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H. Burke, of Colorado, then acting as Inspector of United States Surveyor-Generals and District Land Offices, had been sent out by Commissioner Hermann for the purpose of investigating- my charges ' against the officials of the Marysville Land Office, and was desirous of consulting me upon the subject. A meeting was arranged accordingly for the next morning, and the first remark Inspector Burke made to me after our formal introduction was:

"Just see what you have gone and done, Mr. Stevens,—you are going" to make me lose my Christmas turkey!" and his face assumed a look of woe that was sad to contemplate.

He had figured on reaching Denver on Christmas day, and had allotted his limited time in accordance with this idea when unexpectedly called on by his superior officer to attend to a pressing official duty. Page 429