Page:The Millbank Case - 1905 - Eldridge.djvu/149

 Wing—but that's incidental. What is it I'm to do really?"

Again Henry Matthewson showed his superior masterfulness by deciding and acting.

"Mr. Wing had been for some time at work upon a matter that concerns materially the logging interests of this State. We simply know the fact, for he took no one into his confidence, and was so secretive as to keep the papers about him or in his private safe in his library. Without knowing what the papers contain, we believe if they should fall into the hand of a less scrupulous man than Mr. Wing, they might become dangerous—that is, a source of blackmail. We want to locate those papers, and if possible get possession of them."

"How far am I warranted in going in order to get hold of them?" he asked.

"Only to locate them and report to me. We will decide then on the safe course." It was Henry Matthewson who spoke, as always when prompt decision was demanded.

"If they had not already been removed," said Cranston, "Trafford and McManus have had a