was I they were after, I felt differently.”

“Thanks, Mr. Cheney!  Will you give me the name of the reporter of whom you were speaking.”

“James C. Capp.  He’s not a bad chap, I think.”

Enoch nodded and Cheney took his departure.  There were several important conferences after this which Enoch cleared off rapidly and with his usual efficiency.  When, however, Jonas announced luncheon, Abbott asked for a little delay.

“Here is an interesting item from this morning’s Brown,” he said.  Enoch read the clipping carefully.

“The visitor to El Tovar, the rim hotel of the Grand Canyon receives some curious impressions of our governmental prerogatives.  Recently a government expedition down the Colorado was too well equipped with spirits and had some severe smash-ups.  Two of the men became disgusted and quit, but nothing daunted, Milton, the leader took on two fugitives from justice in Utah and proceeded on his way.  A week later, however, there was a complete smash-up both moral and material.  The boats were lost and the expedition disbanded.  The expensive equipment lies in the bottom of the Colorado.  So much for the efficiency and morale of the U. S. Geological Survey.”