we kept, or tried to keep, our decision a secret. However, there
existed at all times the possibility that Pennington might discover
our benevolent intentions and block us with his only weapon--a
restraining order issued by the judge of the United States District
Court.

"Now, one of the most delightful things I know about a court is that
it is open to all men seeking justice--or injustice disguised as
justice. Also there is a wise old saw to the effect that battles are
won by the fellow who gets there first with the most men. The
situation from the start was absurdly simple. If Pennington got to
the District Court first, we were lost!"

"You mean you got there first?" exclaimed Bryce.

"I did--by the very simple method of preparing to get there first in
case anything slipped. Something did slip--last night! However, I was
ready; so all I had to do was press the button, for as Omar Khayyam
remarked: 'What shall it avail a man if he buyeth a padlock for his
stable after his favourite stallion hath been lifted?' Several days
ago, my boy, I wrote a long letter to our attorney in San Francisco
explaining every detail of our predicament; the instant I received
that temporary franchise from the city council, I mailed a certified
copy of it to our attorney also. Then, in anticipation of our
discovery by Pennington, I instructed the attorney to prepare the
complaint and petition for a restraining order against Seth
Pennington et al. and stand by to rush the judge with it the instant
he heard from me!

"Well, about the time old Pennington started for San Francisco this