in their amended affidavits they not only told all they knew about the land frauds but also implicated you in the efforts to induce them to perjure themselves.
"Even the Mealey boys, who worked for you for years, came right in and stated under oath that they had cautioned the entrymen not to see the Government representatives until they had first consulted you, and they related all the facts with respect to their visits to your office and residence, where all hands were being coached as to their testimony.
"It is really a very serious matter, Kribs, for these men are now giving their evidence to the Grand Jury, and it will surely result in an indictment being returned against you, and heaven only knows how many counts they may be able to find—probably over one hundred, and conviction being certain, your years in prison may be measured with those of your natural existence.
"Just think of that, Fred., and ask yourself the question: What will your millionaire friends do for you then? What will Mitchell do? You, as a convicted criminal, will not be worthy of their consideration. Besides, Mitchell, with one-half, or more, of the State of Oregon back of him, together with his influential political friends elsewhere, is plenty able to take care of himself.
"One thing is certain; he will have no thought for you in your trouble. He had none for me, nor did anyone else. What better, might I ask, are you than I? Just wait until you are convicted, Kribs, and the same old cell will answer fcr us both! You may yet have time to save yourself—take advantage of it while you can '"
Kribs hesitated to reply. I questioned, indeed, that he could speak. His reputation was at stake, as was also those of his friends—and his beloved lands; what of them? They, too, might be lost to him. In this position he reminded me of a Polar bear I once heard about that was floating around in an Arctic sea on the back of a dead walrus. If he ate the walrus he would drown, and if he didn't he would starve to death.
His vast, ill-gotten domain, though, concentrated his thoughts to the exclusion of everything else. Of this he was evidently thinking, for when he addressed me again, it was to ask if there was any likelihood of the Government cancelling his claims.
"Claims, be d—d!" I retorted. "Forget it! I have tried to impress upon your mind the necessity of your first thought being of yourself. What for one claim, or a thousand, as against your freedom? As to the claims, the case at issue has nothing whatever to do with such trifles. I have no doubt, however, that Mr. Heney will ask the Government to cancel the patents to every one of those bogus entries, but that is a subject for future consideration, and when the proper time, comes, you will be afforded ample opportunity for defending the title of C. A. Smith to them. If you desire to speak personally to Mr. Heney about them, I will endeavor to arrange a meeting, but first of all, I would advise you to square yourself in the matter now pending."
"Do you think, Steve," he replied, "that I had better see Mr. Heney myself, or would it be best for you to speak to him first for me?"
"Go to him direct, I would suggest, but if you wish, I will do so first and pave the way. You know I stand ready to do anything in my power for you," I assured Kribs.
"Very well, then—you see him first. Find out, as near as you can, just how matters stand. Then let me know, and I will call upon him personally," was Kribs' parting suggestion.
Calling upon Mr. Heney at his room in the hotel, I informed him of my conversation with Kribs; how I had met him on the street, and his disposition when I first talked with him relative to turning informant, together with my advice as to what he should do, and finally, how Kribs had asked me to sound Heney with a view of reaching some amicable arrangement whereby Kribs might be permitted to come to headquarters and have a personal talk in regard to his case.
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