He knew that publicity was the last thing to be desired.

Thorpe's statement had been made in view of the fact that much of the business of a lumber firm is done on credit.

He thought that perhaps a rumor of a big suit going against the firm might weaken confidence.

As a matter of fact, this consideration had no weight whatever with the older man, although the threat of publicity actually gained for Thorpe what he demanded.

The lumberman feared the noise of an investigation solely and simply because his firm, like so many others, was engaged at the time in stealing government timber in the upper peninsula.