Certain sections of our Southwest are saturated with oil and yet,
Abbott, the states resent our locating oil fields. As far as I know
now, no open hostility has been shown, unless"--Enoch interrupted
himself suddenly,--"do you recall last year that some Indians drove a
Survey group out of Apache Canyon and that young Rice was killed and
all his data lost?"
"Certainly, I recall it. I knew Rice."
Enoch nodded. "Do you recall that a number of newspapers took occasion
then to sneer at government attempts to usurp State and commercial
functions?"
"Now you speak of it, I do remember. The Brown papers were especially
nasty."
"Yes," agreed Enoch. "Now listen closely, Abbott. When my suspicions
had been sufficiently roused, I went to the Secretary of State, and he
laughed at me. Then, the Mexico trouble began to come to a head and I
told the President what I feared. This was after I'd had that letter
from Juan Cadiz. Last night, as you know, I had a session with Cadiz
and one of his bandit friends. Here is what I drew from them."
Enoch reviewed rapidly his conversation of the night before. Abbott
listened with snapping eyes.
"It looks as if Secretary Fowler would have to stop laughing," he said,
when Enoch had finished.
Pages:
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163