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"Well , we 're going to try to handle it legally . Fact is , I'm even going to call the cops . "

He punched out a combination on the communication screen . It lighted and opened a window into the constabulary post . The sergeant who looked out of it recognized him and grinned .

"Hi, Jack . How's the family ? " he asked . " I'm coming up , one of these evenings , to see them . "

"You can see some now . " Ko -Ko and Goldilocks and Cinderella were coming out of the hall from the bedroom ; he gathered them up and put them on the table . The sergeant was fascinated . Then he must have noticed that both Jack and Gerd were wearing their guns in the house . His eyes narrowed slightly .

"You got problems , Jack ? " he asked .

"Little ones ; they may grow, though . I have some guests here who have outstayed their welcome . For the record , better make it that I have squatters I want evicted . If there were a couple of blue uniforms around , maybe it might save me the price of a few cartridges . "

"I read you. George was mentioning that you might regret inviting that gang to camp on you . " He picked up a hand- phone. "Calderon to Car Three, " he said . "Do you read me , Three ? Well , Jack Holloway's got a little squatter trouble . Yeah ; that's it . He's ordering them off his grant , and he thinks they might try to give him an argument . Yeah , sure , Peace- Lovin ' Jack Holloway , that's him . Well , go chase his squatters for him , and if they give you anything about being Company big wheels , we don't care what kind of wheels they are , just so's they start rolling . " He replaced the phone . “ Look for them in about an hour, Jack ."

"Why, thanks , Phil . Drop in some evening when you can hang up your gun and stay awhile . "

He blanked the screen and began punching again . This time he got a girl, and then the Company construction boss at Red Hill . "Oh , hello , Jack ; is Dr. Kellogg comfortable ?"

"Not very . He's moving out this afternoon . I wish you'd have your gang come up with those scows and get that stuff out of my back yard . "

"Well , he told us he was staying for a couple of weeks . "

"He got his mind changed for him . He's to be off my land by sunset ."

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