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that he had been misinformed, and the patents were signed."

This report came like an infernal machine into the Land Office, and as such it was handled—with care. Richards and Macey saw it but they didn't say anything; they copied it, passed it on to Hermann, and waited. Hermann didn't say anything either; he waited, and when his enemies saw him file the report they knew they had him. Richards and Macey told Van Devanter about it and he told the Secretary.

As the insiders relate, Mr. Hitchcock "went right up in the air." Indignant, enraged, the Secretary was for sending at 496