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[Illustration: "UNDER THE HAT BRIM DRAWN FORWARD TO HIS LINE OFVISION HIS EYES . .. GAZED FORTH KEEN AND OBSERVANT"]

THE IRONFURROW

BY GEORGE C. SHEDD

FRONTISPIECE BYHENRY A. BOTKIN

A. L. BURT COMPANYPublishers New York

Published by arrangement with Doubleday, Page & Company

COPYRIGHT, 1919, 1920, BYDOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANYALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THAT OFTRANSLATION INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING THE SCANDINAVIAN

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATESATTHE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y. 

THE IRON FURROW

THE IRON FURROW

CHAPTER I

The Ventisquero Range stretches across the circumference of one'svision in a procession of mountains that come tall and blue out of thedistant north and seemingly march past to vanish in the remote southlike azure phantoms. The mountains wall the horizon and dominate themesa, their black forest-clad flanks crumpled and broken and gashed bycañons, lifting above timber-line peaks of bare brown rock that piercethe clouds floating along the range. At sunrise they cast immenseshadows upon the mesa spreading westward from their base; and atsunset they reflect golden and purple glows upon the plain until theearth appears swimming in some iridescent sea of ether; while overthem from dawn till dusk, traversed by a few fleecy clouds, lies theturquoise sky of New Mexico. 

At a certain point in the range a small cañon opens upon the mesa witha gush of gravel and sand that flows a short way into the sagebrushand forms a creek bed. Tucked back in the little cañon there is aconsiderable growth of bushes and trees, cool and fresh-looking in theshadow of the gorge during the summer season, a splash of vivid greenthere at the bottom of the dusty gray mountain, but at the cañon'smouth this verdure ceases. 

Only an insignificant stream of water ran, one day, in the stony creekbed that meandered out upon the mesa, and it appeared under the hotJuly sun and among the hot stones for all the world like a rivulet ofliquid glass. That was all the mesa had to show, only its endless graysagebrush and the creek bed almost dry--unless one should reckon thethree parched cottonwood trees beside the stream, a little way downfrom the cañon, and the flat-roofed adobe house near by, and the emptycorral behind built of aspen poles. In that immensity of mountain andmesa the house looked like a brick of sun-baked mud, the corral like achild's device of straws, the three cottonwoods like three twigs stuckin the earth. Or, at any rate, that is how they appeared to a horsemanregarding them from the main mesa trail a mile away. 

The rider, a slender tanned young fellow of about twenty-eight, sat inthe saddle with the relaxed ease of habit which allowed his body toaccommodate itself to the steady jogging trot of his horse. A rollcomprising clothes wrapped in a black rubber coat was tied behind thecantle. His Stetson hat was tilted up at the rear and down in frontalmost on his nose--a thin, bony nose, slightly curved and with thesuggestion of a hook in the tip, just the sort of nose to accord withhis lean, sunburnt cheeks and clean-cut chin and straight-lippedmouth. Under the hat brim drawn forward to his line of vision hiseyes, notwithstanding his air of lounging indolence, gazed forth keenand observant. He had the appearance of a man who might be seeking afew stray cattle, or riding to town for mail, and in no particularhurry about it, either, this hot afternoon; but, for all that, LeeBryant was proceeding on important business--important for him, anyhow. When everything one possesses is about to be risked on aventure, the matter is naturally vital; and at this moment he wasmoving straight to the initiative of his enterprise. 

Where the road crossed the creek bed to continue northward, a trailbranched off and followed up the stream to the little ranch house bythe three cottonwood trees. Here the creek had not yet begun to cut anarroyo and had washed merely a course five or six feet deep and somefifty feet wide through the mesa, so that from a distance the shallowgash was invisible and the ground appeared unbroken. It was because ofthe flat character of the mesa, too, that Bryant on reaching the bankof the stream was able to see on the opposite side two persons aquarter of a mile off riding toward him; women, he perceived. Farnorth of them on the road, a black spot in a haze of dust, seeminglymotionless but as one could guess advancing rapidly, was anautomobile. 

Bryant rode his horse down into the creek bed and turned him aside toa small pool on the upper side of the crossing, under the cut-bank, where the horse thrust his muzzle into the water and drank greedily. The rider swung himself out of the saddle, knelt a pace beyond, wherethe rivulet trickled into the pool, and also drank. 

"Wet anyway, even if warm, eh, Dick?" he remarked, when done. "Don'tdrink it all, old scout; leave a swallow for the ladies. " Still on hisknees he looked appraisingly down the creek and then up it, and addedderisively, "Some stream, this Perro, some stream!"

After rolling and lighting a cigarette, he meditated for a time inthe same kneeling position. His horse finished drinking and moved astep nearer his master, where he stood with head lowered, waterdripping from his lip, body inert. But presently he pricked his earsand turning his head toward the other bank gave a low whinny. Bryantgot to his feet. 

The two women he had beheld at a distance had now reached the ford. Their ponies snuffing water immediately dipped into the creek bed andcrossed its sandy bottom with quickened steps. Young women the riderswere, scarcely more than girls, it seemed to Bryant; wearing dividedkhaki skirts and white shirt waists and wide-brimmed straw hats tiedwith thongs under their chins. In this region where white men werenone too numerous, and women of their own kind scarcer yet, and girlsscarcest of all, the presence here of the pair aroused in the youngfellow a lively interest. 

He led Dick aside that their ponies might approach the pool. 

"Thank you; they are very thirsty, " said the nearer girl, with a nod. The ponies plunged forefeet into the water and stood thus with nosesburied, drinking with eager gulps. "The afternoon is so hot and theroad so dusty, " the speaker continued, "that the poor things werealmost choked. "

She was the smaller of the pair, of medium height and having agraceful, well-molded figure, with frank gray eyes, a nose showing afew freckles, smooth soft cheeks slightly reddened by sun, and anexpressive mouth. Bryant judged that she had small, firm hands, butcould not see them as she wore gauntlets. He further decided that shewas neither plain nor pretty: just average good-looking, one mightsay. An air of friendliness was in her favour, though what might ormight not be a prepossessing trait, depending on circumstances, wasthe suggested obstinacy in her round chin. 

"Don't you yourselves wish a drink? You must be thirsty, too, " Bryantaddressed the young ladies. "If your ponies won't stand, I'll lookafter them. "

"Oh, they'll not run off, unless we forget to let the reins hang, ashas happened once or twice, " said the girl who previously had spoken. "For they're regular cow-ponies. At first we had a hard timeremembering just to drop the lines when we dismounted instead of tyingthem to a post somewhere; and for a while we had a feeling that theycertainly would gallop off if we did let the reins hang, as we'd beeninstructed. But they never did. " She turned to her companion. "Imo, aren't you thirsty? I'm going to get down and have a drink. " Withwhich she swung herself down from her saddle upon the sand. 

The second girl was tall and thin, lacking both the spirits andstamina of the other; a crown of fluffy golden hair was hinted by thelittle of it the young fellow could see under the brim of her big hat;her eyes were of a soft blue colour, probably weak; while her face, the skin of which was exceedingly white with but a tinge of the sun'sfiery burn, was regular of feature and delicately formed. 

She walked to the rill languidly, where stooping she drank from herpalm. Most of the water that she dipped escaped before reaching herlips; and Bryant doubted if she were really successful in quenchingher thirst. The heat, the dust, and the ride appeared to have beenalmost too much for her strength, exhausting her slender store ofvitality. The other girl, who had coiled herself down by thetrickling stream and bent forward resting her hands in the water, drank directly from the rivulet. 

"There, that's the way to do it, Imo, " she declared, when she hadstraightened up, hat-brim, nose, chin, all dripping. "Like the ponies!I hope I haven't lost my handkerchief. " And she began to search abouther waist. 

"I'd fall flat in the water if I tried it, as sure as the world, " thetaller girl responded. 

They rose to their feet and joined Bryant. 

"You're the young ladies who are homesteading just south of here, aren't you?" he inquired, politely. 

"Yes, two miles south on Sarita Creek, " the smaller answered. Thenafter an appraising regard of him she continued, "We took our claimsonly last April. And they're not very good claims, either, we'rebeginning to fear; the creek goes dry about this time. That's why noone had filed on the locations before. Have you a ranch somewherenear?"

"No. That is, not yet. I'm a civil engineer, but I'm thinking stronglyof settling down here. If I do, we shall be neighbours. My name is LeeBryant; this is my horse Dick; and I've a dog called Mike, whichstopped aways back on the road to investigate a prairie dog hole. Nowyou know who we are, " he concluded, with a smile. 

The girl thereupon told him her name was Ruth Gardner and that of hercompanion Imogene Martin. 

"We'll be very glad to have you call at our little ranch when you'reriding by, " Ruth Gardner said, graciously. "Aside from Imogene's uncleand aunt, who live in Kennard and who've come to see us severaltimes, we've not had a single visitor in the three months and a halfwe've been there, except once an old Mexican who was herding sheepnear by and came to ask for matches. Of course, not many people knowwe're there, I imagine. From the road one can't see our cabins--we hadto have two, you know, one for each claim, and they sit side byside--because they're in the mouth of the cañon among the trees. It'sreally cool and pleasant there during the heat of the day. Any timeyou come, you'll be welcome. "

"Yes, Mr. Bryant, " Imogene Martin affirmed. "A man now and then in thescenery will help out wonderfully. "

"I'll stop the first time I'm passing, " he stated. 

Lee Bryant understood the significance of the invitation: they werestarved for company and would be grateful for the society of a personthey believed respectable. He had seen a good deal of homesteadingconditions in the West; he knew the hardships involved in "holdingdown" claims, of which the dreary monotony and loneliness of the lifewere not the least. One earned ten times over every bit one got of afree government homestead. For men it was bad enough; but for woman, for girls like these, who had probably come from the East in trustfulignorance and with rosy visions, the homestead venture impressed himnot only as pitiful but as tragic. 

"I'll certainly ride down to see you, " he assured them again. 

"And perhaps, being an engineer, you'll show us why the water doesn'trun downhill in our bean patch, as it ought to do, " Imogene Martinremarked. 

Bryant laughed and nodded agreement. 

"You'll find that it's your eyes, and not the water, that have beenplaying tricks, " he said. "Ground levels and ditch grades aredeceiving things close to the mountains, because the latter tilt one'snatural line of vision. That's why water seems to run uphill when youlook toward the range. I'll soon fix your ditch line when I set aninstrument in your bean patch and sight through it once or twice. Thewater will behave after that, I promise you. "

They continued to chat of this and of the failing of Sarita Creek, until the automobile that Bryant had earlier sighted shot into view onthe northern bank of the creek, whence at decreased speed it descendedinto the bottom and ground its way across through sand and gravel. Driving the hooded car was a man of about thirty years, of slim figureand with a pale olive skin that betrayed an admixture of American andMexican blood. Beside him in the front seat sat a girl whose clearpink complexion made plain that in her was no mingling of races; herhat held by a streaming blue veil and her form incased in a silk dustcoat. The tonneau was occupied by two men: one an American with a vandyke beard sprinkled with gray, the other a short, stout, swarthyMexican, whose sweeping white moustache was in marked contrast to hiscoffee-coloured face. 

The car, with radiator steaming and hissing, was stopped at a spotclose to where Lee Bryant and his companions stood. The young man atthe wheel, unlatching the door, stepped out. 

"I'll bet the stop-cock of the radiator is open, " he addressed thegirl with the blue veil, "or the engine wouldn't be so hot. " Aftermaking an examination of the faucet, he returned to the door andprocured a folding canvas bucket, saying, "That's the trouble, and theradiator is empty. "

But the young lady scarcely heeded him. She had loosened the blue veilknotted at her throat and pushed it back from her cheeks to free themto the air; she sat regarding with interested eyes the group of threestanding a few paces off by the horses. In her gaze, too, there was afaint curiosity, as if she wondered who the persons might be, and whatthey were doing here, and of what they had been conversing wheninterrupted. An exceedingly lovely girl she was, as the engineer hadinstantly perceived; her features molded in soft lines and curves thatenchanted, a tint like that of peach petals in her cheeks, with warm, sensitive lips and brown, shining eyes--a radiant, intelligent face. Against the background of the place, the creek bed of sand and stonesand the banks fringed with dusty sagebrush, she glowed with thefreshness of a desert rose. 

The driver of the car took a step toward Bryant, extending the bucket. 

"Dip me some water out of that hole while I look at my tires, willyou?" he said. 

At the words, which were rather more of a command than a request, theengineer regarded him fixedly while the blood stirred beneath his tan, but finally took the bucket. The other turned back to the car, wherehe made a pretense of inspecting a front wheel and then, with a footon the running-board and elbow resting on knee, twisting indolently apoint of his small moustache, he began to converse with his companionof the blue veil. 

Bryant filled the radiator. Two trips to the pool were necessary toobtain enough water for that purpose, but he finished the job with thesame thoroughness that he went through with any business onceundertaken, whether pleasant or otherwise. As he poured the contentsof the bucket into the radiator's spout, he took stock of theautomobile party. His face hardened with a slight contempt when heconsidered the effeminate-appearing young Mexican who had bade himbring water and the girl talking with him; which she must have noticedand taken to herself, for when their eyes met he saw that a flush dyedher cheeks and that she bit her lip nervously. 

He snapped the radiator cap shut. At the click the man stoppedfingering his moustache, ended his talk, mounted to his seat, andstarted the engine. Bryant handed him the bucket, folded flat again, which the recipient tossed down by his feet. 

"Here, my man, " said the olive-skinned young fellow at the wheel, witha forefinger and thumb searching a waistcoat pocket as the car beganslowly to move forward. 

He tossed a quarter to the engineer. Bryant instinctively caught it, as one catches any suddenly thrown object. For an instant he remainedtransfixed, incredulous, astounded, then the blood flamed in his faceand he cast the coin back at its donor. 

"No Mexican can throw money to me!" he exclaimed. 

For answer he received an angry look and snarled word from the driver. Beyond the man Bryant beheld the startled, embarrassed, and yetinterested face of the girl with the veil, her lips a little parted, her eyes intent on him. Then the car lurched out of the sand, splashedthrough the rivulet, ascended the inclined roadway of the creek bank, and sped from view. 

The sudden spark of antagonism flashing between the engineer and theyoung Mexican made the two girls by the ponies acutely aware that thehorseman after all was a stranger, a man of whom they knew nothing, anunknown quantity. And so the two exchanged a glance and drew on theirgauntlets and said they must be riding home. Thereupon Bryant assistedthem to mount. 

As he separated from them to follow the trail up the creek to theranch house by the three cottonwoods, Ruth Gardner called to him notto forget his promised visit to their cabins. He assured them heshould remember. When the girls were some distance off, they wavedacross the sagebrush at him and he swung his hat in reply. Off thenthe pair went at a gallop, with the automobile on the road far southof them leaving a hazy streamer of dust above the earth; the ridersgoing farther and farther away, becoming smaller and smaller on themesa, until at last they were but bobbing specks in the goldensunshine. 

CHAPTER II

As Lee Bryant reined his horse to a stop before the small ranch house, a man seated on a stool just within the open doorway rose and came outto join him. He was a man of thin, stooped body; his sandy hairstreaked with gray formed a fringe about his bald crown; and on hislined, sunburnt face there rested a shadow of worry that appeared tobe habitual. Bryant dismounted and shook hands with the ranchman. 

"Well, how are you making it, Mr. Stevenson?" he greeted. "As Ipromised if I should be riding by this way again, I've stopped to say'howdy. ' Doesn't seem a month has passed since I stayed over nightwith you? How's Mrs. Stevenson? Hope you're both well. "

"Just feeling fair, just fair. Glad you stopped, Bryant, " was theanswer. "My wife was wondering only the other day what had become ofyou. Bring your horse around to the corral. "

They went behind the house, where the young man removed saddle andbridle from Dick and turned him into the enclosure. Stevenson gatheredan armful of hay from a small heap near by and tossed it over thefence to the horse, which began to eat eagerly. Lee glanced about, gave a sharp whistle; from the trail by the creek a bark answered him. Then an Airedale came racing through the sagebrush, now and againleaping high to gain a view of his master and finally breaking outupon the clear ground about the ranch house. 

"Mike, you're too inquisitive about other animals' dwellings, " Leeaddressed him as he arrived, wet from an immersion in the creek andpanting from his run. "Some day a rattler in a hole you're digginginto will nip you on the nose and you'll wish you'd been more polite. Come along now and be good. "

He walked with Stevenson back to the house, where leaving the dog todrop in the shade outside they entered. The interior was cool and dimafter the hot, glaring sunshine; and Bryant, having greeted Mrs. Stevenson, sat down gratefully in a rocking-chair, glad to availhimself of the room's comfort. Crude as an adobe house is both inappearance and in construction, it is admirably adapted to the climateof the arid Southwest; its flat dirt roof and thick walls built ofsun-baked mud bricks, plastered within and smoothly surfaced without, defying alike the heat of midsummer and the icy blasts of winter andlasting in that dry clime half a century. This ranch house of theStevensons', originally built by some Mexican, as Bryant judged, hadbeen standing twenty-five or thirty years and was still tight andstaunch. 

"Your creek's pretty dry, I see, " the young fellow remarkedafteratime, when they had exchanged news. 

"By August there won't be any water in it at all, " Stevenson said, "except a little that always runs in the cañon. I'll have to haul itfrom there then. You see now why I can't keep stock here. "

His wife stopped the needle with which she mended an apron while theytalked, and looked out of a window. On her face was the same tired, anxious expression that marked her husband's countenance. 

"I've barely kept our garden alive, " she said, "but it won't be formuch longer. "

"That's too bad, Mrs. Stevenson, " Lee Bryant replied. "However, onecan't do anything without water. Still, your sheep are doing well, Isuppose; the grass is good on the mountains this summer. "

An answer was not immediately forthcoming from the rancher; he satstaring absently at the backs of his roughened hands, now and againrubbing one or the other, and enveloped in a gloom that Bryant couldboth see and feel. Then all at once Stevenson began to talk, in avoice querulous and morose. 

"We're going to quit here, sell the sheep, and go back East. I wasswindled when I bought this ranch, and I want to get away before Ilose my last cent. Came out to this country five years ago fromIllinois with forty thousand dollars, and now we're going back withwhat I can sell my sheep for, maybe twenty-five hundred cash. Menocalrobbed me right at the start, selling me this place for twenty-fivethousand--twenty thousand down and a mortgage for the remaining fivethousand--when the place was just five thousand acres of sagebrush, with no more water than runs in this creek. I was a tenderfoot allright! The land agent at Kennard showed it to me in June when thePerro was booming, and I believed him when he said it ran that way allthe year around. Look at it now! I didn't have sense enough to inquireand learn about it, being in a hurry to get into the sheep businessand thinking I should be rich in no time. That agent sold it to me forirrigated land, and a bargain at five dollars an acre. Menocal, whoowned it and deeded it to me, pretends he isn't responsible for whatthe man said. Five dollars an acre! It's worth about fifty cents forwinter range, and no more. "

"If it could be irrigated, it would be a bargain sure enough at fivedollars, " Lee stated. "And there's another water right for the placeyou said when I was here before. "

"Yes, there is--on paper. Water was appropriated out of the PinasRiver, but that's eight miles north of here, and it would cost ahundred thousand dollars, if not more, to build a dam and a canalalong the mountain side. No, sir; that appropriation was just somemore of Menocal's tricky work! He jammed it through the land officethirty years ago and, they say, never did any more to comply with thelaw requiring delivery of the water on this ground than to have a mandrive around pouring a bucketful out of a barrel upon each quartersection. "

"Some pretty shady transactions were put across in those early days, "Bryant commented. 

"Well, ain't matters just as bad now?" Stevenson asked, quickly. "Hestill has the appropriation, or rather I'm supposed to have it withthis ranch. Because Menocal controls the Mexican vote hereabouts, which is about all the vote there is, why, nobody has ever disturbedhim about that water right. And he's using that water, belonging tome, to irrigate a lot of bottom farms along the river, for which nowater can be appropriated, the Pinas not carrying enough. I rode overone day and looked at those farms--all grain and alfalfa. Well, he'llget this ranch back, anyway. The mortgage he holds on it is due nextweek and I can't pay it. Wouldn't even if I had the money. We're goingto pull up stakes and leave. "

Bryant silently regarded the other's haggard face and stooped figure, whose expression and resigned attitude revealed clearly Stevenson'ssurrender. He was a man discouraged, disheartened, whipped. 

"What's wrong with the sheep?" he questioned, at length. 

"Not much that isn't wrong. When I started five years ago, I investedin three thousand head. One time I had them increased to fifty-fivehundred--three bands. Thought I was doing first rate; and I was then. But everything began to go against me. It seemed as if I always gotthe worst herders; and not having any water to raise alfalfa I had tobuy winter feed, which was expensive; and a lot of them got the scaband died; and last year I lost nearly all my lambs at lambing time, the band being caught out in a storm and being in the wrong place. Just one thing after another, to break my back. Had trouble about therange, too. When I started them off this spring, they were down toseven hundred; and I've been losing some right along from one cause oranother. No lambs, either, this spring, except dead ones. I thought Icould hang on till my luck changed, but losing a hundred head twoweeks ago was the last straw. I'm done now. "

"What happened, Stevenson?"

"One of Menocal's herders mixed his flock with my six hundred, did itdeliberately, I'm convinced; there were three thousand head of his. Billy was tending ours--and Billy is only fourteen, you know. I hadcome down here for some supplies and when I returned, I found himcrying. The Mexican had separated the sheep and we were a hundredshort, gone with his, and he would pay no attention to Billy, swearinghe had only his own band. And he drove them away. I went to Menocal, who was very polite, but he said I must be mistaken as his herderswere all honest men; and I've not got my sheep back, and I'm notlikely to. For that band is now thirty miles away somewhere. No use togo to court--Menocal owns everything and everybody around here. So I'mquitting. "

"The sheep business isn't all roses, that's certain, " Lee Bryantremarked. "It's hard luck that your band ran down just when the priceof mutton and wool is going up. So you're letting the ranch slide?"

"Yes, I can't pay the mortgage; Menocal would foreclose at once if Itried to stay. Last time I was in town he asked me about paying it offand when I told him I shouldn't be able to do that, he said he'd haveme deed it back to him to save foreclosure proceedings. And he wassmiling, too. He knew all the time that he'd get the ranch back; andwhen he does, he'll sell it to some other sucker. "

"Both of us have wished a hundred times that we'd never sold ourIllinois farm to come here, " Mrs. Stevenson said, plaintively. "Idon't know what we'll do when we go back, for that matter. Just rent aplace, I guess. Land is so high-priced there that we'll never be ableto buy a farm again. "

"Renting there is better than starving here, " her husband declared. "We'll have a better home, too. When we first came to this place, weplanned on building a fine house, but I never had the money loose, andwe've just kept on from year to year living in this 'dobe hole. Goodthing I didn't have the money, however, for we'd lose the house alongwith the ranch if we had built. Well, we're going back East, anyhow, as soon as I sell the sheep. Graham, who has the big ranch on DiamondCreek, south of where those girls are homesteading, is coming up in aday or two to look at them, maybe buy them. You can see Graham's bigwhite house from the Kennard trail. "

Bryant nodded. "I know the place, saw it when passing, " said he. Thenhe went on, "When I was at the ford watering my horse before cominghere, an auto crossed the creek. In the rear seat were a fat Mexican, whom I took to be Menocal, and a white man with a pointed beard. Thelatter perhaps was Graham?"

"Yes, that must have been him. Which way were they driving?"

"South. "

"Going to the Graham ranch, I s'pose. "

"There was a slim young fellow driving the car--some Mexican blood inhim, " Lee stated. 

"Menocal's son, Charlie, a half-breed snippet who puts on airs becausehis father's rich, " Stevenson said, in a disgusted tone. "A whitewoman married Menocal, you know. "

"In the front seat with the young fellow was a girl, rather pretty, "Bryant appended. 

"That's Louise, I imagine, " Mrs. Stevenson said, reflectively. "Yes, it must have been her. She's Mr. Graham's daughter. A nice girl, too. That Menocal boy is crazy to marry her, the talk is. "

"And is she crazy to marry him?" Lee inquired, amused by this gossip. 

"Well, not exactly crazy, I'd say; I don't see how she could be. Buthe'll be worth a lot of money some day, and she may overlookconsiderable on that account. Menocal's boy has been to college;besides, the family goes everywhere with white folks. I guess aMexican is supposed to be really white, isn't he?"

"Those having pure Spanish blood, " the engineer explained. "Nearly allthe ones around here that I've seen have more Indian in them thananything else, however, with a dash of other races perhaps. From theglimpse I had of Menocal, I'll venture to say he has Red men among hisancestors. "

"Mexican or Indian or whatever he is, he can squeeze money out ofnothing, like a Jew, " Stevenson complained. "Look how much he has madeout of this ranch; look at what he has made out of me! And it's justthat way with everything he holds. The Mexicans all around thissection sell him their stuff cheap and take what he pays, because theydon't know any better and because he's their leader. He has the bigstore at Bartolo, which you've seen, and owns the bank there, and hasany number of farms up and down the Pinas River, and runs I don't knowhow many bands of sheep; and besides, he elects the county officers, and fixes the taxes to suit himself, and recommends the waterinspector for this district, and--and--well, what chance has anordinary man to get ahead here?"

Lee Bryant let a pause ensue. He rolled a cigarette and struck a lightand carefully got the tobacco to burning. 

"You say you're going to let the ranch go back to Menocal, " he stated, abruptly. "You've made up your mind that you won't keep it, anyway. All right. Now I've a proposition to make you. "

Stevenson looked at him with curiosity. 

"A proposition? What is it?" he asked. 

"It's this: I've a farm of eighty acres in Nebraska that I'll tradeyou for it. I could offer you less, but I won't; you have an equityhere of value, and I'm not the kind of man to beat you down tonothing. If we deal, you shall have something in return for yourinterest. This eighty of mine is worth a hundred dollars anacre--eight thousand; it's mortgaged for five thousand, which leavesan equity of three thousand; on it are good buildings and it's renteduntil next March. You could then take possession. It's a good farm, and with the money you'll have from the sale of your sheep you canmake a good start on the place, which is in the corn and wheatsection. My equity of three thousand isn't worth, to be sure, anythinglike what you paid Menocal for this ranch, but it's something--and allthat I can afford to give. "

The rancher stared at Lee as if he could not credit his ears. 

"Are you in earnest?" he demanded, at last. "Why I've just told youthere's no water here. A man can't make a living on the place, and themortgage is due next week. "

"I'll pay off the mortgage; I've enough money saved up to do that. "

"But, man, without water----"

"Listen, Stevenson, I know exactly what I'm about, " the engineerinterrupted. "This thing's a gamble with me, I admit, but you needn'tdo any worrying on that score. I'm going in with my eyes open; I knowthe risks and am willing to take them. What about my offer?"

Stevenson, still gazing at his visitor in wonderment, was at a loss;he rubbed his knuckles doubtfully, hitched about on his chair and knithis brows, perplexed, hesitating, as was his manner when presentedwith any new affair, even with one palpably to his advantage. It wasclear that in this lack of quick decision lay much of the reason forhis failure. 

His wife exclaimed in appeal, "Oh, John, if Mr. Bryant really meansit, why don't you say yes? I can't understand why he makes us such afine offer, but he is making it. We can start again; we'll be back ina farming country like what we're used to, even if it isn't inIllinois; we'll have a farm of our own, a home of our own, and willnot have to rent. Oh, why don't you say yes?"

The rancher looked from his wife to Bryant and back again, pursing hislips. 

"But I don't understand this, " he said. 

"You heard what he explained, " she replied, anxiously. "He expects topay off the mortgage and be rid of Mr. Menocal. Perhaps he knows thesheep business better than you do; you never did learn it well, John, and you ought never to have stopped farming. You were a good farmer;you will be again. We can go on this place in Nebraska and raise cornand wheat and hogs, and I'll have chickens to help clear the debt. Why, it's a chance for us to be independent again, and have a home, and neighbours, and attend church, and--and be happy, John!"

"That's so, " her husband agreed. 

"We are going to leave here anyway, " she continued to urge. "Wewouldn't have had anything but the money from the sheep, but nowyou'll be getting a farm, too. I'd think you'd jump at Mr. Bryant'soffer. "

"But maybe, after all, the ranch is worth more than I thought, "Stevenson speculated. 

His wife sank back in her seat, picked up her sewing, and tried toresume her task, but her fingers trembled and her lashes were winkingfast. Lee gazed at her sympathetically. Then he lifted his hat fromthe floor and stood up. 

"Well, there are other places I can trade for, " he remarked. "Ithought I was doing you a good turn in proposing the exchange, especially as you're about to lose your place. I wouldn't be beatingyou out of anything, certainly, and as your wife says, you'd really begetting something for nothing. The mortgage is due next week, you mustremember. "

Stevenson's mind, however, was running in another channel. 

"I'll tell you how we can deal, " he said, with an assumption ofshrewdness. "You pay me the five thousand you plan to pay off themortgage with, and get Menocal to renew the loan. Five thousand--why, my equity is worth more than that! Besides, you've some scheme formaking money out of this ranch. "

"What if I have?"

"That makes a difference when it comes to a deal. "

"Not with me, " the engineer stated, curtly. "If that's your attitude, we'll drop the matter. Probably you yourself can arrange an extensionof the mortgage or a renewal, if you're minded to remain. "

"You know, John, that you can't; Mr. Menocal has already refused, "Mrs. Stevenson said, in a low voice. 

"I ought to have cash in addition to your farm, " her husband insisted. 

"You get none, " Lee replied. "Well, this trade is what I came to seeyou about. From the way you talked when I was here last I supposed youmight consider my offer favourably, but I guess we can't do business. I'll ride on to Bartolo. "

At this statement Mrs. Stevenson wiped her eyes, rose and went intothe inner room, closing the door after her. The engineer moved as ifto depart. 

"Now, wait a minute, " Stevenson exclaimed. 

"Well?"

"I'll take--let me figure a minute. "

Bryant tossed his hat on the table in disgust and relighted hiscigarette. 

"Stevenson, listen, " he began. "You're an older man than I am, butjust the same I'm going to say a few things that you need to hear. Icouldn't say them and wouldn't say them before your wife, but now I'mgoing to turn loose. You can do as you damn please about trading, takemy offer or leave it; if you refuse, though, you'll lose both ranchand farm. The trouble with you is that you can't see the differencebetween a good proposition and a bad one. That's why you bought thisranch on say-so. That's why now you're turning down my offer. Youeither jump without first looking, or you wait until it's too late. You don't pay attention strictly to what's immediately under yourhand, but waste your energy wondering if you can't get rich fromsomething out of your reach. That's what has been the trouble with youin the sheep business, I imagine. Here when I offer you a farm for aranch that's slipping through your fingers, you at once get greedy. Most of the time you don't know your own mind; you hesitate andspeculate and vacillate and worry. Why, you deserve to lose your ranchand your sheep and everything else. And your wife suffers for yourfaults! You're a failure, and you've dragged her down with you. Ifyou're not a failure, and a fool, too, go bring her back into thisroom and tell her you're going to make this trade, so you two willhave a farm and the home she wants and so her mind will be easy oncemore. You've been thinking of only yourself long enough; now begin tothink of her comfort and happiness. "

Stevenson came angrily to his feet. 

"No man ever talked to me like that before, I'll have you know!" hecried. 

The engineer kept his place, with no change of countenance. 

"Well, one has talked to you like that now and I'm the man, " he said. "And I don't retract a word. It's the truth straight from theshoulder. What are you going to do about it? Why, nothing, justnothing. Because I've talked cold, hard facts, and you know it. "

The momentary fire died from Stevenson's eyes. He shuffled his feetfor a little, looked about the room with the worried aspect heusually showed, brushed his lips with the back of his hand. 

"You're pretty rough----" he began. 

"Don't stand there talking; go get your wife, " Bryant said, sharply. 

Stevenson turned and walked slowly to the closed door. He cleared histhroat, stared at the panels for a moment, and at last pushed it open. 

"Come out, Sarah, we're going to trade, " he announced. 

The woman came forth. About her eyes was a slight redness, but on herlips there was a tremulous smile. 

"I'm glad, " she said, "I'm glad, John. "

"Yes, I decided it was a good trade to make, " her husband assured her. "No need to think it over longer. "

They came to where Bryant stood, unconcealed pleasure showing on Mrs. Stevenson's face. 

"You may like to see these kodak pictures of the farm and its house, "the young man said, producing an envelope from a pocket. "Take a chairhere by the window, Mrs. Stevenson, where you'll have the light. See, this one shows the house, with the trees and lilac bushes in front, and gives you a glimpse of the flower garden. Pretty, don't youthink?"

She readjusted her spectacles. After a time she gazed from thepictures through the window at the stretch of sagebrush. 

"And I'll have neighbours, too, " she said, in an unsteady voice. "Theloneliness here was killing me. "

Stevenson considered the backs of his hands in awkward silence. 

"Neighbours, lots of them, " Bryant affirmed. 

"I kind of pity you having to stay, " she said, looking up at him witha smile. 

The engineer laughed. 

"Why, this country suits me right down to the ground, " he replied. "I've been in the West ten years, wouldn't live anywhere else. And Idon't expect to be lonely; Menocal will probably attend to that. Besides, there are two good-looking young ladies just south of here, on Sarita Creek. "

"That's so, " she said, laughing also. 

"First thing we hear, you'll be married, " Stevenson remarked, with aquick grin. 

"Oh, I'm safe--there are two of them, " Bryant returned, clapping therancher on the shoulder. 

CHAPTER III

The town of Bartolo slumbered in the July sunshine. Nothing stirred onits one long street, lined with scarcely a break on either side bymud-plastered houses that made a continuous brown wall, marked atintervals by a door or pierced by a window; nothing stirred, neitherin front of Menocal's large frame store at the upper end of it, withthe little bank adjoining, nor before the small courthouse groundsacross the way, where the huge old cottonwoods spread their shade, noralong the entire length of the beaten street down to Gomez'sblacksmith shop and Martinez's saloon across from each other at thelower end; nothing, not even the pair of burros drowsing in the shadeof the wall, or the dogs lying before doors, or the goats a-kneel bythe saloon, or the fowls nested down in the dust. Only the PinasRiver, issuing from the black cañon a mile or so above, was in motion;and, indeed, it appeared to partake of the general somnolence, barelyrippling along its gravelly bed, shallow and shrunken, and givingforth but an indolent glitter as it flowed past the town. The day washot and it was the hour of the siesta, therefore everythingslept--everything, man, beast and fowl, from Menocal, who was snoringin his hammock on the vine-clad veranda of his big stuccoed house justbeyond the store at the head of the street, to the goats at the footof it by the silent saloon. 

Bryant, descending from the mesa into the river bottom and riding intothe street, had he not known otherwise, might have supposed thepopulation vanished in a body. But he was aware that it only slept;and he had no consideration for a siesta that retarded his affairs. Hedismounted before the courthouse and entered the building, whosecorridor and chambers appeared as silent, as lifeless, as forsaken asthe street itself. Coming into the Recorder's office, he halted for alook about, then pushed through the wicket of the counter and steppedinto an inner room, where he stirred by a thumb in the ribs a thin, dusky-skinned youth reclining in a swivel chair with feet in repose ona window-sill, who slept with head fallen back, arms hanging, andmouth open. 

"Come, _amigo_, your dinner's settled by this time, " the engineerstated. "Grab a pen and record this deed. "

The clerk sleepily shifted his feet into a more comfortable position. 

"We're behind in our work, " said he. "Just leave your deed, and thefee, and we'll get around to it in a few days. "

"So you're too busy now, eh?"

"Yes. We've had a good many papers to record this month. "

"Where's the Recorder?"

"Not back from dinner yet, " was the answer. 

The speaker once again prepared to rest. From the outer office theslow ticking of a clock sounded with lulling effect, while the grassyyard beyond the window, shaded by the boughs of the cottonwoods, diffused peace and drowsiness. The clerk closed his eyes. 

"Just leave the deed and fee on the desk here, " he murmured. 

"And tip-toe out, too, I suppose. "

"If you feel like it, " the young Mexican remarked, with a faintinsolence in his voice, the insolence of a subordinate who believeshimself protected by his place. 

Bryant's hand shot swiftly out to the speaker's shoulder. With a snapthat brought him up standing the clerk was jerked from his seat, andbefore his startled wits gathered what was happening he was propelledinto the outer office. 

"Record this deed, you forty-dollar-a-month penpusher, before I growpeevish and rearrange your face, " Bryant ordered, with his fingerstightening their grasp on the youth's collar. "You're receiving yourpay from the county, and are presumed to give value received. Anyway, value received is what I'm going to have now. "

"Let go my neck!"

"Let go nothing. When I see you settle down to this big book, then Ilet go. No '_mañana_' with me, boy; right here and now you're going togive me an exhibition of rapid penmanship. Savey? Take up your pen;that's the stuff. Now dip deep in the ink and draw a full breath andgo to it. "

Bryant released his hold on the cowed clerk, but remained by his side, where his presence exerted an amazingly energizing effect upon thescribe. The pen scratched industriously to and fro across the page, over which the youth humped himself as if enamoured of the tome, onlyat intervals risking a glance at the lean-faced, vigilant American. When he had finished the transcription, stamped the deed and closedthe book, Bryant handed him the amount of the fee. 

"Thank you, " the clerk said, with an excess of politeness. 

He was still nervous. He furtively observed his visitor stowing thedeed in a pocket, as if expecting Bryant to initiate some newviolence, and resolved on flight if he should. 

"There, my friend, that's all you can do for me just now, " theengineer remarked. "But I shall return soon, so keep awake and ready. When you see me entering, advance _pronto_. If anything annoys me, it's being kept waiting by a Mexican boy-clerk. Do you get thatclearly?"

"_Si, señor_, " the other replied, unconsciously lapsing into hisnative tongue. 

"_Muy bueno_--and bear it in mind. Now I advise you to get to work onthe documents you've allowed to accumulate; it's half-past two andyou've had enough of a siesta for one noon. " With which Bryant tookhis departure. 

Outside he led his horse across the street to the frame store. Besidethe latter stood Menocal's house, with its smooth green lawn and itsbeds of poppies, its trees, its fence massed with sweet peas, and itsvine-covered veranda, where the engineer had a glimpse of a corpulentfigure in a hammock. The only sound from the place was the musicalgurgle of water in a little irrigation ditch bordering the lawn. 

Inside the long store Bryant aroused the only man in sight, a Mexicanwho slept on the counter with his head pillowed on a pile of overalls. 

"Go tell Menocal there's a man here to see him on business, " Leesaid. 

The awakened sleeper slid off his perch, rubbed his eyes, yawned, stretched himself, and then shook his head with great gravity. 

"Mr. Menocal takes his siesta till three o'clock; you can see him atthat time, " he said, in English. 

"I'll see him now. "

"Impossible! He is very angry when awakened for a small matter. "

Bryant went a step nearer to the speaker. 

"Where do you get the authority to decide that my business is a smallmatter?" he demanded, with a menace of manner that caused the other toretreat in haste. "Go bring him and make me no more trouble. "

The man went. Bryant lighted a cigarette and fell to surveying thestore's merchandise. Several minutes passed before a murmur of voicesapprised him of the coming of the men. Menocal entered the side doorfirst, approaching heavily and sleepily the spot where the engineerwaited. He had not put on coat or collar; his short figure appearedmore than ever obese; his sweeping white moustache divided his plump, shiny brown face; and his air was that of one who must put up withvexatious interruptions because of the important position he filled. 

"You wish to speak with me?" he asked, shortly. 

"That's why I'm here, " Bryant returned. 

Menocal gazed at him owlishly for a time. 

"You're the man who threw my son's money back at the ford day beforeyesterday, aren't you?" he questioned. 

"The same. "

"Why did you throw it back?"

"Why did he throw it at me in the first place? You should train him touse better judgment. You yourself wouldn't have done it. "

"No, " Menocal said. Then, as if the subject were dismissed, he asked, "What do you wish to see me about?"

"About the mortgage on the Stevenson place: I've bought the ranch. Stevenson moves off in a few days. "

Menocal's brows lifted and remained so, as if fixed in their newelevation. He slowly rubbed the end of his nose with his forefinger. The sleepiness had wholly vanished from his countenance. 

"Come into the bank, " he said, finally; and moved toward the frontdoor. 

The engineer accompanied him. In a space railed off from the cashier'sgrille in the little building next door they sat down. The teller wasvisible in the cage, where now he appeared very busy though he hadundoubtedly been drowsing when they entered. 

"So you've bought the Stevenson ranch, " Menocal said. 

"Yes. I've just had the deed recorded. "

"The mortgage is due in a few days; I told him it wouldn't be renewedby me. "

"Perhaps now that I have the place----"

"No; I've carried that loan long enough. If it isn't paid when due, I'll start foreclosure proceedings immediately. "

Bryant nodded. 

"Well, I merely asked out of curiosity, " said he. "It's your right todemand payment--and I'm on hand with the money. Make out a release sothat I can clear the record. Here's a Denver draft for six thousanddollars--I figure principal and interest at five thousand four hundredand you can have the balance placed to my credit in the bank. Ishouldn't continue the loan at its present rate of interest in anycase; eight per cent. Is too much for money. Besides, I want the ranchclear of incumbrance. "

With an expressionless face Menocal gazed at the draft, turned itover, examined the back, then at last laid it down on his desk. 

"Isidro, " he called to the teller, "make out a mortgage release forthe Stevenson place. Copy the description from the mortgage in my filein the vault. Afterward credit six hundred dollars to--What is yourname?"

"Lee Bryant. "

"Six hundred dollars to Lee Bryant, Isidro. Mr. Bryant will give youhis signature. " Again facing his visitor, he said, "Do you know thatthat ranch has no water to speak of? I'm afraid you may not find theproperty what you expect. "

"It has a good appropriation from the Pinas River here. "

"Ah, but it can't be used, " Menocal exclaimed, with a bland smile. 

"I propose to use it. "

"What!"

Bryant kept his eyes fixed on the amazed banker's orbs. 

"Didn't I speak clearly?" he inquired. "I own one hundred andtwenty-five second feet of water in this river and it's my intentionto apply it. I'm going to make a real ranch down there. "

A shadow seemed to settle on Menocal's face, leaving it altered, lessplacid, more purposeful. 

"Considerable capital will be required to build a canal there, " heremarked. "You're certainly not going into this thing on your ownaccount, are you? Who is putting up the money? Eastern people?"

Bryant smiled, but made no answer. His smile and his silence provokedan angry gleam from the banker's eyes. 

"Well, it doesn't matter, " Menocal continued. "But you're going todiscover that you haven't this water right, after all. "

"What makes you think so?"

"Because it was never used, because no real canal was ever built, onlya little ditch that doesn't exist now. The right will be cancelled, and the water will be reappropriated for lands along the river. "

"For farms on which you're now using it, you mean?"

"I'm not saying where. "

Bryant leaned forward and tapped the banker's desk with a finger-tip. 

"Mr. Menocal, don't try to start any trouble with me, " he said, withjaw a little outthrust. 

"_Dios!_ You dare talk that way to me?"

"I repeat it, don't attempt to keep something that doesn't belong toyou. You may want to--but don't try it. I know all about the waterappropriation for the ranch I've bought; all about your swornaffidavit filed thirty years ago, with an accompanying map, certifyingthat a canal was built and water delivered to the land. It's a matterof record. Now you seek to reappropriate this water, or to have theright cancelled, and see where you wind up. Thirty years ago menwinked at false affidavits, but it's different to-day. "

The Mexican's white moustache drew up tight under his thick nose, disclosing his teeth in a snarl. 

"You threaten me--me!"

"I'm not threatening, only warning you. Or if you wish a still milderword, let me say advising, " Bryant rejoined. 

The banker's eyes, however, continued to flash at the engineer, as ifalive in their sockets and hunting a mark to strike. 

"You accuse me of dishonour!" he exclaimed. "I don't know why I shouldpay attention to your charge, which is false. A ditch was built to theranch--"

"Mighty small one, then. No trace of it remains. "

"One was built, one was built!"

"Very well, Mr. Menocal, grant that it was. It but strengthens myposition. But let us pass to recent times; five years ago you passedtitle to Stevenson with the water right as a reality when you sold himthe ranch; your son is water inspector for this district, or was untila year ago, anyway, making reports to the state. Did he say anythingin them about this canal or water right having ceased to exist? No. "

"His reports were largely routine, " the other stated, regaining hiscomposure. 

"Still they were official. I'm simply pointing out to you, Mr. Menocal, why it will be unwise for you to endeavour to have this waterappropriation cancelled. You sold it to Stevenson as a live right--thedeed proves that; and now that I have the property I shall make itsuch in fact. You've been using the water for other land, whichpossibly will suffer afterward, but that doesn't affect the case inthe least. That water is a valuable property; when it's delivered onmy ranch, the land will be worth fifty dollars an acre. You may havecalculated that no one who got hold of the Perro Creek ranch everwould or could use the water, but in that you were in error: I can andwill use it, and you must understand that fact. "

Menocal fell into consideration. He folded his hands across hisstomach and remained thus, pondering, occasionally lifting his lidsfor a scrutiny of Bryant's face. 

"I'll give you ten thousand cash for the place as it stands and handyou my check now, " he said, at length. 

"Not to-day, thank you, " the engineer replied. 

"What is your price?"

"The ranch isn't for sale. It'll be worth a quarter of a million whenit's watered. No, it's not on the market at present. "

A deep sigh issued from the banker's lips; he blinked slowly severaltimes before speaking, with a resigned countenance. 

"I see you've some capitalists behind you, " said he, "for it will takemoney to build a dam and a canal. If they saw a reasonable profitwithout the trouble of construction, no doubt they would be willing tosell. "

"Put your mind at rest, Mr. Menocal; you have only me to deal with;there are no capitalists running this show yet. But the water systemwill be built, never fear. "

Menocal's eyebrows went up. "Ah, so?" he asked, softly. 

Then his face smoothed itself out; and Bryant realized that he hadbeen led into a betrayal of importance. 

"You would do well to name a price, Mr. Bryant. "

"No; I propose to develop the ranch, " the engineer answered, curtly. "Is the release made out? If it is, I'll be on my way. "

"It's too bad you refuse, too bad, " Menocal said, with a lugubriousshake of his head. 

He called Isidro. The clerk placed a card before Bryant for hissignature and gave him a check book. Then he laid the mortgage releasein front of Menocal, who signed and passed it to the engineer. 

"You'll find it correct, " the Mexican stated. "Isidro is a notary andhas filled out the acknowledgment. "

Nevertheless, the visitor took care to read the paper and compare itwith his deed before he rose. 

"Well, that ends my business for the afternoon, " said he, "and I'lltake no more of your time. You understand where I stand, Mr. Menocal. "

The latter gave a number of slow nods saying, "I understand, Iunderstand. Good day, Mr. Bryant. And remember that you have anaccount with us and that the bank will be pleased to render you anyservice possible. "

Sleepily the banker, watching through the bank window, saw the youngman lead his horse across the street and once more disappear withinthe courthouse. Then for some minutes he continued in somnolentcontemplation of the courthouse front. At last he called:

"Isidro, Isidro! Go find Joe García and tell him I wish to speak withhim in half an hour in my garden. Look for him at home and in thesaloon, but find him wherever he is. That man who just went out now, Isidro, ----"

"Yes, " answered Isidro. 

"He's one of those hard, obstinate Americans, Isidro--and his eyes, they are bad eyes, I don't like them. "

"Yes, " Isidro concurred, who had not noticed the eyes at all. 

CHAPTER IV

Charlie Menocal, who after his sleep had read a few chapters in anovel, went out of the shaded room where he had reposed and into thegarden. There he discovered his father in talk with Joe García. 

"What's going on?" he exclaimed. "Lost a horse, or a wife orsomething, Joe?"

"No, Charlie; this is business, " García said, with a grin. 

Menocal continued to give his instructions to the latter. They had todo with bringing a few hundred sheep from one of the bands feeding inthe hills. They were to be driven down on the mesa to graze, and keptmoving about near the Stevenson ranch house; García was to observewhat the young man there did, all he did, whom he saw, and as far aspossible where he went. Particularly was he to note if surveyors cameand set to work anywhere. If the young man appeared to be engaged atany task on the mountain side, Joe was to approach with his sheep. Andhe was to report everything he learned. 

Charlie's attention became more lively as he listened to his father'sdirections to the man, and when García had departed he asked, "Who areyou after? Who's this young fellow you speak of as being at the PerroCreek ranch? Didn't Stevenson deed the place back?"

Menocal senior twisted an end of his flaring moustache. 

"May a thousand damnations fall on him! No, he didn't, " he responded, wrathfully. 

"But that only means you'll have to foreclose the mortgage. It willtake longer, that's all. "

Charlie was vice-president of his father's bank--his name was soprinted on the stationery, at least--and was familiar with hisparent's affairs, though he was averse to anything like industry. Hemuch preferred the pursuit of pleasure to work, and his automobile tothe grille of the bank. He was accurately aware, too, of his father'sweakness for him, an only child, and of his father's inclination toindulge his desires; and shrewdly played upon the fact. Nevertheless, in matters of business he possessed a certain sharpness. 

"Stevenson sold the ranch to this young man Bryant, who just now paidoff the mortgage, " Menocal explained. 

"Then he was stung, " Charlie averred. 

"Wait, you don't know all, my son. He plans to build a dam and a canaland use that old water right out of the Pinas, taking the water withwhich we irrigate the farms down at Rosita. It will leave them dry;the alfalfa will die; no more grain or peas or beans will be raised onthem; they won't have even good pasturage; they will go back tosagebrush and cactus--all those farms, all those beautiful ranches!Altogether four or five thousand acres! They are worth two hundredthousand dollars now--to-morrow worth nothing! Half my winter haycomes from them; half my peas for fattening lambs. I shall have tosell part of my sheep. I'm a millionaire now, but I'll be reduced, I'll be less than a millionaire, and so almost poor again. It's verybad; it mustn't be; I must stop him using the water. "

Even Charlie became solemn at the prospect of losing two hundredthousand dollars and being less than a millionaire. 

"The right hasn't been used; we'll have it cancelled, " he said, withsudden confidence. 

"He refused to sell the place to me for ten thousand dollars cash, "the father stated. "He's no fool--and he's a bad customer, Charlie; hesaid he would send me to prison for perjury if I tried to cancel theright. "

"Perjury, pouf!" Charlie sneered. 

"He couldn't send me to prison, of course, for I have too much money, but he might make it unpleasant for me, very unpleasant. Politics areto be considered; I mustn't get a bad name in the party and in thestate. I must be careful. The records show that the ranch has had thewater, and while in my possession. As he says, that would be difficultfor me to explain if I entered court against him. The matter mustn'tget into court or into the land office. Later we can have the waterright cancelled and reappropriated--later, when he has gone away, whenno dust can be raised about it. "

"Is he going away?"

"Don't be stupid, Charlie. He must go away; that is necessary: I'mconsidering plans. He must be pursuaded--or----"

"Or forced, " said his son, with reckless bright eyes. 

"Men generally depart from a locality when public opinion is broughtto bear on them, " the elder remarked. "He can be made unpopular untilhe desires to leave. "

"We'll run him out, just leave that part to me. "

"Charlie, nothing rash must be done, remember that, and nothingillegal. I shall think of some plan soon. "

"Nothing rash, but nothing uncertain, father. Two hundred thousand isa lot of money. I, too, shall plan. "

The prospect of ousting an intruder who had challenged his family'sright to control what it wished here, who indeed had the audacity toattempt to robe the effort under a claim of legality, appealed toyoung Menocal as an undertaking most attractive. The fact that all theadvantage was on his side, of influence, of wealth, of race, of powerthat might be exerted through ignorant Mexicans in a hundred subtleand vindictive ways, made the enterprise all the more alluring. TheIndian strain in his blood--a strain which accounts for much that setsAmerican and Mexican apart, unconsciously in his case gave a tinge ofcruelty to his anticipation. Aspiring himself to pass as an American, it never failed to please him when he could slight or humiliate anAmerican; and he lacked his father's restraint of impulses, as he cameshort of his sagacity and perseverance. Indeed, secretly the sonbelieved his father too conservative, too cautious, too old-fashionedand slow; and at times was exceedingly impatient with methods that hewas confident he could immensely improve. 

His father considered him for a time. 

"Charlie, you leave this matter alone, " he said. "You keep out of it. Whatever's to be done, I'll do. You would go too far. You can giveyour attention to seeing that the crops are watered and the hay cut ontime; you should be down at Rosita now looking after things. "

"I'll run down in the car this evening, " was the answer. "To-morrowI'm going to Kennard, where I haven't been for two weeks. The wool inthe warehouse there should be sold, and a buyer from Boston wrote, youknow, that he would be there this week. And I think we can get ourprice. "

Kennard was the nearest railroad point and forty miles south. It was apleasant little city, with some of the attractions of larger places. Of these Charlie was thinking rather than of the wool. He would attendto the wool business, of course, but it was an excuse instead of areason for the projected visit on the morrow. 

"Very well, it's time the wool is sold; the price is good at present, "his father agreed. 

Charlie recurred to the matter of the Stevenson ranch. 

"What's this fellow's name who bought out Stevenson?"

"Lee Bryant. A young man. And I don't like him; I'm afraid he's atrouble-maker. You should remember him, Charlie, for he's the fellowwho filled the radiator of the car at the ford on Perro Creek and whothrew your money back in your face. "

Young Menocal's thin figure stiffened, while his small black moustacherose in two points of ire. 

"Him! That scoundrel who insulted me before Louise! Thatlamb-stealer!" he shrilled. 

"That is the man, " his father affirmed. 

Charlie spat forth a string of Spanish curses. When he had recoveredfrom his outburst of passion, he said:

"Well, I'm glad he's the man. He'll pay for that. Louise said nothing, but she heard him. And now he's trying to steal our water, too! I'dlike to tie him down on a cactus-bed and run a band of sheep overhim. "

"Charlie, Charlie, control yourself. Don't exhaust your strength bybeing angry; it's bad for you in this heat; sunstrokes are sometimesbrought on that way. Besides, such talk as you uttered is foolish anddangerous. "

"Bah, I'm not afraid of a sunstroke. "

"Anyway, it's unwise to be angry, " his father warned. "When you're ina temper, you talk loud; and people may hear it and repeat it, makingtrouble. Now I must return to the bank. But remember what I say:you're not to meddle in this Perro Creek matter. Do you hear?"

"Oh, yes, I hear, " said Charlie. 

His face as his father walked away did not, however, indicateacquiescence in this tame course. His heart was full of rancour forthe insulting stranger of the ford; and where the fires of his hatredblew, his feet would follow. 

CHAPTER V

Though Lee Bryant, during his colloquy with Menocal, had spokenconfidently of his ability to obtain money wherewith to construct acanal system linking the Pinas River and the Perro Creek ranch, he hadno definite promise of funds from any source. Nor would the project beripe for financing before he had completed his surveys and made hiscost estimates. 

He had become interested in the undertaking in this way. Staying overnight with the Stevensons by chance a month previous, a stranger, hisspeculation was aroused when through questions about the ranch helearned of the unused Pinas River water right, a right valid butapparently impracticable. Was it indeed impracticable? Would the costof bringing water to the land be, after all, prohibitive? In fact, hada competent engineer ever gone into the matter? He doubted it. Thehistory of the property, so far as he could glean from Stevenson, disclosed on the part of no one any serious effort ever to develop theranch. In the beginning Menocal had probably had some faint notion ofcarrying out the scheme, but if so, had afterward abandoned theenterprise. The tract of five thousand acres of land had originallybeen a small Mexican grant; it lay in the midst of government land;and when Menocal came into possession of the ranch, some conception ofutilizing water from the Pinas must have inspired him to acquire theappropriation of one hundred and twenty-five second feet. Well, theland, theoretically at any rate, had water; and if water actuallycould be delivered, an extraordinary value would accrue to the nownearly worthless tract. It was a problem for engineers; it was one ofthe possibilities that if seized might be converted into a fact. Bryant was an engineer, and he was just then foot-loose. 

From the worried ranchman, Stevenson, who appeared glad to talk of hisaffairs to someone, he learned that the man was both dissatisfied withthe country and straitened in circumstances. Bryant judged that hishost would consider any offer which would enable him to realizesomething on the ranch and to depart; so that particular aspect of thematter if undertaken, namely, securing title to the land and waterright, seemed favourable. If no insurmountable obstacle stood in theway of building a dam and a canal, arising from construction elements, it assuredly looked as if money was to be made out of the project. 

With his mind kindling to the idea Bryant rode northward next morningalong the base of the mountains, studying the hillsides where a canalnaturally should run, all the way up to the Pinas River. Afterward hereconnoitered the mesa, hitting at last on a slight elevation, hardlyto be called a ridge, that projected from a hillside a mile belowBartolo and curved in a gentle crescent for about three miles from therange of mountains down the mesa, again bending in toward the hillsclose to the north line of the Perro Creek ranch. 

Next, he absented himself for a week at the state capital, where heindustriously studied the water and land records pertaining to thedistrict. When he returned, he brought with him a surveying instrumentand a boy for helper. He pitched a tent out of sight in a hollow atthe foot of a hill, worked early and late running his lines, establishing a dam site, and surveying the river bottom near the mouthof Pinas Cañon, and remained practically unseen except by a fewincurious Mexicans. His instrument proved the correctness of hisconclusion regarding the crescent-shaped elevation as a practicalgrade for a canal, which though necessitating a longer course wouldnevertheless immensely lessen the time, expense, and difficulties ofdigging when compared with a line along the mountains' flanks with itsdanger of washouts and earth slides. Nor did he stop there. He maderapid but reliable topographical measurements, on a general scale, ofthe mesa for five miles out from the mountains, between Bartolo andPerro Creek, locating among other things a large depression in theplain, three miles southwest of the town, which might by diking beconverted into a flood water reservoir. Then he folded his tent andagain disappeared for a week. When, finally, he rode to Stevenson'sranch house that hot July afternoon and made a trade for the fivethousand acres of land, he was the possessor of considerably moreknowledge of the locality and its possibilities than any one wouldhave guessed. 

And now he was owner of the ranch and committed to the enterprise. 

A few days after Bryant's visit to Bartolo Stevenson disposed of hissheep to Graham, the owner of the large ranch on Diamond Creek, loadedhis household goods, except the stove and some of the furniture whichthe engineer bought, and with his wife and boy drove away in his sheepwagon for Kennard and for the new farm in Nebraska. Bryant's owneffects--trunk, bedding, provisions, surveying instruments, draughting-board, and the like, came up from the railroad town bywagon, and with them the fourteen-year-old lad, Dave Morris, agangling, long-legged boy extremely dependable and extraordinarilyserious, who had carried rod for the engineer during the week ofpreliminary surveying. 

The man and boy now attacked the canal line in earnest, with Bryantintent on establishing its course, location, and displacement exactly, so that he could make necessary blueprints and compile constructionestimates. It was while they were working along the first mile of theline, where it ran from the Pinas River along the base of a hill tothe low ridge that bore out upon the mesa, that they received theirfirst interruption. The worst and most expensive part of the canal tobuild would be this section, and the engineer was therefore takingespecial care in its surveying; near the river the line traversedseveral fenced tracts of ground extending part way up the hillside, fields owned by natives; and it was one of these Mexicans who slouchedforward to the spot where Bryant and Dave worked and ordered them toget out of his field. 

Bryant straightened up from sighting through his transit, and asked, "What's on your mind? What's disturbing your brain, _hombre_?"

"You get off, " was the unkempt fellow's answer. 

"Why?"

"You can't come on my ranch; get off. "

The engineer pulled a map from his hip pocket--a copy made from onefiled in the land commissioner's office thirty years previous. Hespread it open before the Mexican. 

"See this? Here is Bartolo, here is the river, here is your field, " hesaid, pointing with a finger. "Now look at that line; it runs acrossthis field right where we stand. That's the Perro Creek Canal, extending down to Perro Creek. "

The man stared at the earth under his feet. 

"No, I see no canal, " he stated, now looking right and left as if tomake sure. "There is no canal. "

"Yes, there is. But it needs cleaning badly. I'm surveying its banksagain and then I shall clean out the dirt. You can see that it needscleaning, because you can scarcely see it at all. Menocal, the banker, didn't take very good care of the canal after he built it; that's thetrouble. Hello, does that surprise you? Yes, Mr. Menocal got the waterright and dug the ditch in the first place; and he also secured aright of way across these fields, sixty feet wide, by buying it fromwhoever owned the ground at that time, and the right of way iscertified to the state. Now, I own Perro Creek ranch and the PerroCreek canal and likewise the right of way. So you see, José, orwhatever your name is, we're standing on my ground and not yours; Icould even make you take down your fence where it crosses my right ofway. "

The Mexican blinked stupidly. 

"I was born here; my father was born here; my grandfather lived here, "he said. "There have been little ditches, many of them, but never abig canal in this field. You must get off. "

"No; you're mistaken. Go see Mr. Menocal and he will set you right. "

"I saw Charlie Menocal, who said to drive strangers off. "

"Well, Charlie had best keep his fingers out of this dish, or he mayfind it full of pepper, and you tell him so next time you talk withhim. "

Bryant folded his map and restored it to his pocket, while the Mexicanwent away to his house. 

That day the engineer worked until darkness shut down. At threeo'clock next morning he routed his young assistant out of bed and bydawn they were in the fields again. Knowing that the Menocals had setabout impeding and if possible altogether obstructing him, he proposedto be done, as quickly as careful surveying allowed, with the fencedpart of the hillside where plausible controversies could be invented. 

Toward the end of the second day he had progressed into the last tractof owned ground. He breathed more freely. In his statement to theMexican concerning the right of way he had been exactly right; and hewas following to a dot the original course taken by the early ditch. He could have improved upon this section of the canal by anothersurvey, but that would have involved him in a host of troubles, verylikely unsolvable ones, in securing title to another strip of groundacross the fields. Without question Menocal's influence would preventthe owners from selling, even if Bryant had the money with which tobuy a second right of way, which he had not. Dollar for dollar itwould be cheaper in the long run to use the old line. Well, Dave wasalready across the last fence with his rod; they would soon beworking entirely on government land; and with that, it did not matterfor the present what the Mexican landowners thought or did. 

Bryant had walked fifty yards or so away from his transit to callsomething to Dave, when the crack of a rifle sounded from the hillsideand a bullet whined near by. The engineer pivoted about. Another shotfollowed, and he beheld a spurt of dust close by his instrument. Thehidden rifleman was not seeking to murder him, but to destroy histools. 

There were no more shots and he resumed work. Later on, as he nearedthe fence and was establishing his last points within the field, ahorseman with a gray moustache came galloping up along the stretch ofbarb wire. He nodded, inquired if the engineer was named Bryant, andannounced that he had half a dozen injunctions to serve. 

"I expected something like this; glad you didn't arrive any sooner, "Lee remarked. 

"Well, I was away from town, or I'd have been here by noon, " thehorseman, an American, stated. "The injunctions cover all these placesbetween here and the river. You and any one you hire must keep off thetracts specified until the cases come up before the judge. "

"All right, sheriff. Wait till I take a last squint or two and I'llvacate. "

The horseman idly watched the engineer make his final measurements, then when Bryant had lifted his tripod over the wire and told hisassistant Dave they would call it a day and stop, he dismounted andsat down for a smoke with the man on whom he had served his papers. 

"Looks as if you've stirred up some interest in your doings, " heremarked, expelling a thread of smoke. "All the Mexicans from heredown to Rosita are gabbling about your canal. Don't seem pleased withyou. "

"There's one who doesn't, in any case, " was the response. "He took acouple of shots at my instrument a while ago from up yonder in thesagebrush when I had stepped aside for a moment. "

The sheriff gazed at the hillside. 

"A few _hombres_ around here will bear watching, " said he. For alittle he meditated, then went on, "You're a white man and so am I;they don't like our colour any too well, at bottom. I s'pose you knowthat. "

"Yes. But they needn't express their feelings with rifles. As far asthese injunctions are concerned, they'll be dismissed eventually, forthere's no question about my right of way through here. Menocalsecured it himself and it's all a matter of record--the deeds, thecertificate to the state, and the rest. "

"Menocal got it, you say?"

"Nobody else. Some time or other he must have expected to water PerroCreek ranch, which he owned until he sold it to Stevenson. "

"I knew he had that place, " said the visitor, "but I didn't know itcarried a water right from the Pinas. Where does this move of yourshit Menocal?"

"In his ranches down the river; he's been using this water for them, "Bryant explained. "I suppose it's been taken for granted by nearlyeveryone that the water belonged to those farms down there, but itdoesn't. "

"How much water in this right?"

"Hundred and twenty-five second feet. "

"Whew! That takes a chunk out of the Pinas. And I presume that by thistime Menocal knows what you're doing?"

"Oh, yes; I told him. He doesn't like it, of course. "

The sheriff turned for a full view of Bryant's face. In respect tofeatures the two men were not unlike: both had the same thin curvingnose and level eyes and cut of jaw. 

"Well, let me say as between man and man, " the elder spoke, "thatMenocal won't let you take away that much water from him if he canhelp it. And I'll drop you some more news, in addition: severalMexicans are going to file on homesteads or desert claims along thebase of the hills south of here, scattered along like and running partway up the mountain sides. I don't know where your canal to PerroCreek will go, but if its line follows the foot of the range, as maybe likely, it might happen to find those claims in the way. "

"Any idea in your mind where those fellows may locate their filings?"

"No; I can't say definitely. Shouldn't be surprised if they beganstringing them along a couple of miles south of here till they reachedPerro Creek. "

Bryant gazed at the flank of the mountain. The gentle ridge where hisditch line left the hillside was but half a mile away. Beyond that theMexicans could file to their hearts' content, for they would be lefton one side by the canal. But in all this he perceived Menocal'scunning hand. 

"Much obliged to you, sheriff, " said he. "I'll see if I can't findsome way to satisfy those chaps when the time comes. "

His visitor rose and put foot in stirrup. 

"If any of these Mexicans grow ugly, let me know, " he remarked. "I'lltell them where to head in. Drop in at my office at the courthousewhen you're in town; Winship's my name. I brought these notices overmyself in order to look at you, for they were saying you are atrouble-maker, but that's what these natives frequently state whenthey want to fix an alibi for themselves before they start something. I'll see if I can learn anything of the fellow who was up yondershooting. These _hombres_ are altogether too free with firearms, anyway. Better feed that lad there with you a few more meals a day;looks as if he could use them. "

Bryant laughed. 

"Dave's a little lean, but he's all there. Looks don't count, do they, partner?"

"I do the best I can, " Dave responded, solemnly. 

"Not at meal-time, I reckon, " the sheriff said. "Feed up and get fat. A kid like you has no business having so many joints and bonessticking out. "

"I been through a hard winter last winter, and this spring, too, tillMr. Bryant picked me up. "

"How's that?" the horseman inquired. 

"My mother died at Kennard. I didn't get on very well after that; notmuch there for a boy to work at. And I hadn't any folks. "

"Hump. What's your last name?"

"Morris. "

"Any relation to Jack Morris?"

"He was my father. "

The sheriff nodded. "Knew him well; he died four years ago. And yourmother died last winter? Little woman, I recall. "

"Little, but a lot better than plenty of bigger ones I know of, " Daveasserted, stoutly. "She died of pneumonia. "

"Boy, I've held you on my knee when you were about as high as my hand. But I guess you don't remember that, and I'm mighty sorry to learnyour mother's gone. Dave--is that your name? Well, now, Dave, fightyour grub harder from now on. "

The speaker gathered his reins, nodded, and rode away along the barbwire fence. 

CHAPTER VI

"When gentlemen of a dark and sinister cast of mind deliberately setout to frustrate one's legitimate efforts under a misapprehension asto the course to be pursued, the proper diplomacy in such a case is tofoster the delusion circulating in their craniums as long as possibleand thus divert their attention from the real purpose. Don't you agreewith me, David?" Lee Bryant gravely inquired of his young companion, as they were about to set forth next morning. 

"Yes, sir, " Dave affirmed, to whom the statement was so much Greek. 

"Then since the vote is unanimous, we'll proceed to run a line alongthe mountain side where it will collide with these new homesteads. "

The engineer shouldered tripod and rod, whistled Mike to heel, andwith Dave started forward. Half way to Bartolo they perceived threemen busy on the hillside, so Bryant swung up to a point a quarter of amile off and began surveying. When he approached the workmen, Mexicansnaturally, he saw that they were engaged in setting fence posts, ofwhich a row was already in line part way up the hill. 

The men dropped their tools and confronted him as he drew near. 

"This is my land; you keep away, " one exclaimed, with waving arms, while the other backed him up in a show of force. 

"How can I build a canal here if you won't let me go through?" Bryantdemanded. 

"No go through, no canal on my claim!"

"Well, just let me run a line, anyhow. "

"No. Keep off, keep off, " was the obstinate answer. 

The engineer continued to argue, now as if in anger and now with aconciliatory mien, all the while protesting that the homesteader mustnot prevent the construction of the canal. But he received only shakesof the head, short replies, and malicious looks. So at length, withevery pretense of disappointment and dejection, he went down thehillside. 

A mile farther along, where he found two more men occupied at similarlabour, he likewise dissembled his purpose, with the same opposition, controversy, and retreat. He thereupon led Dave back to the ranchhouse, where he prepared and ate dinner with satisfaction. Very likelyMenocal would receive reports that evening faithfully depicting hischagrin and despair, or whatever were the Mexican equivalents. 

Yet while he deluded the banker, he must secretly carry on his actualsurveying on the mesa. Since the men setting fence posts had a fairlywide view of the plain, he determined to work in the open only for twoor three hours at daybreak before the Mexicans were about. ForMenocal, or any one else, must have no suspicion of his real ditchline until an application for construction of the project had beenfiled in the state engineer's office. 

Signs that the banker had taken measures to keep him undersurveillance were not wanting. 

"Dave, " he said, "have you noticed a sheepherder with a bunch of sheephanging around here, when he should be up in the mountains where therange is good?"

"Yes, I've seen him. And he hasn't a full band, either. "

"Looks as if he's grazing down here on the mesa so as to watch us, "Bryant mused. "When we went north, he and his sheep drifted in thatdirection; when we were over on the mountain side, they followedthere. What shall we do about it?"

"I don't see that we can do anything except to watch him, too, andfool him. " The lad took thought for a moment, and then proceeded, "Somebody was around here yesterday while we were away, for I saw abrown paper cigarette stub on the ground in front of the door thismorning. You use white papers; it's mostly Mexicans who have thosestraw papers. "

"Then we had better put an extra nail or two in the windows as aprecaution, " Lee stated, "before we go down to Sarita Creek. And I'llleave Mike here also. If anybody comes fooling around, he'll take apiece out of the fellow's leg. "

In addition to nailing the windows and leaving Mike at the door, muchto his dissatisfaction, Bryant secreted his papers, note-books, andmaps, the theft of which would be an extremely serious loss. Menocalprobably would not instigate open lawlessness, but his hirelings mightbreak into the house on their own initiative. And this was notunlikely since a bitter feeling was systematically being arousedagainst Bryant and his project among the preponderate Mexicaninhabitants. 

But for the time being he dismissed this matter from his thoughts, when with tripod and rod and a bundle of stakes on Dick's saddle heand Dave set out for Sarita Creek, leading the horse. Bryant hadpostponed, under pressure of work, the business of fixing the femininehomesteaders' garden ditch, until his conscience began to prick him onthe subject. He had neither seen nor had news of them since the chancemeeting at the ford; but now, as he could survey his canal line on themesa only during the early hours, he planned to make frequent visitsto the girls. 

That they already had a caller this afternoon he discovered onarriving at the two little cabins built of boards, peeping forth fromamong the trees in the mouth of the cañon. The place was indeedcharming, with its grass and shade, with its brook flowing close bythe dwellings, with walls of rock rising behind. Just now anautomobile rested before the trees; and the engineer saw a man sittingon the grass with Ruth Gardner and Imogene Martin, the three chattingand laughing gaily. When Bryant got a good look at the other visitorhe gave vent to an ejaculation in which was blended surprise andcontempt. "That magpie! Of all damn impudence!" For the cavalier sodebonairly entertaining the young ladies was none other than theolive-skinned Charlie Menocal. 

A sense of pique was Bryant's succeeding feeling. He would havedisdainfully denied that he was moved by a pang of jealousy. But hehad anticipated finding the girls alone and having a pleasant chatwith them, enjoying their companionship, relaxing from the strain ofarduous work, harkening to their badinage. Indeed, if the interloperhad been someone else, some other man, at least, he would haveexperienced a turn of disappointment--but that the individual shouldbe this tricky, coddled, egotistical Charlie Menocal! Well, he shouldalign the girls' irrigating ditch and then go about his business. 

"I've been delayed in coming to correct your water flow, " he remarked, when the fair homesteaders had given him greeting, "but I'm on hand atlast. "

Ruth Gardner, looking prettier and fuller of spirits than ever, assured him the ditch was behaving no better than before. Her nextwords, however, left him with an impression that he and not CharlieMenocal was the intruder, which hardened his annoyance into a desireto have done with the matter. 

"I wish you had come some other day, for we're just about to depart, "she exclaimed. "Mr. Menocal is very kindly taking Imo and me in hiscar to see the old ruins of a pueblo somewhere over west. We'll begone probably all the rest of the afternoon, and there'll be no one toshow you the ditch and what's wrong with it. "

"Oh, I'll find out what's wrong and straighten out the trouble, " theengineer replied. "You've a spade or shovel, I suppose? Go right aheadwith your exploring expedition and don't worry about me; the ditchwill be working properly when you return. "

"Well, if you don't really need us----"

"Not in the least, " was his assurance. 

She still hesitated, while her look travelled from Bryant to Menocaland back again. To the engineer that inclusive regard indicated thather mind was less concerned with the garden ditch than with acomparison of her two visitors; and with a sudden feeling of warmthabout his neck Bryant admitted to himself that he presented noattractions. He wore laced boots, soiled khaki trousers and flannelshirt, with his hat pulled over one eye against the sun; Menocal wasdressed in light gray clothes, thin and cool, low white shoes, a palepink silk shirt (trust a Mexican for colour somewhere!) a vividrose-hued scarf, and a white cap. To further emphasize the contrast, Bryant led a loaded horse and a gangling boy, while Charlie Menocalleaned at ease against his twin-six. Quite a difference, for a fact. And it was plain that Ruth Gardner noted it with discrimination. 

Imogene Martin now spoke. 

"I don't think I'll go, Ruth. I've not been feeling well the last dayor two, as you know, and I'm afraid to risk the sun. "

"Oh, come on, Imo. The ride will do you good, " her friend replied, with a trace of impatience. 

"No, I told Mr. Menocal when he proposed the expedition that I doubtedif I should go. "

"Too bad not to come, Miss Martin, " that worthy remarked, withoutenthusiasm. Clearly his interest in what company he should have didnot point toward her. 

"I'm going, at any rate, " Ruth Gardner said. And then, "Oh, dear! Ioverlooked altogether introducing you you two gentlemen. "

Bryant was human; the opportunity was one he could not let pass. Sosmiling broadly he said:

"We've met before, haven't we, Menocal? At Perro Creek ford. " Andreceiving no response but a scowl, he spoke at large, "Well, I mustget busy if I'm to save those beans. "

He led Dick, with Dave at his side, toward the garden on open groundbelow the trees, where the bean vines were already turning yellow forlack of water. He chuckled as he went, for the disappearance ofCharlie Menocal's patronizing air and the sudden thundercloud hangingon his visage attested that the charge had gone home. 

Ten minutes later the automobile passed the garden, but Bryant, whohad set up his tripod and stationed Dave with his rod some distanceoff, did not see the hand Ruth Gardner waved. His eye was where anengineer's eye should be, at his transit. 

"She waved at you, " Dave called. 

"Who?"

"That girl with the Mexican. "

"Well, what of it?"

When Bryant used that tone, Dave recognized the wisdom of silence. Hepretended that he had not heard. Even his employer, whom heworshipped, had strange, mysterious moods. 

CHAPTER VII

The defect in the ditch proved to be one of minor character, whichBryant corrected after a few observations and half an hour's work witha shovel. While he was thus engaged, Imogene Martin, wearing awide-brimmed straw hat, strolled out to watch his operations. She wasin a friendly and talkative mood, and asked questions concerningditches and irrigation and surveying, and about Dave, and speculatedon the ruins of the pueblo whither Ruth and Charlie Menocal had gone, and said she was glad Bryant had bought the ranch just north of theirclaims and would be their neighbour. Only, she added, she was sorry tolearn that he was having trouble with the people about; Mr. Menocalhad stated such to be a fact, though what he had further hinted ofBryant's endeavour to gain property to which he had no title and ofthe engineer's being a trouble-maker, she did not for one instantbelieve. 

"I'll be a trouble-maker for Charlie and his dad if they continuetheir present policy, " Lee vouchsafed, tossing aside a shovelful ofearth. 

Imogene Martin carefully flattened a hill of bean plants for a seat, sat down, and locked her hands over her knees. 

"I think you're to be trusted, so I'll tell you a secret, " sheremarked, smiling. "Charlie Menocal doesn't make a 'hit' with me, either. When you referred to the ford, I could scarcely keep my facestraight; and my feeling ill this afternoon, though partly true, wasalso partly manufactured, because I didn't want to go to those oldruins with him. I don't care for men like him especially. I share thefeeling of my uncle in Kennard--"

"You have an uncle there? I thought you were from the East. "

"I am; from Ohio. But I've an uncle and aunt living in Kennard, whichis the reason Ruth and I came to this section for homesteads. Ruth wascrazy to take up a claim, having read how easily one is acquired, while my health was not very good and the doctor at home thought itwould be improved by being in the open in a high altitude. Uncle saidI'd better stay with him and aunt, but I knew how terriblydisappointed Ruth would be if I did, because she couldn't homesteadalone. So uncle declared that if homesteaders we had to be, then wemust locate near him where he could have me under his eye, so tospeak. I myself am not taking this claim business very seriously. Andnow uncle, who once had some controversy with the elder Menocal, wouldn't be very well pleased if he knew the son was making calls onus. "

"So others besides myself have trouble with the Menocals, " Bryantstated. 

"Apparently. I don't know what this particular difficulty was about, but uncle is president of a bank in Kennard and so it may have beensome financial matter. Or it may have been over politics; both of themmix in that. Anyway, he doesn't think highly of the elder Menocal, and has no use at all for the younger; so I know he would be vexed atRuth and me for receiving this Charlie. "

"You didn't know him that day he and I clashed at the ford, " Leesuggested. 

"Oh, no. Our meeting came about one afternoon about a week afterward. He overtook us on the road a mile or so away from here and politelyoffered to bring us home in his car; we were walking and couldn't verywell refuse his courtesy, and then he asked to call and Ruth at oncegave him permission, and that's the way it came about. But I thoughtit wise to draw the line at going off miles and miles with him to seeruins. Of course, Ruth hasn't any uncle to consider, but uncle or nouncle I should have drawn the line just the same. "

"A colour line, eh?" Lee asked, with a lift of his brows. 

"Yes, that's it, though I hesitated to put it in just those words, "she agreed, with a nod, while both her lips and her blue eyes smiledat him in amusement. "Really, Mexicans are of different blood andrace, you know, and I feel the--gulf. That probably sounds foolish andridiculous, still I can't help the feeling. When I look at a man likeCharlie Menocal, I see the Mexican strain uppermost even if his motherwas white; and I think what strange, savage, unguessed traits may lurkin his blood from a long time back; and I shiver. One dare not saythey have ceased. There may be forces at work in his soul that areinherited from the very tribesmen who dwelt in that pueblo ages ago, whose ruins he and Ruth have gone to see. Who knows? And I'm neverable to rid myself of the feeling that such forces exist in him andhis kind. "

The engineer thrust his shovel into the earth and seated himselfbeside the girl. 

"Nor I, " said he. "And I suppose that feeling will remain betweenpersons of different races as long as the races themselves last. Thosewho ignore or deny it are simply blind. Why, look, there's antipathybetween even white men of different nationalities! So what else is tobe expected when the question is one of race and colour? Nor will oneor two generations change what is infused in blood and sinew. "

"Now, that's what uncle says, " Imogene Martin declared, "and assertsthat's the reason why Mexicans born and raised here are in sympathywith those across the border in any trouble Mexico has with ourcountry. " Her face all at once became amused. "He says craniums wereshaped long before governments. "

Bryant laughed on hearing that concise summing up of the case. Andthen they continued to talk of this and other subjects, while DaveMorris drew near and silently drank in the conversation, most of whichpassed above his head. As for the engineer, he found in his companiona peculiar charm that he never would have suspected from their firstmeeting at the ford; a pleasure begotten of a quick intelligence and akeen, trained mind. 

"I've delayed you in your work, " she exclaimed, at length. 

"Except to throw out a few shovelfuls of dirt, and that will take buta moment. I was done. I didn't sit down until it was practically putin shape. I hope we shall have another talk soon; this one has been agreat treat for me. Let me help you up. "

When he had cleaned the last clods from the ditch, he set off withtripod and shovel on shoulder to walk with her to the cabins, whileDave followed with Dick. At the houses Bryant cast an appraising lookat the scanty heap of chopped wood and wound up his visit by seizingthe axe and attacking the store of dry poles hauled from the cañon bythe man who had built the cabins. 

"There, that will keep you going for awhile, " he stated, when he hadproduced a large pile of sticks. "I don't believe you're strong enoughto handle an axe, Miss Martin; and it would grieve me deeply to learnyou had removed a toe in the attempt. Really, this homesteading gameisn't for women and girls. "

"Oh, we've made out fairly well. "

"Your spirit is admirable, but I can't say as much for your judgmentin the matter, " he returned, good-naturedly. "Still, we all go huntingtrouble in our own individual fashion; if not in one way, why, then inanother. "

It was after five o'clock when Lee Bryant and Dave, once more leadingthe loaded horse, took their departure and followed Sarita Creek downto the mesa trail. When they had struck into the latter and travelledit for half a mile, they saw a long distance ahead someone walkingtoward them, also leading a horse. In a land where men saddle a mountto ride a few hundred yards, the singular coincidence excited theircuriosity. They wondered why the fellow walked, as doubtless he waswondering the same thing of them. But as they drew nearer theyperceived the pedestrian to be not a man but a woman; and when theymet Bryant recognized in her the girl who had sat by Charlie Menocalin his automobile at the ford. Her gray corded riding habit wasdusty; she appeared both hot and tired; and her countenance showed adeep dejection. The horse she led was limping. 

Bryant raised his hat and addressed her. 

"Your horse has gone lame, I see. Can I be of any service to you?"

"I'm afraid not; he acts as if he had strained a tendon, " she replied. "So I'm leading him home. Our ranch is on Diamond Creek. "

"But you had a fall! There's blood on your glove. "

"No, it's not from that, " she said, with a shake of her head. 

Bryant again remarked the exquisite molding of her face as he hadnoted it at their first meeting, and her wide brow and clear browneyes and the fineness of her skin, and her warm, sensitive lips, atthis instant moving in the barest tremble imaginable. She was gazingat him with a curious, troubled look. 

"Bring Dick here, " Lee bade Dave. 

He swiftly untied the ropes and removed tripod, rod, and saddle. Thenhe unfastened the hitch of the saddle of the horse the girl led. 

"Why, what are you doing?" she exclaimed. 

"Giving you a fresh horse. You can ride mine home and send him back tome to-morrow; I live just ahead on Perro Creek at the Stevensonplace. "

"I wondered if you weren't the new owner, for I had learned that theranch had been sold by Mr. Stevenson. Father bought his sheep. You areMr. Bryant, aren't you? This is most kind to lend me your horse. "

"You'll find Dick gentle; and you can lead your own mount. Walkingappears to have exhausted you. "

Again she shook her head, with an odd expression growing upon herface--anxiety, distress, just what Lee could not exactly decide. Butas she made no explanation, he gave her a hand and swung her uponDick, after which he handed her the reins and advanced the hope thatshe should arrive home without further misadventure. 

She made no move to depart, however, but sat regarding the engineer. 

"I was at your house, " she stated, finally. 

"To see me?"

"To find you, or someone, who could help me. When my horse went lamenear the ford, I found that he had picked up a stone which I couldn'tremove. So I led him to your house, seeking assistance. When I reachedthere----"

She stopped in her recital, compressing her lips and gazing off acrossthe sagebrush. 

"Well?" the engineer encouraged. 

"When I reached there, I heard a dog whining. "

Bryant stiffened. 

"I left my dog Mike behind, " said he. 

"The sound was really more like a moaning, " she went on. "At first Icould see nothing, but when I looked everywhere I found that it camefrom one of the three cottonwood trees. Somebody had hurt him, and thepoor creature was suffering terribly. I--I can hardly tell what hadbeen done to him!" And she shuddered. 

"Mike! They've killed my dog Mike!"

"They nailed him to a cottonwood tree. A nail through each leg. Anail through his throat. Nails through his body. They had crucifiedhim. And, oh, his pitiful eyes!"

Lee Bryant stood perfectly still and quiet. Dave was frozen andhorrified. Both gazed fixedly across the mesa to where the cottonwoodscould be seen. 

"Is Mike alive yet?" Bryant asked presently, in an unsteady voice. 

"No; not now. I found a piece of iron and hammered the nails free. Then I lifted him down and carried him to the creek and washed hiswounds. But he died. I see his eyes yet, looking up at me. " For alittle she was overcome. Then she resumed, "When he was dead, Icarried him up to your door, for I knew you must have loved him. "

Bryant glanced up at her. 

"Mike would know you were a friend, " he said. 

She nodded and reined Dick about. Leading the other horse, she rodeaway through the sunshine that burnished the mesa. 

CHAPTER VIII

July passed. Followed August, with days likewise hot and unvaryingexcept for a scarcely appreciable retardation of dawn. Perro Creek nowshowed no water at all in its shallow bed; the garden planted by theStevensons was long dried up; the sagebrush was dustier than ever; andBryant and Dave were hauling in a barrel on a sledge water for theiruse from a pool in the cañon. 

From daybreak until about eight o'clock in the morning the engineerand his assistant worked on the canal line. Bryant had run afictitious survey along the mountain side, staking it outconspicuously for any one to see, to the first of the fenced claims ofthe Mexican homesteaders, where it ended as if blocked; but his realline on the mesa remained unstaked. 

To the low ridge, or spur of ground, projecting from the mountain'sbase at a point half a mile south of his right of way through thefields, where the canal began its sweep out upon the plain, he gaveconsiderable time. The fall of this at first was sharp, and concretedrops would have to be constructed at intervals for a distance of amile or so in order to lower the water. When this section was leftbehind, he advanced rapidly along the line, for the surface of thegentle crescent swell was smooth, its grade fairly regular, and itscontour fixed by nature. Essential points he marked by stones, withmerely their surfaces exposed, so that if noticed they would beconsidered scattered pieces of rock from the hills. At the proper timethey would constitute guides for later staking. 

Evenings Bryant spent in developing his notes and in making tracingsof the canal sections covered. During the day hours, when he knewwatchful eyes were on him, he made a topographical survey of hisranch; work that he could carry on openly. The five thousand acrescomprising the tract had a general direction of east and west, beingabout four miles long and two miles wide, which for the most part layequally on each side of Perro Creek. By using the water of this streamduring the flood season, a period of some weeks in spring and earlysummer, Bryant would be able very considerably to augment the supplyfrom the Pinas. It was necessary to join the two sources in a unifiedsystem of laterals that would efficiently serve the tract; andtherefore the whole enterprise required study, innumerablemeasurements, calculations of dirt moving, of water distribution, ofdam, weir, and gate construction, of soil analysis--a coördination ofthe thousand and one matters concerned in an irrigation project thatare preliminary to breaking ground. So early and late he toiled, andwith him Dave Morris. 

The boy indeed did enough for a man. And Bryant would sometimes arisefrom his drawing board where he worked after supper until midnight, togo and affectionately gaze at Dave sleeping the sleep of exhaustion. 

One afternoon, when the pair were at work near the southern boundaryof the ranch, Ruth Gardner came through the sagebrush to the spot, amile from Sarita Creek. 

"I could see you, just black specks, from our cabins; and since youdon't visit us, I made up my mind to visit you, " she announced. "I'venoticed you down here for two days past. Days and days have gone bywithout you coming to pay another call. "

"Well, we've been sticking pretty steadily at our job, " Bryantreplied. "Won't you use this bag of stakes for a seat? It will keepyou off the ground. "

Ruth accepted the proffered resting place and loosened the thongs ofher hat, inspected her face in a tiny mirror produced from somewhere, rubbed her nose with a handkerchief, and then gave her attention toher companions. 

"Our garden has grown splendidly since you fixed the ditch, " she said. "Thanks to you. How is yours?"

"It has expired. "

"Then you shall have things out of ours--if you'll come get them. See, I'm using that to decoy you. There are beans, peas, lettuce, radishes, and new potatoes, not very large yet, of course. I know just whatyou're doing: working hard, eating only canned stuff, skimping yourfood, and ruining your digestion. "

Bryant laughed. Her tone had expressed indignation, while her face wasdirectly accusatory. 

"We seem to have fair health, don't we, Dave?" he remarked. 

"You look positively thin, " said she. "And as for this poor starvedshadow that you call Dave! Well, I won't say my thoughts. For a pennyI'd invite myself to dinner at your house just to see what you dohave. "

At this possibility both the engineer and his young assistantdisplayed signs of consternation. Under pressure of work housekeepinghad been an unimportant trifle frequently postponed; last meal'sdishes were washed while the next meal was preparing; clothes wereleft where they were carelessly flung; and surveying tools, maps, andpapers littered the rooms. No, it was not a dwelling in which toentertain a feminine guest. 

"Maybe I had better go there and clear up things some, " Dave stated, uneasily. And without awaiting a reply from Bryant, he set off throughthe sagebrush for the house. 

Ruth began to laugh, resting her cheeks in her hands. 

"That poor solemn boy, he took me seriously!" she exclaimed. "Ishouldn't come alone, of course; it wouldn't be proper--and Imo wouldbe horrified. Well, you may as well sit down and talk to me, Mr. Bryant, for you can't work alone, and I've come to stay awhile. Imogene told me what a nice talk she had with you the afternoon I wentto the ruins, and I hoped you'd come soon again, but you never did. "

"Perhaps I haven't been exactly neighbourly. "

He lowered himself to the ground and sat cross-legged, consideringher. 

"I thought that possibly I had offended you in going off so abruptlywith Charlie Menocal, " she said, with eyes fastened on his. "You andhe aren't very good friends. I know----"

"We're not friends at all; we're enemies. "

"That need not keep you away from us. He has been very civil and kind, but neither Imogene nor I have any particular fancy for the man. Besides, I think his chief interest in life centres around a girlliving on Diamond Creek, named Louise Graham; he hinted that they wereas good as engaged. Very likely we shall see little more of him. So ifyour dislike at meeting him is the reason for your staying away, youhaven't a good reason at all. Don't you think Imo and I ever tire oflistening to each other? Any two girls would, living alone bythemselves. After your promise at the ford we were delighted--and howmany calls have we had from you? Just one. With me away, too!"

"To-morrow will be Sunday; I'll stop work at noon and come, " hedeclared. 

She pointed a forefinger at him and wiggled her thumb, in imitation ofa pistol. 

"Hold up your right hand and swear it, " she commanded, "or I'llshoot. " She continued to menace Bryant while he obeyed. "There, nowyou're safe. And bring that hungry boy and we'll feed you both; thisis a dinner invitation, understand. Now, tell me about everything. "

"Everything?"

"All you're doing with that three-legged telescope and these stakes. "

She smoothed her dress and manifested an expectant interest. Theimpression Bryant had gained at the first accidental meeting at PerroCreek, of her good looks, of her vitality and irrepressible spirits, was heightened. As he recollected his feeling of pique at her visitwith Charlie Menocal to the ruined pueblo, he realized that he hadindulged in a bit of senseless, unwarranted umbrage; and now had, inconsequence, a quick desire to make amends. It was as if he mustreëstablish himself in her good opinion and his own. 

Their talk ran on from topic to topic. The gaiety of her commentspleased him; the youthfulness of her was irresistible; and he foundhimself observing the changing curves of her throat and cheek as sheturned her head a little aside or raised her chin; found himselfwatching for certain unconscious attitudes; awaiting the lift of hereyes to his, harkening for particular tones of her voice. And Bryant, who, though he knew it not, was also athirst for companionship, moreand more yielded to her subtle feminine attraction. "She's evenprettier than I supposed, " he thought. Her lips, her nose, her eyes ofdeep gray with their wonderfully long lashes--each had a particularcharm of its own. He admired the grace of her figure. He felt an oddsurprise at her apparent soft and pliant strength, as at a discovery. His mind thrilled with delight at her laughter. 

"Look where the sun is!" she exclaimed, all at once. "Straight overour heads--noon. Your David will be wondering where you are, whileImogene will imagine I'm lost. Let me pick a flower to stick in theribbon of your hat and then I'll go. "

"Your fingers will suffer; I'll get some, " Lee said, quickly. From aspreading bed of prickly-pear he plucked a dozen of the cactusblossoms, ranging in colour from a delicate lemon to a deep orange. Heturned to her. 

"First I'll decorate you, " he said. "Please assume an angelicexpression and gaze straight at the camera. "

She tilted her chin upward and thrust her arms downward with all fivefingers of each hand stretched apart. But immediately she began tolaugh. Lee gave her a reproving tap on the uplifted chin and thenfastened the flowers in her hat-band. A thrill like fire ran throughhis body at the proximity of that soft, round chin, those red lips, her eyes gleaming with merriment. 

"Now, beauty!" he said, stepping back. 

The yellow blossoms made a garland about her hat. 

"Do you like them thus?" she asked, delighted. 

"Immensely. "

"Then they shall stay there. And Imo will die of envy when I tell herthey're yours. "

"Nobody ever died of that. "

"Perhaps not. But she will suffer extremely. You didn't even put beanplants in her hat. "

Lee was highly amused at this raillery. He began to walk forward byher side as she moved away from the spot, now addressing her, nowlistening to her words, in a desire to stretch the last minute to theuttermost. Her head came just even with his shoulder, so that she hadto raise her face to gaze at him when he spoke, and in the act therewas something simple, winning, blithe, as likewise in the swing of herlissom figure beside his own there was an inimitable jauntiness andcheer. He divined her eager, ardent spirit; and the closeness of her, this comradeship, set his blood humming. 

Abruptly he halted, laying a finger on her arm. 

"I mustn't go the whole way, you know, " he said, "though I should liketo. For, by heavens, you've opened my eyes! Didn't realize howsatiated with myself I'd become. But I'll make up for that now, MissRuth, and it won't be very long before you and your friend will beplanning how to rid yourselves of me. "

"Just try us and see, " she exclaimed. 

"Well, I shall. Till to-morrow, then. "

"Till to-morrow, yes. " She moved forward some paces and wheeled about, pointing her forefinger at his head and working her thumb. "Beware--and don't forget!" Then after another advance and face aboutshe concluded by blowing him a kiss off the palm of her hand, withwhich performance she did actually start for home, weaving her waythrough the sagebrush and going farther and farther off. 

"What a pretty little witch she is!" thought Lee; and he, too, madehis way from the spot. 

Dave's hot, harassed face greeted him at the door. 

"Where is she? Didn't she come?" he cried, peering about everywhere. "Well, thank goodness for that! But if that isn't the way with agirl--and after I'd swept up and made the beds and scraped all theskillets, too!"

CHAPTER IX

That Sunday afternoon at Sarita Creek! The dinner, so savoury, sodelectable; the two girls, arrayed in cool white lawn, rosy-cheeked, beaming; the gay talk and banter and laughter; the blissful hourstogether on the grass beneath the trees, with the wide mesa diffusingan immense languor, with the mountains bestowing a vast peace, withthe brook at their feet murmuring an accompaniment to theirwords--hours to treasure, hours of pure gold: Little wonder that Dave, lying full length and gazing upward through the boughs at the bluevault, allowed his eyelids to sink and at last to close. Little wonderthe girls' faces grew dreamy and their voices gentle. And none, noneat all, that Lee succumbed to the spell. 

He was still under the enchantment when toward sunset Ruth suggestedthey go up the cañon. But Imogene, arousing herself, declared that shehad letters to write; and Dave, still fast asleep, was already onroamings of his own. Ruth and Lee therefore went alone up the paththrough the trees and underbrush, until they emerged in the cool, dusky gorge formed by the contracting of the rocky walls. The brookrippled by over stones and moss. A few insects hovered over the streamwith their tiny bodies shining like bronze. From somewhere came asweet, honeyed smell of flowers. 

"Imo writes letters regularly, " Ruth explained concerning her friend, "to an instructor in a university in the East. I don't think they'reexactly affianced, but expect to be. Waiting, apparently. Waitinguntil he's a professor--and until her health is better, too, Iimagine. An agreement to let things rest as they are for the present, one might say. Imogene talks very little about it, and of course I askno questions. "

She sat down on a fallen tree, patting its trunk to signify a placefor him at her side. Pointing at crevises in the cañon wall, she beganto tell him the names she and Imogene had given them--Bandit's Stair, Devil's Crack, Bear's Hole, and to enumerate those assigned thejutting points and knobs along the rim that by a stretch of theimagination bore a resemblance to animals or human heads. 

As she talked, with her gray eyes at times turning to his to learn ifhe was interested, he felt anew the charm of her youthfulness, of hervivid personality. It dwelt in her small, firm hands pointing nowhere, now there, in her slender, rounded form faced toward him, in herred lips, her soft smooth cheek, her brow, in her glances and heranimated words. He noted again, as a quality altogether delicious, theair of unconscious friendliness that he had perceived at their veryfirst encounter. It quite offset the slight touch of obstinacy in herchin--but, in truth, did the latter require an offset? He had earlierthought that with such a trait one could not foretell where itspossessor might go, or what do, or what exact, under stress offeeling. He smiled at that now. How ridiculous the notion! Whyshouldn't a girl have a bit of determination in her make-up? Well, sheshould. It gave force to her character. It made her more individual, more attractive. It coloured a nature so essentially feminine as RuthGardner's with elusive and delightful possibilities. 

"See, up yonder at the top!" she exclaimed. "That piece of rock like aman's head and shoulders I named Lee Bryant, after you. "

"Do I look as block-headed as that?"

"No. It was not because of any resemblance, but because you kept yourback so long toward us. Now, however, since you've repented and ceasedto neglect us, I shall call it after someone else. Perhaps after thestage-driver who takes our letters down to Kennard; he sits hunched uplike that. I'll seek a much nicer rock to represent you. "

"That's wholly unnecessary, for I intend to keep before your eyes inperson. "

"Which will be the nicest of all, " said she, smiling. 

He continued to gaze at her, to listen to her voice, with a pleasurehe made no effort to conceal. And she, on her part, seemed tosurrender herself to the enjoyment of the moment; her eyes remaininglonger on his, her tones softening to a slow, tender utterance almostcarrying a caress, her face keeping its languorous smile; as if thehoney-sweet fragrance from the unseen flowers had invaded her spirit. 

A pause came in their talk. They sat unmoving, without stir of hand orhead, quiescent. Then Lee all at once experienced a feeling ofprofound compassion for Ruth as he regarded her, a poignant stab inhis breast like pain. Sitting there without movement, with her handsidle upon her lap, with her face a little lifted and her eyeswistfully bent on the great wall opposite, she seemed so young andsmall to be dwelling at such a place, so helpless, so solitary, thather presence appeared a cruel irony of fate. Her homesteading was adesperate clutch at security; and her situation was utterly differentfrom that of her friend, Imogene Martin, who viewed the matter as inthe nature of a health-seeking holiday, and who was sustained by theknowledge that she had wealthy relations at Kennard to whom she couldreturn. Far different, indeed. At the thought of the homesickness thatat times Ruth must know, of the lonesomeness of mountain and mesa fromwhich she must suffer, of the deprivations, the hard bareness of thelife, the moments of despair, he had a sensation of the bitterunfairness of things and a desire to snatch her safe away from theharsh pass in which she stood. It would be only right, it would beonly just. 

When presently she looked about and found his eyes rapt on her face, aquick blush spread over her throat and cheeks. 

"I think--think we should go home now, " she said, with a catch of herbreath. 

"Yes, " said he, rising. 

He leaped the log on which they had been sitting and then put up ahand to help her mount. Holding his fingers she raised herself uponthe tree trunk. But suddenly the bark gave way; she slipped, lost herbalance, and pitched forward. Lee caught her in his arms. 

For an instant she rested there in his clasp, her surprised eyesgazing into his. A quiver passed over her form. Her lips were parted, but she had ceased to breathe. Likewise in Bryant's breast the breathhad stopped. A fierce passion swept him to hold her always thus, warmand close and secure. His arms trembled at the thought; at which hereyelashes began to flutter and her breath to come once more, ashurried as the beat of her heart. And then, yielding utterly to theswirl of mad impulse, he kissed her--once, twice, and twice again. 

Afterward he set her on her feet. 

"I guess that ends our friendship, " he said, with a wavering smile. "Lost my head altogether. Couldn't help it. I looked at you and--andit just happened. All my will and sense vanished in an instant. Bewitched!"

The colour was still in her face, and her air was uncertain, disturbed. But at his words, so palpably sincere and selfcondemnatory, she began to smile. 

"Perhaps--if we just forget----"

The smouldering fire in his eyes flared suddenly. 

"Forget? I'll never forget that minute, those kisses, " he exclaimed. "Hanged if I want to, or will!"

"If, then, we don't repeat them, and are more circumspect, why, I'lloverlook it, " she said, a little confusedly. "I know you meant nodiscourtesy. " He gave a savage shake of his head. "And Imogene and Iboth prize your friendship. "

"Thank you, Ruth. You take an awful load off my heart. "

She glanced up at him, now once more composed. Her eyes gleamed with aveiled impishness. 

"No girl ever died from being kissed. But what a splendid lover youwould make!" Away she darted a few steps, to whirl and point andwaggle a finger at the dumfounded youth. "Are you coming? Because Idon't consider this a wise place to be with a flighty, irresponsibleman, first name Lee. Besides, it's beginning to grow dark in here. "

Bryant joined her. The glow was still in his eyes, but in all otherrespects he was his usual self, calm, collected. Together they wentdown the cool, dim cañon, with its honey scent of flowers driftingwith them; and though they talked lightly of things of no importance, there was a little smile on the lips of each and sometimes their eyesmet, as if sharing a new, sweet intimacy. 

Thereafter, frequent as were Lee's calls at Sarita Creek of evenings, he seldom had Ruth to himself and on more than one occasion had toshare her company with Charlie Menocal, much to his impatience. WhenImogene sometimes succeeded in detaining the fellow at her side, Bryant silently gave her unutterable thanks. And Ruth seemed day byday more receptive to his passion. 

"I think of only two things, my canal and you, " he declared to her onenight. 

"When you put me first and the canal second, why, who knows what I maythink then?" she said, tantalizingly. "But to esteem an irrigationditch before me, the idea! What if you had to choose between us?" Andshe continued thus to tease him, fanning the fires hotter in hisbreast. 

By the end of August Bryant had completed the survey of the canal linedown to a point where it touched the northern boundary of the ranch, tapping the latter's system of distributing ditches. Pinas River, Perro Creek, and the tract to be watered were thus united. Thoughlater, doubtless, it would be necessary to make minor corrections, asalways, the surveying was finished. One tracing showed the entireirrigation scheme from the dam on the Pinas to the tips of thelaterals branching out in a gridiron over the land. There were othertracings, too, on a larger scale and of successive sections, ready tobe taken to Kennard in order to make blueprints. 

"Town for us to-morrow, Dave, " Lee exclaimed one day, as he rolled andtied his maps in a waterproof canvas. "We're due for a rest; our jobis done for the present. We'll leave the instruments and note-bookswith the girls at Sarita Creek, who've agreed to keep them until wereturn. The Mexicans are still hanging around. "

Toward the middle of the afternoon they appeared at the cabins, wherethey disengaged Dick from his burden of freight and turned him out tograze. Imogene was nursing an obstinate headache in her darkenedbedroom, and Dave immediately settled himself under a tree with anovel of the girls'. So Ruth and Lee were left to themselves. 

"I'm going up the creek to gather raspberries, and you came just intime to carry the basket, " said she. "I discovered a large thicket ofthem half way up the cañon; the more you pick, the more you'll havefor supper to-night. And if you don't bring Imo and me a box ofchocolates, and a big box, when you come back from wherever you'regoing to-morrow, you need never show your lean brown face again at ourdoors! I'm dying for some. Oh, Lee, I really am. They help so whenone's lonely. "

The pathetic tone in which she uttered the final words sent Bryant offin a fit of laughter. 

"You may count on them, " he said, at length. 

"Your heart's of stone to laugh like that. Bonbons _do_ help when oneis low-spirited. "

Nevertheless, her spirits were high enough on this afternoon. All thewhile that they were gathering raspberries she kept up a livelychatter, and when Lee suggested, now that the basket was full, leavingit at the spot and making an excursion to the head of the gorge, shereadily assented. The sun was still far from setting; the air betweenthe rocky walls was pleasant; and the cañon held forth a freshenticement. They walked for an hour, and though they failed to gainthe end of the long mountain crevice they ascended to where thesprings that fed the brook had their source, and where the rivulettrickled over ledges and among boulders, finding themselves in theheavy timber that forested the upper mountains. There they sat on arock, Ruth holding the wild flowers she had plucked on the way, andtalked. 

"Does your going now have to do with your project?" she questioned. 

"Yes; I've finished the preliminary work. "

"But Charlie Menocal said you were making no progress, that you wereblocked. "

"What Charlie doesn't know would fill lots of space, " Lee said. "Inspite of the Menocals' opposition and tricks, I've established mysurvey--but don't breathe it yet! And now I'm ready for the financingof the scheme. When that's done, I'll begin actual work. "

Ruth considered him with shining eyes. 

"I'm glad you succeeded; I knew you would succeed, " she exclaimed. "You've worked so hard. And I hope that it makes you famous andwealthy. "

"So do I, " he laughed. "I need the money. "

She nodded. 

"One needs money to be happy in this world. "

"Oh, I don't know about that, " he responded, thoughtfully. "I'veprobably been as happy while hammering out this survey as I'll everbe, that is, happy in my work. Of course, money means comforts andluxuries. But I doubt if it really ever brings contentment. "

The obstinate touch grew in her chin. 

"If I had plenty of money I'd have the contentment, or I'd soon findit, " she declared. "Pretty clothes, and fine furniture, andautomobiles, and servants, and parties, and so on, are things--atleast with women--that go a long way toward satisfaction. I sometimesdon't blame girls who marry rich old men; they can put up with themfor the pleasures their money will procure. "

"Ruth, Ruth, don't utter such nonsense! At any rate, you've too muchcommon sense ever to waste yourself on a doddering money bags. "

"I'll never have the chance, " said she. "But if I had, I'd think itover carefully. A young man with money I could be especially nice to, and I might even set out to catch him. You see, I'm quite frank andopen about it. "

"Nonsense, " he repeated. "You'd marry no one just for his money. "

"That depends whether or not he caught me at a moment when I wasfeeling sick of everything and reckless. Look at my hands, allcalloused from work. If I have to work, I shall do it for myself; notmarry to work. "

Bryant lifted her hands and regarded them. 

"They please me immensely as they are; they're lovely hands, " heasserted. 

"Then your vision is poor. "

"It's clear enough when I look at you, Ruth. And when you talk as youhave, I become impatient because I know you don't mean it. Butnonetheless, you deserve the best that any man can give, and you oughtto have all the comforts and pretty things any woman has, for you'retoo sweet and good for a bare, commonplace life. " He pressed gentlythe fingers he yet retained. "I told you once that you had bewitchedme. It was true; I am bewitched, have been ever since I touched yourdear lips. And I love you. It hurts my heart to think of you at thishomesteading business--"

"What else was there for me?" she asked. "I've had no businesstraining, nothing but two years in a college, no knowledge of anythingthat a girl needs to hold a position. And I'm not even a goodhomesteader. " Her tone rang with a trace of bitterness. 

"You ought not to have to do it--and you shall not, Ruth, if I have myway. I want to save you from it, and make life pleasant and happy foryou. The money I have now is little, but I'm going ahead; I'm goingahead, and nothing shall stop me, I tell you. Soon I shall have amplemeans. Within a year or two. Already I've told you I love you, thoughthis you must have known, for I've made no effort to conceal my love. To me you're the dearest, sweetest girl in the world; and all I ask isthe chance to strive and toil for you, and make a home for you, andrelieve you of anxiety and care, and have you for a joyous companionand mate. "

Ruth closed her hands on his, while her eyes grew wet. 

"You mean it, Lee?"

"Ah, I do, I do! I love you; I hold you dearer than anything in theworld. "

The smile she gave was tender, trustful. 

"I believe you, " she said. 

She yielded to his arms. Her head fell back upon his shoulder and herlook lifted to his blissfully. When he kissed her a thrill of passionatedesire answered, as when on that fragrant evening in the cañon he firsthad fiercely pressed her lips. This was happiness--happiness. If itcould but last forever!

"And my love is yours, too, Lee, " she exclaimed, so earnestly that hefelt his heart quiver. "I want to be happy; I want to be loved; Idon't want to live a life of just dreary commonplaceness, alone, uncared for, with no outlook, with no prospect of joys. I want themost there is in happiness--every girl wants that; and this monotonousexistence has been robbing me, stifling me, until sometimes I've beenwild enough to leap off a high rock. But now!"

Bryant's arms went closer about her. 

"It shall be different now, " he murmured. 

"Yes, yes; it must, it shall. There's no sense in people not beinghappy when the world was made for that very purpose. "

"Whenever you say, we'll be married, " Lee stated. 

Ruth was silent for a time, considering this. It, indeed, left her alittle startled. 

"But it mustn't be too soon, " she replied, at last. "We had best go onas we are while your project is being started, for I wouldn't be soselfish as to make a command on your time at a critical moment, Leedear. And I must plan clothes and things. Knowing that happiness isahead of us, oh, homesteading then will be only a lark! I'll neverneed follow it up, but just abandon it when we're ready. Kiss meagain, Lee, and then we must start back. "

They retraced their steps down the cañon, obtaining the basket ofberries on the way. Once, as they neared the cabins, Ruth paused, gazing at her lover. 

"I had actually come to hate these claims, " she said. "I felt chainedto the spot, as if something would keep me in the miserable place forthe rest of my life. Had I known how lonely I should be here, I neverwould have come. "

"But that's over now, Ruth. A little while longer, that's all. "

She gazed at him with an odd, intent, anxious expression upon hercountenance. 

"You'll not let your irrigation project keep you here always?" sheasked. "Or live in other places like it? These mountains and thisdesolate mesa get on my nerves. If I thought you were going to stayaway from other people, foregoing all the pleasures of cities and thelike, I think I should lose my courage and not be able to love youenough to stand it. I want you most of all, but shall want otherthings, too. "

He smiled indulgently. 

"A few years perhaps, " he replied. "Till I'm solid on my feet--till Iget going well--we're both young--and then----" He dismissed thematter with a wave of the hand. 

But that evening, when Lee and Dave had gone, when Imogene was asleep, when the soft darkness was thickening over the mesa, Ruth walked forthto the edge of the sagebrush. 

"I wonder, " she murmured, leaving her thought unfinished. 

The hush of the mountains, the silence of the plain, the vastness, theemptiness, the seeming purposelessness of it all, irritated andoppressed her spirit. And she so yearned to be where the world wasalive and throbbing!

"I wonder if I really love him enough, or if I made a little fool ofmyself this afternoon?" she muttered to herself. "I wonder!"

CHAPTER X

Charlie Menocal's object in calling upon the young ladies at SaritaCreek was merely diversion. He was fond of girls, especially livelyones, and knew a good many here and there within reach of his motorcar, including a number of pretty Mexican maidens of humble parentage. But his serious attentions centred about Louise Graham of whom insecret he was very jealous. Whenever he could find an excuse, andfrequently when not, he went to the Graham ranch on Diamond Creek, five miles south of the girls' claims, where his figure was asfamiliar (and of about as much interest) as the magpies in thepasture. He fully meant to marry Louise, whose beauty and graciousmanner even to the smallest bare-legged Mexican boy on the ranchcaptivated him and stirred in his breast a maddening desire forpossession, so that he might cut off the rest of the world from hersweetness, so that it might alone feed his passion. Yes, he meant tohave Louise. 

When he was with her his black eyes would shine and a ruddy tingeappear in his dusky cheeks that were as soft and smooth as a Mexicangirl's, and he would restlessly finger a point of his little, silky, black moustache and feel unutterable agitations proceeding in hisheart. Louise Graham did not allow him to declare his adoration, whichhe would have done every moment they were together; when he tried, she walked away. But Charlie counted on his good looks and hisfather's wealth to win her in the end. One fear alone lurked in hisheart, that some young American might come along who would win herinterest; and earlier in the summer he had a decided uneasiness lestBryant prove to be the man. The scoundrelly engineer, however, hadfallen head over heels in love with Ruth Gardner, so that Charlie'smind was relieved on that point. To his knowledge, Louise and Bryanthad never met--which was as it should be. 

Charlie, having stopped about ten o'clock in the morning at the Grahamranch for a chat with Louise while on his way to Kennard, wasconsiderably surprised and exceedingly nettled at beholding theengineer, with Dave behind him on the horse, presently riding up thelane between the rows of cottonwoods. Young Menocal had persuadedLouise to leave her household duties for the moment to sit on theveranda and talk with him. But now had come this impudent upstart!Charlie's warning of someone at hand was when Louise ceased to speakand gazed intently along the lane. His annoyance at the interruptionchanged to a quick jealousy as his companion rose, descended thesteps, bade the engineer welcome, and extended her hand in greeting. 

Bryant explained that he was dropping Dave here to take the stage forKennard when it came along after dinner. He himself was riding on. 

"He'll eat dinner with us, of course, and I'll put him aboard thestage myself, " she exclaimed, with a pat on the shoulder of the boywho had now dismounted. "Won't you stop for a moment, Mr. Bryant?I'll give you a glass of fresh buttermilk to speed you on your way; astirrup cup, we'll call it. The woman has just finished churning. "

Lee declared that he would drink a glass with very great pleasure. Hewas thirsty, he said, and in addition was fond of buttermilk. 

Menocal listened and watched him dismount and ground his teeth. Louiseknew the thief, after all. Where the devil had they become acquainted?It was but one more instance of the engineer's pushing in where hewasn't wanted. And she had not invited him, Charlie, to partake ofbuttermilk, though, to be sure, she knew he did not like it. He feltslighted. 

When Bryant and Louise ascended the veranda, Dave loitering below, theengineer said nonchalantly, "Hello, Charlie, how are tricks? Anythingnew up your sleeve?"--in a way that set the other's blood boiling; andwhen he carelessly added, "What about that story the stage-driver'stelling of you and a señorita going into a ditch with your car atRosita the other night?" he was quite ready to murder both Bryant andthe stage-driver. 

So upset was Charlie that he was unable to share in the conversation. He curtly refused a glass when Louise brought a pitcher of buttermilk, then changed his mind, and ended by choking over the wretched stuff. The situation was intolerable; his pride was smarting; the otherstalked on with unperturbed countenances, ignoring his silence; and hisself-respect required some action in the face of the affront. Heabruptly stood up and announced that he was departing. 

In Louise's manner at this news there was no repining that he couldobserve. She did not protest. Her words were impersonally pleasant asever, but vague; and he perceived that she only half heeded his going;and that her eyes brightened when once more she turned to her visitor. This was the final stab. With hatred in his heart and a wicked glitterin his eyes, Charlie Menocal went down the steps to his automobile, feeling the need of a victim, preferably the engineer. Bryant hadinsulted him at the ford; he was attempting to rob him and his father;he had insolently threatened the elder Menocal; he stopped at nothing;and now he was intruding here and deceiving Louise with his arrogantpretentions. He came on Dave, standing beside the car and examiningthe latch of a door. 

"Keep your hands off that!" he snapped. At the same time he gave theboy a cuff that sent him sprawling. "That will teach you!"

In two bounds Lee Bryant was at the spot. He caught the still-extendedhand in an iron grip. 

"You miserable coward! Striking a boy!" he said, harshly. "Feelingthat you must vent your spite on someone, you pick on this unoffendinglad. If you ever raise so much as a finger against him again----"

"Let him keep away from my machine! And drop my wrist!" CharlieMenocal snarled. 

"And you leave him alone hereafter, in any case, " Lee warned, shovingthe speaker away in disgust. Then he helped Dave to rise. 

Charlie straightened his disarranged tie and coat with tremblingfingers. He could scarcely retain his rage; his body shook all over;his foot slipped twice when he sought to mount into his car. Leaningforward from his seat, he shook a finger in Bryant's face, exclaiming, "You'll get what's coming to you! Like your damned dog!" His face wasentirely viperish. His finger came within an inch of the engineer'snose. His words carried a furious hiss. 

Then he whirled his car about and went tearing down the lane withexhaust wide open and roaring. 

When Bryant, leading Dave, rejoined Louise Graham, a flush ofembarrassment dyed his face. She had sprung up at Menocal's blowknocking the boy over and remained standing, an indignant observer ofthe scene. When Menocal had departed, the engineer recalled suddenlywhat Ruth had said concerning Charlie and Louise Graham beingpractically engaged; and as he now saw her rigid figure and displeasedcountenance, he imagined he had lost her friendship. Still, he couldnot have acted otherwise. 

"I'm very sorry for this occurrence, Miss Graham, " he said, contritely. "Especially as I understand Charlie Menocal is very highin your esteem. "

"Who dares say that!"

"Well, Charlie himself is the authority, I believe, " Lee responded, with a slight smile. 

Her eyes flashed at that. 

"Well, it's not the case; and if it had been, this exhibition of badmanners and bad nature on his part would have changed it. Father and Iconsider him--well, a nuisance. There, I'm giving you a confidence. We've tolerated him because Mr. Menocal senior is a gentleman, and afriend. Now I hope you'll not think me too talkative, but anexplanation was necessary; and as far as Charlie Menocal is concerned, I'd be pleased if I never saw his face again. To knock your youngfriend over so heartlessly! You treated him with altogether too muchleniency, Mr. Bryant. "

"I never do my fighting in the presence of ladies, " Lee remarked, witha grin. "In fact, I try to confine my combats to those of wits. "

She nodded. 

"Of course, " said she; and continued, "this is the second time he hasacted disgracefully to you when I've been by. The first occasion wasat Perro Creek ford. I could have sunk into the earth for shame of himwhen he knew no better than to fling you money after you had filledhis radiator; it was pure insolence, to begin with, to ask you to doit when he should have attended to the matter himself. I admired yourconduct and self-control under the circumstances, Mr. Bryant. " Andaddressing Dave, she asked, "Will you drink another glass ofbuttermilk if I pour it?"

Dave could and did, an example Lee followed. The subject of Menocalwas dismissed, and the man and the girl fell into a conversation ofgeneral matters. She assured the engineer, when he inquired, that hewas not detaining her from household affairs; and urged him, onlearning of his prospective absence, to leave Dick at Diamond Creekand he himself to proceed to Kennard by stage. She owed Dick a returnfor the favour of carrying her home that day her own horse went lame;he could run in the pasture with the other horses, where Bryant wouldknow he was safe. The plan included Bryant's remaining for dinner, naturally. 

"Have I your permission, Dave?" Lee asked. "Or do you refuse to sharethis pleasure with me?"

Dave looked at Louise and blushed furiously. 

"I guess you've made your mind up, " he said, to Bryant. 

"I guess I have, " Lee admitted. 

Toward noon Mr. Graham joined them and laughingly stated that he wasglad to make the acquaintance of the man who was causing such a furoramong the Mexicans along the Pinas. He asked a number of questions andlistened with interest to the engineer's brief exposition of the planto unite the water rights of the Pinas River and of Perro Creek in acommon system, though Bryant disclosed nothing of his survey on themesa. Of the opposition Lee had met or might yet encounter the rancherwas aware, for he remarked, "You have a fight on your hands. " But thatwas his only comment. 

After dinner they all continued to talk while the men were smokingcigars. Graham suggested that if Bryant should need an attorney itwould be well to employ one from Kennard, as those in Bartolo werenearly all Mexicans. The engineer jotted down the name of one therancher recommended, saying that he had his injunction suits to meetin the September term of court. 

"Winship, the sheriff, appears to be one man in Bartolo who's allright, " Lee stated. 

"Yes, he's a good man, " Graham replied. "Can't be influenced orbought; and is perfectly square and impartial in the execution of theduties of his office. He has served twenty years, with exception ofone term when he and Menocal had a disagreement. Menocal controls thevotes in this county, you know; that's general knowledge. But thingsbecame so lax under the Mexican sheriff who displaced him that he wasput back in office. Menocal ordered it; he has much property andbelieves in law and order; and there's little or no stealing withWinship in the sheriff's saddle. I've heard that he first required thebanker to support him unconditionally before resuming the place. "

"I can believe that after a look at Winship, " Lee said, smiling. 

Mr. Graham presently went away to a field where his men were cuttingand stacking alfalfa, after thanking Bryant for rendering assistanceto his daughter on the road and inviting him to call again. Louisethen showed him her flower garden, ablaze with poppies, nasturtiums, sweet peas, and other blossoms he could not name; and the orchardwhere apples and pears and plums weighed the branches. She wasremarkably beautiful, he thought; and was quite sure the roses in thegarden had no petals pinker or softer than her cheeks, and was surethe water rippling in the little, grassy orchard canals was no clearerthan her brown eyes, or the sky more serene than her brow. She was notin the least proud or vain or haughty, as he imagined when he firstbeheld her at the ford. He had had doubts of that after her kindlytreatment of his dying dog Mike. And now to-day he knew that such anopinion did her an injustice, was absurd. 

Louise, too, was thinking as they strolled about. Which of the twogirls on Sarita Creek did he love? For Charlie Menocal had said thathe was infatuated with one. Charlie Menocal! Her cheeks grew warm. What he had boasted in regard to herself, and doubtless Mr. Bryanthad softened the truth, filled her with anger. She would treat theinsufferable wretch differently hereafter. And very likely his gossipof the engineer's feelings for one of the homesteaders was likewise afalsehood, though there was no reason in the world why Mr. Bryantshouldn't love one of them if he chose. She had never met them. Theywere very nice girls, she imagined. She had intended to call, butsomething had always prevented. As for Mr. Bryant, he seemed a veryestimable young man, and good company, and an engineer of ability andwill. 

She continued to speculate after he and Dave had departed on thestage, with a vague sense of missing them. That, she reasoned, wasbecause Lee Bryant had "personality. " And presently her thoughtsfollowed him. Lee's mind, however, was ranging back to Sarita Creek;but Dave's was loyally with the lady of Diamond Creek ranch, as wasmanifest when he murmured thickly, having fallen asleep during thewarm ride:

"No more chicken, thank you--or jelly--or apple pie. "

CHAPTER XI

In Kennard next morning Lee Bryant betook himself to a civilengineering firm, which he engaged to print a number of sets ofblue-prints from his tracings, one set to be ready for delivery earlythat afternoon. Then while his suit of gray clothes, from out of hissuit-case, was being pressed, he and Dave visited a florist, purchaseda wreath of lilies-of-the-valley that Dave chose, and went to thecemetery to place it on the grave of the lad's mother. After that theyproceeded to a clothier's, where the boy was fitted out with a newsuit, a hat, shirts, underwear, and a tie. All of this caused Dave toswallow hard--but he swallowed hardest of all when Lee led him to ahorse dealer's and helped him pick out a pony for trial, a gift fromBryant. He hadn't expected all this. He was too overcome to speak. "Bygolly, Lee, I--I----" he stammered; and stopped, and furtively wipedthe moisture from his eyes. Finally they visited a savings-bank, wherethe engineer deposited a check to Dave's credit, his wages for a monthand a half, forty-five dollars, to start an account, and the boyreceived a small yellow book whose one entry he thereafter studied atfrequent intervals, for it was earning according to Bryant's statementfour per cent a year, though Dave had not the remotest idea of how itdid the earning. Then with all this business transacted they returnedto the hotel, bathed, dressed in their fresh clothes, and went intoluncheon. 

"Luncheon, what do they call dinner that for?" Dave whispered to Leeacross the table. 

Along in the afternoon Bryant, having obtained a set of blue-printsand sent his young companion to a "movie" show, called upon the manthat he all the while had had in view, Imogene Martin's uncle. Alarge, strong-bodied man, with a deeply lined, determined face, thelatter swept his visitor with a quick, appraising look, invited him totake a seat, and to state his business. 

"In five minutes you can tell, " said Lee, "whether or not you wish tolisten longer to my proposition. "

"Yes. "

"I now own the Perro Creek ranch, of five thousand acres. It wasoriginally owned by Mr. Menocal, of Bartolo, but recently by a mannamed Stevenson, from whom I bought it. "

"I know the place, Mr. Bryant. Proceed. "

"It's worth possibly three dollars an acre as it stands, or a total offifteen thousand dollars, " Lee continued. "But it has an unused waterright of one hundred and twenty-five second feet from the Pinas River, sufficient to water the whole tract. How much will the ranch be worthwhen water is actually delivered?"

"A good deal more than fifteen thousand dollars. "

"Rather, " said the engineer, smiling. "The appropriation was securedfrom the state by Mr. Menocal thirty years ago; it's never beencancelled, and is good to-day. He, however, has been using the wateron ranches he owns down the river. A canal from the Pinas along themountain sides to Perro Creek would be expensive to construct, possibly prohibitive; it appears the natural line; and I suppose thisdeterred him. I've located a new and practical course for a ditch onthe mesa, have surveyed and mapped it in detail, calculated the cost, and compiled a statement of estimates, and can build the project forsixty thousand dollars. The tract of five thousand acres can then besold for fifty dollars an acre, or two hundred and fifty thousanddollars. Shall I stop, or do you wish to hear more?"

Now it was the banker's turn to smile. This visitor knew how to make apoint. 

"Go ahead, " he said. 

"All right. A Mexican dam across the Pinas, a mile and a half ofhillside canal, some concrete drops, twelve miles of curving mesaditch, and the ranch is reached. In addition, the flood water of PerroCreek can be utilized; I've worked this out, as well as the entiresystem of laterals for the land. As stated, the cost of the wholeproject will be about sixty thousand dollars, present price ofmaterial and labour. I'm on my way now to the capital to fileapplication for a change in the present canal line, which, since itinvolves only government land, will naturally be allowed. Of courseMr. Menocal isn't taking kindly to my proposed use of this water. " AndLee paused. 

"What has he done? Anything yet?"

"Not much so far, except a little futile skirmishing, " the engineerremarked, with twinkling eyes. "When I paid off his mortgage on theland, I advised him that I should use the water: and he threatened tohave the water right cancelled. But he backed up on that line when Ipromised to lodge him in jail for making false affidavits if he triedthose tactics. Thought I'd head him off in that direction at thestart. I got the jump on him there. Well, now, he's using indirectmeans to keep control of the water, sending half a dozen Mexicans tofile claims at the base of the mountains where he imagines the canalwill have to go. He thinks these have blocked me; and I didn'tundeceive him. He knows nothing about my actual line of survey on themesa. Of course, the loss of this water that he fancied he had hitshim where it hurts, but from what I can gather Mr. Menocal isn't a manto resort to illegal methods. He's wily, that's about all. So that'sthe situation. "

The banker regarded Bryant for a time with a noncommittal face. 

"State your proposition now, " said he. 

"This is it, " Bryant went on. "I propose to bond the ranch and waterright for enough to build the project, then construct it, then marketthe land in farms at fifty dollars an acre. The canal system can becompleted easily next year, and sales and colonization proceedimmediately when done. Naturally, as a sale is made, the mortgage andnotes will be put up behind the bonds to secure the latter. Thepurchasers will pay down some cash, say, ten dollars an acre; thatmakes fifty thousand cash and two hundred thousand dollars in notesagainst sixty thousand dollars in bonds. A visible profit of onehundred and ninety thousand. That amount will be covered by a stockissue. I shall set aside sixty thousand of it as a bonus to whoeverpurchases the bonds. Thirty thousand more shall go to whoever marketsthe bonds, as a commission. The remaining hundred thousand ofstock----"

"Goes to you, I presume. "

"Yes; I keep that. It's payment for the ranch and water right, for mydeveloping the scheme and building the project. What I need is someoneto sell the bonds; I'll take care of everything else. And because you, Mr. McDonnell, know the character of the land hereabouts and knowwater rights, the fertility of the soil when watered, and thesoundness of a proper irrigation project as an investment, I've comefirst to you. Millions aren't involved; it's a small project; the costis uncommonly cheap and the security therefore exceptional; you knowthe property personally; I, as builder, and having everything atstake, would see that the construction is right. So small an issue ofbonds should be quickly placed in the East. And the commission isn'tto be sneezed at. "

Mr. McDonnell's features relaxed into a smile. 

"I never saw an irrigation scheme yet that didn't look a money-makeron paper, " he stated, "nevertheless, seventy-five per cent. Of themwind up in the hands of a receiver. "

"Because of faulty estimates and wasteful construction, yes. Becausethey're generally too big, and the interest eats them up before theland is sold. Because some start building on a shoestring. Or becauseof changes in the projects that are costly, or rows in the management, or insufficient water, or bad land titles--I know, I know. I'vestudied and analyzed their troubles. And I propose that this PerroCreek scheme of mine shall be one irrigation project that shallsucceed. "

"And you think you've taken all precautions?"

"Yes. "

"With Mr. Menocal, even?"

"Even with Mr. Menocal, yes. Once my application for changes has beenapproved and I have the money to build, what can he do?"

"You seem quite sure of yourself. "

"I'm sure of this irrigation project, anyway. I'm going to build it. "Conviction absolutely dominated his lean brown face; and the bankerlooking at the speaker's chin, his firm mouth, curving nose, and grayeyes full of purpose, wondered if Menocal had met his match. 

"Well, suppose you leave your maps and estimates for me to look over, "he said. "When do you go to the capital?"

"This evening. "

"See me again on your return. My attorney will examine your title tothe land and the water right. How are the young ladies on Perro Creekgetting along?"

"They have plenty of fresh air and scenery, " Lee responded, relaxingfrom the tension under which he had been. 

"It was rather a wild notion, their taking claims, but they wanted theexperience. I hope my niece is benefited in respect to her health. Mywife and I run up once in a while to see if they're comfortable. " Thenhe added, "Perhaps I had best confess that Imogene had told me of whatyou were at up there, and of your involvement with Mr. Menocal. Sothis thing isn't wholly new to me. "

Bryant returned to the hotel, well satisfied with the progress he hadmade. In the lobby of the hotel he ran across Charlie Menocal, whogave him a venomous look and passed into the bar without speaking. What the young fellow might feel or think gave Lee no concern, thoughhe might have taken warning from that hostile regard. For it was byCharlie's instructions that a short, stout, swart Mexican went from anative saloon to the depot that evening, where he presently identifiedBryant and lounged nearer the spot. Dave at length noticed him andcalled Lee's attention to the fellow, whose face had a particularlysinister cast and whose eyes were fixed upon the engineer in a stony, unblinking stare. That look gave one the sensation of being gazed atby something poisonous in a clump of sagebrush. But the feeling wasforgotten when the train came in on which they were departing andBryant and Dave mounted the steps of a coach. 

The Mexican, on his part, returned to the saloon, where eventually hewas joined by Charlie Menocal. Charlie's face was flushed and hisbreath alcoholic; he was a little drunk. At a corner table theyconferred, drinking whisky. 

"You will know him now, the snake!" Charlie asked. 

"I would know him in the dark, señor, " was the reply. 

They spoke in Spanish, since young Menocal's companion knew no othertongue. The latter was a newcomer to Kennard, of the name of Alvarez. He had come up from across the line, where he had been first withCarranza, and then with Zapata in his black troop, and then withPancho Villa. He already had considerable reputation in the lowMexican quarter of the town: he had participated in many fights andraids "down there"; he was fearless; he could use a gun; he had manykillings to his credit. When earlier in the day Charlie had madeprivate inquiry of the saloon-keeper, an old friend, concerning a manof nerve that he could engage who would ask no questions, Alvarez waspointed out to him. 

Presently an agreement was reached between them and Charlie producedhis check-book and a fountain-pen. 

"Here's a check for one hundred dollars, " he said, writing. "Come toBartolo, get you some blankets and food, and camp somewhere near. Fromtime to time we'll meet and I'll tell you what's to be done. There's asaloon at Bartolo, if you get thirsty. Another hundred dollars will beyours when the job is finished, perhaps more. Meantime, you will actbefore others as if you did not know me. Here's the check. "

Alvarez rose and walked to the bar. 

"Is this money; a hundred dollars?" he inquired of the Mexicanproprietor of the saloon. 

"One hundred dollars, yes, " said the latter, with an assuring smile. "Made payable to you, Alvarez. Good? Good at any bank, good here at mysaloon, good as gold. Better than gold, Alvarez, because easier tocarry. Do you wish the money for it?"

The Mexican ex-bandit jingled some dollars in his trousers' pockets. 

"I have enough to eat and drink, " said he. "If the paper is good, ifyou will give me gold for it, then I will wait until I return. As yousay, it's not so heavy to carry. "

"Bring it to me when you return. Mr. Menocal is very wealthy, veryrich. He has much land and many sheep. Besides, he owns a bank full ofgold and silver. The paper is good. "

Alvarez was impressed. He stood in thought. 

"Those sheep and that bank full of money! In Mexico we would form acompany of revolutionists and help ourselves, " he said. 

"That isn't the custom here, " was the reply. 

Alvarez again stared at the check, then folded it, bit the edge withhis teeth, placed it in a small leather bag suspended under his shirtby a cord about his neck, and returned to the table where CharlieMenocal waited. 

"I will go up yonder in a few days, señor, " he stated. "There aregirls there, are there not?"

 * * * * *

One day a week later, after Bryant and Dave had returned to Kennard, and after numerous conferences with Mr. McDonnell, his attorney and anengineer called in for consultation, Lee exclaimed to his companion, "We win. McDonnell will take hold of it. Bully for him!" And he wentabout clearing up the odds and ends of business at a great rate. 

Moreover, McDonnell believed he could dispose of the bonds within afortnight, by the middle of September. That would enable Bryant tomake good headway with the dam on the Pinas River while the water waslow and before cold weather set in. The attorney would look after theincorporation of the company and the stock and bond issues. Lee couldat once engage a staff of assistant engineers and arrange to let thebuilding contract. In the matter of the canal line, he had receivedample assurance from members of the Land and Water Board at Santa Féthat the changes he asked would be granted. Everything was propitious, everything exactly as he would wish. 

"Out of those town duds, Dave, " he exclaimed. "You can't be a sportany longer. Back to Perro Creek for us and your new spotted pony. Andit's high time, too, for I saw you making eyes at that girl withyellow hair and angel blue eyes, whose mamma----"

"You never did!" Dave yelled, crimson with ire. 

CHAPTER XII

October. And the last golden leaves twirling down from cottonwood andaspen and mountain maple; the lofty brown peaks fresh powdered withsnow; the air dazzling, keen, heady like wine; frost a-sparkle ofmornings on stone, fence-post, roof, with a rainbow coruscation ofdiamonds; clear, high moons; marvellous, moonlit nights. 

It was the middle of the month. Three weeks previous, with the bondssold and the injunction suits dismissed, the contractor employed hadunloaded his outfit at Kennard, moved up the Pinas River, raised in aday his camp at the mouth of the cañon above Bartolo, and begun histask. This man, Pat Carrigan, had been in Bryant's mind from thefirst: a Pueblo contractor of Irish extraction, born in a railroadcamp, trained on a dump, and now grizzled and aging but unequalled inhandling men, in keeping them satisfied, in moving dirt. In his timehe had turned off jobs from Maine to California, from Wisconsin toTexas. Already along the hillside a yellow gash was deepening from thedam site through the fenced fields where ran the right of way; whilein the Pinas, low at this season, the traverse section of the riverbed had been cleaned out and the base of the dam was building ofstones and brush. 

Late on a certain afternoon Ruth Gardner and Imogene Martin stoodwaiting by a gray runabout at the edge of the camp. A storm wassweeping up the Ventisquero Range from the south, one of the autumnstorms that marked the change of seasons, enveloping, as it advanced, the gray peaks one after another in its fog and trailing over the mesagauzy brown streamers of rain. In the west the sun still shoneunobscured, but with its light failing to a chill saffron glare as thecloud expanded over the sky. 

Bryant and another man, a newcomer in the last few days, an engineerfrom the East representing the bondholders, were walking toward thegirl from the dam. As the men walked, they engaged in rather spiritedargument. 

"You'd better hurry, you two, " Ruth called. "Don't you see that raincoming? Imo and I want to reach home, Mr. Gretzinger, without beingsoaked. "

Bryant's companion waved an assuring hand without ceasing his rapidand forceful statement addressed to his fellow. Half a head shorterthan Lee, he was of stockier build, a man somewhere near thirty-fiveor six years of age, with hair tinged with gray above his ears. Bothin manner and speech he exhibited by turns superficial gayety, latentcynicism, and an egregious assumption. When Lee had introduced him tothe young ladies at Sarita Creek, he had made himself at home in threeminutes. He had the latest witticisms of restaurants and theatres, thenewest stories, the most recent slang; his clothes were of theautumn's extreme mode; he was intelligent if frankly materialistic;and he interested, amused, and diverted the two girls. From his gayand airy talk they gathered that he had been married and divorced, that the West might have the scenery but New York had the brightlights; that money could buy anything from food to fame; and that"movies" were a bore. To the girls he was like a breath from themetropolis itself, that hard, throbbing, restless, glaring, convivial, avid, fascinating city in which is centred everything of wealth andmisery, everything intense and abnormal, and everything to satisfy thedesires. But the effect upon the girls was different. Imogene, thoughentertained, continued calm, unimpressed, unenvious; Ruth, however, asshe listened and asked questions, the better they became acquainted, was bright-eyed and excited. "Don't you think him a remarkable man?"she had exclaimed to Imogene. "So experienced, so polished, so--well, everything. " This was after his second visit, which he made withoutBryant, stopping on his way from the dam camp to Kennard where he madethe chief hotel his headquarters. Imogene had replied, "Oh, he'samusing company, and he can't be accused of being diffident, at least. But I wonder if he would wear well. His divorced wife's opinion wouldbe valuable on that point, I fancy. " That had caused Ruth to sniff. She said, "You heard his explanation; they didn't agree and so theyjust separated. That was sensible. When two people find they're notcompatible, they shouldn't live together a minute. And I shouldn't besurprised if she was a cat. "

Gretzinger's speech as he and Bryant advanced toward the girls and thegray runabout was quick, determined, and uncompromising. His fleshy, aggressive face, that lacked the tan of his companion's, was fixed indogmatic lines. From time to time he switched his gauntlets againstthe skirt of his fashionably cut ulster with lively impatience. 

"I certainly demand that these changes be made and shall recommend tothe bondholders, " he was saying, "that they also insist on them. "

"Can't help it if you do, " was Lee Bryant's reply. "I know what I'mtalking about: concrete is necessary. No irrigation engineer to-daywho knows his business would think of anything else. Mr. McDonnell'sman approved its use, the state engineer likewise. The latter wouldn'tallow the change even should I ask it. "

"Pah! He'd not concern himself either way. I know how these stateofficers run things. Leave it to me; I'll arrange the matter. "

"Not with my consent. And he'll never grant the change over myopposition. "

Gretzinger gave his knee an angry slap. 

"I tell you it must be different, Bryant. In addition to the bonds mymen have their share of stock. They consider this stock bonus as partof their investment. It is. And they intend to see that that stockearns every dollar--every dollar, do you understand?--that's to bemade out of the project. I'm here to protect their interests, andshall do it. "

"Well?"

"Now, Bryant, be reasonable. It means more profit in your own pocket, too. You're no philanthropist pure and simple, I take it, and want tomake money out of this thing. So agree to this change. You'll make asaving both in time and cash. Carrigan's contract doesn't include thebuilding of these drops; you plan to do that yourself; and if yousubstitute wood for concrete in these drops and in the gate-frames, it would lessen the labour cost, the material cost, the freightingcost, the----"

"And in five years the wood will have rotted and then concrete willhave to be put in after all, " Lee interrupted. "More than that, thewater will undercut wooden drops, then rip the devil out of the canalalong the ridge, making the cost of rebuilding ten times what it isnow and very likely causing a water shortage in the middle of anirrigating season so that the farmers' crops will be a dead loss. Fine! I suppose you didn't allow yourself to think that far. "

"Why should I?" Gretzinger retorted. "It's not our business to figureon all the calamities that may occur in the next fifty years, or thenext ten, or the next five. We build the canal, then it's up to thefarmers to keep it in shape after we turn it over to them. If anythinghappens, that's their lookout and the lookout of the engineer incharge. "

The two had come to a halt just out of earshot of the runabout. Bryantcould discover on the speaker's face no other expression than a fixedintent to maintain his view. 

"Leaving out the injustice of such a course----"

"Injustice, nothing!" the New Yorker derided. "This is cold business. The project must be built as cheaply as possible in order to give theinvestors the largest return. My father is one of them, and when heputs money into a thing he wants all out of it that's coming to him. So do his associates. "

"Let me finish what I started to say, " Lee remarked. "Aside from whatpurchasers of land under this canal scheme have the right to expect, and what they would suffer from a disaster, it hits our own pockets inthe end. Poor construction always turns out to be expensiveconstruction. Aside from the initial cash payments from buyers, all wehave from them will be notes--mortgage notes that can be paid only bycrops from the land. The water insures these crops. Let the canalsystem go smash, and where are these notes? Nowhere. I don't proposeto lose fifty or sixty thousand dollars for a short-sighted gain often. "

Gretzinger laughed, then tapped the other's shoulder with aforefinger. 

"Do you imagine for a minute we'll keep the paper?" he inquired. "Well, I should say not! We'll discount it ten, and if necessarytwenty, per cent. To make a quick clean-up and be out. A mortgagecompany in the East will attend to that part of the business. Thesemortgages run for ten years; you certainly don't think we'll sitaround that long waiting for our money and profits. The discount willmake the paper attractive to small investors, among whom it will bepeddled and who want long-time securities. And you'll profit from thatalong with the rest of us; we couldn't leave you out if we wished. "

"No, you can't leave me out of your calculations, " said Bryant, grimly. 

"You see now, I hope, why it's to your interest as well as ours tomake the change I suggest, " Gretzinger continued. "It will equal theamount of the discount. In a year or so we'll all be out from underwith bonds and stock liquidated dollar for dollar. In other words, with our profits in cash in the bank instead of in notes. "

"And somebody else holding the sack, eh?" Bryant's aquiline nose camedown a little as he asked the question. "No, Gretzinger, you haven'tpersuaded me, and you never will by that argument. A pretty rottenscheme, that of yours. I shall go right ahead and use concrete. "

"Then you don't intend to consider bondholders as having a voice inmatters?"

"No. "

"Well, they're stockholders as well. "

"Minority stockholders, that's all, " Lee stated, coolly. "You've saidthis is a matter of cold business. Very well; I'm the majoritystockholder and have the control. I consider it cold business to buildthe drops of concrete as planned. I consider it cold business and goodbusiness to provide the farmers with a safe system. And I shall dothat. "

Again came Ruth's call, urging Gretzinger to hurry. He answered andspoke a last word to Bryant, with a suddenly altered mien. 

"You're an obstinate devil, Lee, " he exclaimed, cheerfully. "I'll haveto think up some new arguments to get you over, I find. Now I must runalong, or the ladies will be up in arms--and not my arms, either. "

Bryant helped him to button the curtains on the hood of the car, foundan instant when he could press Ruth's hand unobserved and murmur aword in her ear, and stated that if the rain did not last he would rundown (he had picked up a second-hand Ford in Kennard) to Sarita Creekafter supper. 

"I don't see half enough of you, " Ruth said, giving him a pat on thecheek with the gloved finger that now wore a diamond solitaire. To Mr. Gretzinger she continued, "If you get us home without a wetting, youmay stay and eat with us; but if you don't, why, you can go straighton to town. "

Off the car sped down the trail toward Bartolo where it would gain thewell-travelled mesa road, a hand thrust through the curtains wavingback at Bryant. 

The engineer did not go to Sarita Creek that night, for the rainsettled into a steady drizzle that lasted until well toward morning. After supper he went, however, to the adobe dwelling of the Mexicanwho once had warned him from his field. The man's seven-year-old boyhad fallen from a horse the day previous and fractured a leg; halffearfully, half recklessly, the parent had come running to camp formedical aid; and Lee had despatched the camp doctor, a young fellowrecently graduated, to treat the injury. Bryant was admitted into thehouse. The youngster, he learned, was resting comfortably and had beenvisited by the doctor that afternoon. Lee was even conducted to thebedside, where the boy's leg thick with splints and wrappings wasexhibited for his benefit. 

"The doctor, he said I was to speak to you about his pay, " the Mexicanstated after a time, when he and Bryant had talked awhile in Spanish. 

Bryant waved the words aside. 

"There's no charge, nothing, " said he. "I was delighted to send thedoctor. I hope your son improves rapidly. The physician will continueto pay you calls until the boy no longer requires them. Those are verypretty geraniums you have in the window, señora. Are they fragrant?"Lee crossed the room and bent his face above them. 

The man's wife rubbed her hands together under her apron with muchpleasure. Thus politely for him to notice and praise her flowers! Inher heart, as in the heart of her husband, there formerly had beenresentment at this white canal-builder for cutting their field with abig ditch, an occurrence which the county judge somehow had stupidlypermitted. But now she did not know what to feel. Yesterday he hadsent them a doctor for nothing, and this evening was smelling herflowers admiringly. He could not be exactly a monster. Removing onehand from beneath her apron, she inserted a finger-nail in her blackhair and scratched her scalp, considering the subject. Winter wascoming, too. Food would be needed--and besides, she long had desiredone of those loud phonographs at Menocal's store, and also needed anew stove. She perceived that her husband was staring at Bryant's backwith a thoughtful air. Undoubtedly he was thinking the same thing asshe. 

"You yet want men and teams for your work, señor?" she inquired. 

"All I can get. "

"If a man falls sick while at work, would he have the services of thedoctor?"

"Yes, without charge. There will be work on the dam most of thewinter, where the building is only a matter of stone and brush. I canuse all who want employment. Then in the spring there will be thedigging of the ditch on the mesa. "

"Five dollars for a man and his team, is it not so?" the Mexicaninquired. 

"Yes. "

"What if a man's wife or children fall sick?" the woman asked. 

Bryant hid a smile at this shrewd bargaining. Yet he was perceiving anopportunity. There were no Mexicans at work on the project; one andall they had held off. Likewise they refused to sell him grain andhay, which necessitated the hauling of feed from a distance. But nowthis accident to the boy might prove a heaven-sent chance to breakMenocal's monopoly of influence. 

"In case of sickness in the man's family, the doctor shall attendfree, " he stated. 

The woman took thought afresh. 

"And if the man's horses are taken sick?"

"Nay, he's not a horse doctor, " said Lee, smiling. And even the womansmiled. 

"But there's another matter. I fear it prevents, " the man remarked. "It is a note for fifty dollars that the bank holds against me. If Iwork, Menocal will make trouble about that. I think we had best talkno more of employment. "

"Suppose I advance the amount in case he does, letting you work outthe debt. I could keep, say, two dollars out of each day's five untilyou owed nothing. "

"That would be agreeable to me, señor. But what if he then refuses tosell me goods from his store?"

"You can buy at the commissary, " Lee said. "Why should you lose fivedollars a day because of Menocal's bad feeling for me? You remainidle--but does he pay you, or feed you? And the wages I offer you, andthe doctor's services, and the other accommodations, I also offer toother Mexicans who will work. You may tell them so. Remember, therewill be teaming on the ditch until it freezes up, then work on the damthroughout the winter, then scraper work on the mesa in the spring. Five dollars a day coming in the door! You can buy meat and flour andclothes and tobacco and candy for the children and a new wagon andpictures of the Madonna, yes, all. But now I must go. "

"But Menocal would be very angry, " said the man, with a shake of hishead. 

Bryant bade them good-night and departed. He went up the muddy roadthrough the wet darkness to the camp. Domination of the native mind byMenocal appeared too strong for him to break. 

But to his surprise next morning the Mexican came driving his teaminto the camp. Lee sent him to Pat Carrigan, who gave him a scraperand set him to work on the ditch. Toward noon the engineer encounteredhim moving dirt from the deepening excavation; the sight had anamusing feature. The man, Pedro Saurez, laboured in his own fieldbuilding the canal at about the spot where he had warned Bryant awaywhen surveying. 

When Saurez beheld Lee, he grinned and removed the cigarette from hislips. 

"It will be a fine ditch, this, " was his remark. 

CHAPTER XIII

Work on the canal section near the river advanced without incidentuntil, one morning early in November, the plows unexpectedly uncovereda forty-foot-wide body of granite just beneath the surface. Thisparticular difficulty was not serious, and was the contractor's; butPat Carrigan was no more pleased than any other contractor would havebeen at finding rock, even a small amount, when he had figured hisexcavation costs on a dirt basis. 

"That wipes out a piece of my profits, " he remarked to Bryant, after afirst profane explosion. "I'll send out for some dynamite and shootit. If it wasn't for damned troubles like this, I'd been a retired manand fat and rich long ago. Don't grin, you heartless blackguard!You'll have miseries of your own before we're done. "

Pat Carrigan was a true prophet. A blow of fatal nature, indeed, waspreparing at the moment and fell within a week. From the stateengineer Lee received a letter advising him that an application foruse of the water appropriated to Perro Creek ranch had been made by aman of the name of Rodriguez, of Rosita, under an old statute longforgotten. This law was mandatory upon the Land and Water Board. Itrequired the latter to cancel rights and to reappropriate waterelsewhere to the amount in excess of what a canal actually carried, orwhat a canal had failed to carry for five successive years if it werenot shown within ninety days after a filing for reappropriation thatthe said canal had been enlarged to a capacity to carry the originalappropriation, and proof given of the owner's intention to employ saidappropriation. 

Menocal once more! He had been very quiet all this while; heapparently had made no effort to dissuade the Mexicans who, followingSaurez's lead, had come in increasing number to work on the canal orthe dam; the man had almost passed from the engineer's mind. But hehad not been idle. He had had shrewd legal talent seeking a deadlyweapon for him among the musty statutes, with which he could deal theirrigation project a _coup de grâce_. And as the import of the letterpenetrated Bryant's brain, his heart seemed to turn to ice. Ninetydays--finish dam and canal in ninety days! As well fix a limit ofninety hours!

Finally he rushed off to Pat Carrigan superintending scraper work anddragged him aside. 

"For God's sake, read that, Pat!" he cried. "Read what the Land andWater Board are going to do. They're going to cut the heart right outof us! Kill the project! All for a law nobody ever heard of! Read it!"

Pat knit his brows and slowly extracted the meaning from the stateengineer's formal, involved announcement. That something serious hadoccurred he guessed before Bryant had opened his lips. He had neverseen the engineer so wrought up, so white, so agitated. 

"Let me get this right, " the old contractor said, at length. "They'regoing to cancel your water right. "

"Yes. "

"But not at once. You've ninety days to----"

"Ninety days! We can't do a year's work in ninety days, and in wintertime at that!" Lee cried. 

"Of course not, " was the answer. "But it gives you time to argue with'em and fight this thing. My advice is to go see this Board at once. Maybe if you explain the situation, they'll call off this fellowRodriguez. "

Bryant, however, remained depressed. Clearly the officials had noliberty of action in the matter. 

"I don't know that it will do any good, " he said, "but it's all that'sleft to do. Pack your grip, Pat; I want you to go with me. LeaveMorgan in charge. Can you start in half an hour?"

The ride to Kennard was made at high speed, and on the way the men didlittle talking. Both wanted to weigh the disaster confronting theproject. In town they sought out McDonnell, who promised to have hisattorney go into the matter at once and who appeared very grave at thenews. Then they returned to the hotel to await their train. 

Here Lee was surprised to encounter Ruth in company of Gretzinger, Charlie Menocal, and a Kennard girl with whom he was not acquainted. Ruth and Imogene, he learned, had come down the day before with theNew Yorker and were staying at the McDonnell home. 

"We're just roaming around and amusing ourselves, " Ruth said, slippingher arm within Lee's. "Come on and join us. "

Lee smilingly shook his head. 

"Can't possibly do it, " said he. "I'm leaving for the capital soon. "

Ruth drew him aside. 

"But give me ten minutes of your time before you go, will you, dear?"she asked. "Come, we can go into one of the parlours where we'll bealone. " And when they were seated there, she continued, "I know whyyou're going to Santa Fé. Charlie said he understood you were involvedin some new legal trouble and that you might lose your whole project. Mr. Gretzinger laughed at him and so did I, for we knew it couldn't betrue. But it's bothering you, I see; your face is anxious. I hopeyou'll clear up the horrid matter, whatever it is, while you're gone. "Then after a pause, she remarked, "Perhaps Mr. Gretzinger could be ofassistance to you. "

"Not in this matter, " said Lee. 

"He has a great deal of influence, especially in the East. "

"But this is the West--and I don't care much for Gretzinger, besides, "he stated. 

"So he says. More than once he has wished you would be more friendly. Isn't it a little inconsiderate of you, Lee, to hold him off at arm'slength, especially when he's here as representative of thebondholders? He has a vital interest in the canal and its success. Really, I think he might be of great help if you'd permit. And itwould be of great advantage to us in the future, his friendship andthat of the men behind him, for they are wealthy and influential. That's one reason why you ought to cultivate him, Lee. "

"Go on, " said he, as she paused. 

"Well, I thought we should discuss the matter. I'm of the opinion thatyou misunderstand him. You'll not deny that he's a man of ability. "

"No--though I know little of him. "

"He is, though, Lee. And an engineer of high standing, too, and ofexperience. Wouldn't it be wise to consult him a little more than youdo? He has talked to me at times about the project and has, I believe, ideas you could use. For instance, he says that if you made certainchanges in the canal there would be a considerable saving of money, bywhich the stockholders would benefit, you among them. He says that ifin certain places wood were used instead of concrete it would meanthousands of dollars in your pocket. "

"It would, but it would also endanger the canal. "

"Mr. Gretzinger said you asserted that as your reason, " she proceeded, "but he claims there's no more prospect of danger from that sourcethan from a fly. And anyway, isn't it a matter that concerns only thebuyers afterward? He says so. I don't know much about such matters, ofcourse, but you really must look after your own best interestfirst--and mine. I say mine because mine will be yours after we'remarried. Mr. Gretzinger says your share of the saving would be atleast five thousand dollars and possibly more. Lee, do this for me. "

"What he proposes is dishonest, Ruth. "

"But why? He says the state board would grant the change if properrepresentations were made. If the officials allowed it, I can't seewhere it would be dishonest. "

"The officials would have to be deceived to gain their consent to sucha change, " Lee said, patiently. "But the real point at issue is thepermanency of the water system, Ruth. The poor devils who buy the landand who toil for years to pay for it are to be considered. If thecanal is too cheaply constructed, they'll probably lose their crops;and losing their crops means ruin. As far as possible an engineer mustinsure against this danger when he builds the canal; then if anyaccident happens later, his conscience, at any rate, is clear. "

"But he says you over-estimate the risk, that wood is perfectly safe. And he's an expert engineer, too. More experienced than you, Lee. "

"You seem to have discussed this thing with him at great length, "Bryant remarked, dryly. 

"I have, indeed I have, because I have your success so greatly atheart, dear. I want to see you receive every penny that you earn andall the credit you deserve; I want you to go ahead in your professionand become both wealthy and famous; but sometimes I think that you'reso absorbed in the engineering part of the work that you're carelessof the future. One has to be practical, too. One has to look out forone's own interests. And I don't see why your responsibility for theproject doesn't end when you've built the canal, sold the land, andturned the system over to the farmers. You can't go on looking out forthem after that; you're not answerable to the 'hay-seeds' who settlehere for what may or may not happen. And we shall need the money thatwould be saved by using wood instead of concrete, Lee. When you'rethrough here, we shall want to live in New York at least part of thetime. With Mr. Gretzinger's friendship you could perhaps form aconnection so that you could be there all the while, and make a bigfortune. You will do this for me, won't you, Lee? It means just thatmuch more happiness for us. "

She slipped her arms about his neck and kissed him impulsively, eagerly. Lee felt himself tremble at that clasp, at that kiss. Wordsseemed futile. His anxiety over the fate of his project gave way to aprofound sickness of soul. That Ruth should thus reveal such acloudiness of spiritual vision, such an inability to distinguishbetween moral values, such a ready acceptance of Gretzinger's viciousphilosophy, was the final drop in his bitter cup this day. 

"It's not a question of either wood or concrete just at present, " hesaid, rising. "It's whether I'm to have a project at all. I'll not gowith you, Ruth, to your friends; I must think over what I'm to do andsay at Santa Fé to-morrow. "

As he rode thither with Carrigan that night it seemed as if he now wasat grapple with forces, invisible, powerful, malevolent, that stroveto dispossess him of everything that was dear. His project! Whatmeans, what help, what law was there of which he could make use toward off this deadly assault on it? And Ruth! How should he saveher--save her from herself, clear the mist from her eyes, arouse herdrowsing soul? All that he had aimed at and all that he had strivenfor hung on finding answers to those questions. 

CHAPTER XIV

By noon Bryant and Carrigan had concluded their interviews withmembers of the Land and Water Board. All of them had listened, askedquestions, expressed their regret at the situation in which PerroCreek project found itself, but stated that the Board had no courseother than that of executing the law evoked in the case. Theysuggested that Bryant bring an action in the courts to test the law;they admitted that his company might be forced into the hands of areceiver; they inquired concerning the possibility of gaining theconsent of the adverse party to a withdrawal of his application. Theirhands, however, said one and all, were tied in the matter. 

The engineer and the contractor went down the steps of the state houseand found a seat on a bench at a shady spot of the grounds. 

"Just as I expected it would be, " Bryant said, grimly. 

He sat humped over, his elbows on his knees and his cheeks between hisfists. His eyes were dull, heavy; he had not closed them during theprevious night. He wore the mud-caked lace boots and stained khaki, asdid Carrigan, in which he had departed from camp. 

"Well, we haven't quit breathing yet, " Pat remarked, licking thewrapper on the cigar he was about to light. 

Lee sat silent for several minutes. 

"Anyway, I'll see you don't lose, Pat, " he said. "You can figure outwhat profit you would have made on your contract if the ditch had beenbuilt and I'll pay you that. Then you can call off your crew. "

"Oh, I'll let you down easy, Lee. That wasn't worrying me any, " wasthe rejoinder. "I was just thinking----" But his words broke offthere, and he again gave his attention to the cigar wrapper thatpersisted in coming loose. 

Bryant continued his gloomy cogitation. The muscles of his cheeksmoved in hard lumps beneath his fists as if he were champing someresistant substance. Over his eyes his lids from time to time droopedsleepily. But all at once he leaped up. 

"If I but had something I could take hold of, Pat!" he exclaimed. "Something I could lay hands on and move, like that bed of rock youuncovered! So I could go ahead! A law is so damned immaterial that onehas nothing to work against. It leaves a man nowhere, helpless. Itlifts him off the ground and holds him kicking futilely in the air. Just that. By God, I'm desperate enough to try anything--to trybuilding the ditch--try whipping Menocal even under this moth-eatenlaw he's dug up!"

Pat shut one eye against the smoke curling into it. 

"I was speculating a little along the same line, " said he, slowly. 

"But twelve miles of ditch in ninety days! The whole mesa line! We'dbe crazy to think of it. Let's talk of something else. "

Lee's mouth, nevertheless, was twitching, while gleams like light cameand went on his face. 

"I always had a weakness for the bad bets, " said Pat. 

"But twelve miles of ditch!"

"And the nights freezing harder every week, " the old contractor added. 

"And the days short. "

"Yes, and nerve shorter yet, " said Pat. 

The remark was airily given, but the inference was plain. Lee took astep aside and stood staring across the capitol grounds, with browsknit, with lips compressed, the prey of struggling hopes and doubts. 

"Pat, " he said, turning. 

"Well?"

"Do you think we could do it?"

"God knows; I don't. But we could give the job an awful whirl, " thecontractor stated. 

"The thing looks impossible, preposterous, but if you see theslightest chance of success I want you to say so. Dirt moving is yourgame, not mine. Ninety days; that's thirteen weeks. Almost a mile aweek. Can it be done? Can you do it?"

Pat at last threw away the cigar that refused to draw. 

"With men and teams enough I could build a ditch to tide-water in thattime, " said he, with sudden energy. "Men and scrapers, scrapers andmen--that's all. You can rip the insides out of any dirt job on earthif you have the crews. Of course, it takes money, big wages, to getand hold them. "

"Money! What do I care for that if we build the canal? How much morewill it take? How much will you need?"

"Say twenty thousand more. "

"Get out your pencil and begin figuring it. "

"I don't need a pencil, " Carrigan answered. "I haven't been movingdirt for fifty years without figures sticking to my hair. I'vedigested your blue-prints and know what's to come out of the ground. Now I'll tell you what it would be if there was no frost in theground, as in summer--and we'll afterward allow for the frost; andwhat's necessary in men, horses, fresnos, shacks, horsefeed, food, clothes, and general supplies. "

And thereupon Carrigan began to pour forth a stream of data so exact, so comprehensive, so full, that Bryant listened in astonishment. Allcarried in his head, ready for use!

"I hope I know my business at your age as you know yours, " Leeexclaimed. 

"You will, or ought to. I've paid for what I know in mistakes andmiscalculated jobs, as does every man some time or other--paid in hardcash. What he learns is all he gets out of losses. Now, the figures Igave were for summer work; winter dirt moving is another kind ofanimal. Work is slower, men are harder to keep, weather is generallybad. "

"This autumn has been later than usual, and it may last, " said Lee. 

"And it may not, " Carrigan stated, emphatically. "It's that thatworries me about this thing. As it is, the ground freezes on top everynight. Let the thermometer make a low drop, and we won't be able tostick a plow-point into it anywhere. "

"There's no moisture to speak of in the soil of the mesa. "

"Enough to freeze the dirt, just the same, " said Pat. 

"We can leave the dam out of consideration. "

"Yes; no trouble about finishing that. And your concrete work, Lee, won't lose you any sleep. A carload of cement from here, gravel fromthe river, and a dozen Kennard carpenters to knock together gate anddrop frames--no trick to crack that nut. Frost, lad, frost! It's thething to set us groaning. "

Bryant sat down and put his hand on the speaker's knee. 

"Pat, if we go into this thing and put it through, there will be agood fat bonus for you. "

"Maybe there will be and maybe there won't. Maybe you'll have somemoney left when we're done and maybe you'll not have a red cent. Inany case, the old man is with you, Lee, to the end of the scrap--ifyou go ahead. What about your bondholders? Will they stand for riskingwhat's not yet spent? They will save considerable by your stoppingnow; they'll lose all if we fail. "

"What do you----"

Pat's raised hand halted him. 

"Ask me nothing, " said he. "That's for you alone to settle. If youspend their money and win, they'll say 'Thank you'--maybe; and if yougo under, they'll damn you up one side and down the other and probablytry to send you to the pen. You're the chief; you have to decide; youcan't share the responsibility--anyway, not with me. And if you'reinquiring, I'll remark that its considerable responsibility. Go offyonder by yourself and think it over a bit. "

Bryant left the old contractor lighting a fresh cigar. He walked toanother bench a short distance away, where he sat down. In his firstexultation at perceiving a fighting chance to save the project he hadseen only the opportunity, but Carrigan's unexpected turn of thesubject had brought him back to earth. He was guardian, as well asdispenser, of company funds. He had obligations to the bondholders. Therefore, would he be justified in risking the money on such adesperate venture? His soul sank. 

But his mind would not cease to revolve about the undertaking, for hecould not at once relinquish his long-cherished dream. The thought oftame surrender was as wormwood in his mouth. To stand by acquiescentwhile the project collapsed! That prospect he could not endure. Neveragain, if he capitulated now, would he be able to strike out with thesame courage as in this project; never with the same courage, orspirit, or faith. The project was his creation! The thing of his brainand will! Part of himself! And how confidently he had made his plansand acquired the property and started work! No doubts of his abilityto carry it through! No question of his right to go ahead! No fear ofthe task!

The engineer came suddenly to his feet. 

Builders throughout the world took equal risks and overcame as greatobstacles every day; it was the measure of their genius and will. Engineers elsewhere crushed a way through earth and rock to theirgoals, and under adverse circumstances, with no thought of failure. Were there not men who would unhesitatingly take hold of this projectnow and complete it in the time allotted? Yes, any number. For thevery same reason that he had launched the scheme. Because they had theability, because they had the will, because, most of all, they hadfaith--faith in their own powers. 

Lee went back to Pat Carrigan. 

"We shall build it, " said he. "And in ninety days. "

The contractor rose. 

"You talk like a real 'chief' now, Bryant, " he replied. "I was waitingfor that. Come along; we'll start burning the wires. "

CHAPTER XV

Louise Graham, entering the dining car for breakfast, received asurprise at beholding Lee Bryant half way along the aisle at one ofthe smaller tables. He laid down the spoon with which he was delvinginto a half of a cantaloupe and got quickly to his feet to greet her. 

"So you're home again, " he said, after shaking hands. "Your fathertold me when I met him that you were in the East. Will you share mytable?"

"I use 'shopping' as a pretext for a jaunt now and then, " she laughed, when they were seated. "Once in a while the lure of city dissipationsseizes me; I had a week in Washington and three in New York withfriends, which will satisfy me for a few months. You were juststarting work on your project when I went away. Are you making goodprogress?"

"Very. But I'll make still better from now on. It's a case with me ofdo or be 'done', of dig out or be buried. I may as well be open aboutit, for everyone will know presently, anyway. The project must becompleted in ninety days. "

"Ninety days? Great heavens!"

"That's what I said, too, " Lee stated, with a smile. "Several times, in fact. There is an old law, it seems, that enables interestedparties to hold a stop-watch on me. "

"And what's the penalty if you fail to finish the work in those threemonths?"

"Cancellation of my water right. "

"Cancellation? Surely not. "

"I tried to convince the Land and Water Board of that in Santa Fé, butmade no headway. "

"How outrageous!" she exclaimed. 

The waiter at her elbow recalled her to the requirements of themoment. Still with a trace of colour in her cheeks, the result of herindignation, she scanned the menu and wrote out her order. 

"The thing is so utterably unreasonable, " she resumed, more calmly. "Why did they let you start if they proposed afterward to hang a swordabove your head?"

"The Board was ignorant of this law, as was everybody else, until itwas brought to light by the applicant for cancellation, " said Lee, "acertain Rodriguez, of Rosita. "

"Who is he?"

Bryant shook his head. 

"Don't ask me. No friend, at any rate. "

She regarded him steadily for a moment. 

"Probably a man put forward by Mr. Menocal. "

"I suppose so, " said he. 

"But the idea of expecting you to build all those miles of ditch inninety days and in the winter time! I wonder that you can be so calm. "

"Why shouldn't I be calm? My mind's made up. I'm going to complete theproject on time. "

The words were uttered in a matter-of-fact tone that impressed LouiseGraham far more than would any vehement assertion. As he had stated, his mind was made up, quite made up on the point. Others might thinkwhat they pleased: it carried no weight with him. The thing wascertain. 

She examined the engineer with a new interest. There was a differencein him, what would be hard to say. One couldn't exactly put finger onit. Something in his gray eyes, perhaps; something in the sharperstamp of his aquiline nose, of his lips, of his bronzed jaw; somethingin his whole bearing. It went deeper than features, too; she sensed achange in the spirit of the man from what it had been that day of hisgoing down to Kennard, when he strolled with her in her garden. He wasless bouyant, less manifest, less elated, but more poised and sure. Achange, yes. 

Then her thoughts reverted to his tremendous undertaking. 

"How long have you known this?" she inquired. 

"Since the day before yesterday. Pat Carrigan, my contractor, and Icame to the capital at once to discuss the affair with the Board. Thenews was--well, a good deal of a facer. "

She nodded. 

"It would be, " were her words. "You'll need more workmen and horses, of course. "

"All I can get. Pat went to Denver last night, and the labour agenciesthere and at Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Santa Fé, El Paso, and placesfarther east doubtless by now are rounding up men. We picked up anidle grading outfit yesterday in Santa Fé; it will be loaded andstarted by to-night. "

Her face became a little rueful. 

"That all sounds so big that I hesitate to make the offer I had inmind when I asked, " she said. 

"What was it, Miss Graham?"

"Father has twelve or fifteen teams and some scrapers used on theranch. The horses aren't working at this season. He would be glad tolet you have them, I know, if he thought they would be of any aid. Butwith what you'll have, perhaps you----"

"I want them; I'll be more than grateful for them. I need every manand horse available. I can't get too many. Each labourer and eachhorse counts just that much more. It's a great kindness on your partto suggest their use to me, and I'll stop on the way to camp to seeyour father. "

"He'll consent to your employing them, " said she, confidently. "Dadlikes a man who puts up a good fight, and you're doing that. A fightagainst great odds. "

Bryant's face lightened with a smile almost sunny. 

"By heavens, it's comforting to have a friend like you, " he exclaimed, "when one's in a tight place!"

The waiter began to place her meal, and he turned his head to look outof the window while his mind recalled his talk with Ruth in the hotelparlour at Kennard. Little comfort he had had from her then. Herinterest in the project, in fact, as he reviewed the summer, had beenslight, always casual, concerned only with its financial factor, neverparticularly sympathetic, never warm, never eager. The thought struckhim unpleasantly. It had never occurred to him before. He wondered ifthis indifference would continue when they were married, if in tenyears--when he was about forty, say--she would be even less inclinedto know his work, like the wives of some men he could name who hadtheir own separate interests, who gave their husbands no sympathy attheir tasks, nor courage, nor heart, and whose single cognizance of ithad to do with the size of the income. 

But he drove this depressing and disloyal speculation from his mind. Ruth was young and perhaps restless, but she was sweet and full ofpromise. Time would round out her character; and when she had matured, she would be one in a million--a mate who cheered and inspired. Everybit of that! She would presently see the real values of things;Charlie Menocal's monkey tricks would no longer amuse her, and shewould perceive what a shallow harlequin he was, while she wouldcomprehend Gretzinger's vicious, unprincipled sophistry and turn indisgust from the man. She was inexperienced, that was all. 

"It will be good to be back once more where one has plenty of room, "Louise Graham remarked. "In that liking, you see, I'm a genuineWesterner. That's what I missed most when at school in the East, atBryn Mawr--space. I wanted my big mountains and wide mesa and long, restful views. And how I galloped on my pony through the sagebrushwhen I came back during summer vacations!"

The recollection set her eyes glistening. 

"You still do it when you return from a trip, I'll venture to say, "Lee stated, marking the glow of her face. 

"Yes, I do. Almost the very first thing. It clears my brain of citynoise and sights and grime. It soothes my nerves. Nothing does thatlike our keen air with its scent of sagebrush. "

"Then I should see you riding up my way soon. "

"Oh, I'll certainly want to follow the progress of your work, Mr. Bryant. With father's teams working for you, I'll feel as if we had apart in the race. " After a pause she proceeded, "The contractor'soutfit went up and you were just starting the dam and excavation aboutthe time I went East. Father mentioned in a letter to me that he haddropped in at your camp once or twice when at Bartolo. "

"Yes, I showed him what we were doing. We've had other visitorsoccasionally. Miss Gardner and Miss Martin--at Sarita Creek, youremember--come at times. Miss Martin is a niece of Mr. McDonnell, ofKennard. "

"So Mrs. McDonnell told me. Just before I left I called at theircabins again. But I had no more luck that time than the first; theywere away somewhere. Well, " she concluded, with a smile, "perhaps thethird time will win; that's the rule. I'll go another time soon. "

"You'll like them, I'm sure. They're both charming, I think. Unusualgirls. "

"I'll go soon, " she repeated. 

"My desire possibly will be understood by you, " said he, after aslight hesitation, "when I say that Miss Gardner and I are engaged tobe married. So it would please me immensely if you two became goodfriends. "

Louise Graham showed some surprise. But this immediately changed tosmiling interest. 

"Accept my congratulations, Mr. Bryant, " she said. "You may count onour being friends. Hereafter she and Miss Martin must come to ourranch whenever they will. I suppose they ride up where you are nearlyevery day; Miss Gardner, in particular, must be tremendously devotedto your project and now tremendously excited, too, over your raceagainst time. Who wouldn't be, in her place!"

"Naturally, " said Lee, with all the heartiness he could muster in hisvoice. But to himself, at least, his tone rang hollow. 

When an hour or so after they had finished their meal they alightedfrom their Pullmans at Kennard, the echo of his forced reply stillsounded in his mind with persistent irony. He was glad he had aninterview with McDonnell before him that would silence it, thenegotiating of a large private loan. 

CHAPTER XVI

For Bryant there now began a period of activity compared to which hisearlier efforts were mere play. Headquarters were moved down to PerroCreek, ten miles nearer Kennard. In an endless procession streamednorthward automobiles crammed with labourers, wagons heaped withlumber, cement, implements, food, tents, forage, and long lines offresnos. From distant Mexican settlements came natives in ramshacklewagons and driving half-wild ponies. Out of the hills camesheep-herders and prospectors. The word of big wages ran everywhere. The drive was on. 

By the dam and on the tongue of ground extending from the mountainside where the canal would swing out upon the mesa, excavation for theintake gate and weir and the drops was in progress, with a crew ofcarpenters swiftly erecting wooden forms to receive the concrete whenthe diggers finished and retired. On the mesa half a dozen youngengineers, using Bryant's notes and fixed points, ran anew the ditchline and set grade stakes. North of Perro Creek white tents gleamed inthe sunshine; and beyond these a swarm of men and horses gashed ayellow streak in the mesa, ever extending as the days passed--cuttingsagebrush, ripping through sod, flinging up earth with plow andscraper. 

Yes, the fight was on. The fight to secure and keep horses, to getand hold workmen, to feed and use them both mercilessly, to press themahead like a shaft of steel, to drive them forward under lash, mile bymile, rod by rod, foot by foot, forcing a channel through theresistant earth and across the mesa--a fight to outwit frost, tooutstrip time, to outreach and overcome the impossible. 

Bryant himself was everywhere, now at the dam, now with thecarpenters, now at Perro Creek. Morgan, in charge of the north camp, succumbed to Bryant's own restless energy and matched it. The gang, now beginning to pour concrete behind the carpenters, caught theinfection of his ardor. Foreman and crew on the hillside section, athis word that they had the most difficult part of the dirt work, toiled the harder. The other engineers promised to give him their bestand gave him more. And in the main camp at Perro Creek Pat Carriganextracted the last ounce of effort from man and beast. 

In Kennard Bryant had said to McDonnell, "Give me a good man for thisend, one who can work twenty hours a day. " And the banker had givenhim such an one: a short, bow-legged clerk with a pugnacious jaw, whotook the typewritten list of Bryant's immediate requirements, read it, jerked on his hat, and bolted out of the door. He it was who kept theroad north from Kennard a-jiggle with freight wagons. 

The fierce struggle against time became generally known. Ranchersvisited the mesa for a sight of the toiling camps. Wagonloads ofMexican families, curious, observant, came and went. Automobileparties from Kennard and elsewhere made inspection trips to the spot. Even a journalist representing a Denver paper appeared, madephotographs, and obtained an interview from Bryant consisting of"Finish it on time? Certainly. Can't talk any longer. " Which, togetherwith the pictures and the special writer's account, filled a page of aSunday issue. 

The anxiety ever in Bryant's and Carrigan's minds was of that grim andimplacable enemy, cold. Autumn had lasted amazingly; November yieldedto December, with the days still fine; but who could tell when thewhite spectre, Winter, would lay his icy hand upon the earth? Thepeaks and upper slopes of the mountains were already mantled withsnow. Each morning the engineer and the contractor marked with carethe fall of the thermometer during the night, examined the frost uponthe grass and tested its depth in the soil. They watched the barometerlike hawks. They observed every cloud along the Ventisquero Range. They studied the wind, the sun, the sky. But the weather held fair. Socalm was the air that at times sounds of the dynamite blasts at thegranite outshoot, where a pair of miners were clearing a path for thecanal, came travelling down to Perro Creek. 

"The Lord surely has his arms around us, " said Pat, one morning. 

Bryant nodded, but Dave spoke up, "A cattleman who went by hereyesterday, an old-timer, said: 'When December's clear, then January'sdrear. '"

"And an old-timer once told me that same thing when I was building arailroad grade in Kansas, " Pat remarked, "and I had to ship inpalm-leaf fans and ice to keep my 'paddies' from fainting with theJanuary heat. " A slight exaggeration, to be sure, but showing the oldcontractor's contempt for wise saws pertaining to weather. Yet no oneunderstood more than he the law of probabilities, or the balance ofseasons. Some time cold must follow warmth, foul follow fair, to workthe inevitable mean. And it was too much to hope that this natural lawwould be suspended for them until the middle of February. 

In fact, the nights while remaining clear were hardening. The mercuryin the tube sank by possibly a degree every two nights, at lasttouching zero; and it correspondingly failed to arise by as much atnoon. The days were cruelly short. Darkness lasted until eight in themorning; it dropped down again at five. The frost crept deeper intothe earth. 

But construction advanced. The dam of brush and uncemented smoothbrown stones, stretching across the Pinas, was gradually rising. Thehillside section of ditch through the fields was finished and only theminers continued at the granite reef, the ring of their hammers ondrills going steadily and the roar of the shots now and again boomingout at nightfall. Excavation went forward in the spaces between thedrops on the ridge leading forth upon the mesa. The carpenters hadfinished and returned to Kennard. The concrete gang had moved theirmixer from the dam to the drops, for the intake gate and itsaccompanying flood weir were made, and Bryant had had their woodenframes knocked off so that the structures stood white and imposingbeside the dam, like pillars of accomplishment. From Perro Creek themain camp had moved toward the northwest on the arc it must pursue, until its tents touched the horizon and the clean yellow trench, fifteen feet wide at the bottom, thirty feet wide at the top, and fivefeet deep, with its flanking embankments, alone was left behind, aforced and undeviating course through the sagebrush, the water waydriven by a determined man. 

CHAPTER XVII

Meanwhile Lee, under relentless pressure of work, saw less and less ofRuth. She had come a number of times at the beginning of the drive, sometimes with Gretzinger, sometimes with Imogene, to watch thefeverish spectacle on the mesa; as had Louise Graham, her father, andat rare intervals Mr. McDonnell. Bryant, on his part, had goneevenings to Sarita Creek when he could spare an hour, and, for thatmatter, when he could not. But the meetings with her were infrequent, and always left him with a sense of inadequacy, of dissatisfaction, because partly Ruth and he seemed to have no common interests andpartly that she now let her affection go for granted. Her talk was notof the subjects usually discussed by an engaged couple--of theircoming marriage (though no date had been fixed) and a home andprospective joys together; it dealt wholly with amusements, dances, friends at Kennard. And though her own eyes glistened at the recital, Lee's lost their light and his speech was quenched. For his was therôle of an outsider. 

Certain friendships that she maintained, moreover, were exceedinglydistasteful to him. 

"Ruth, I've nothing against your going around so much withGretzinger, " he said one evening, "except that I don't like the fellowand believe he's crooked, and it may, under the circumstances, creategossip. "

"Nonsense, Lee, don't be jealous. Gretzie never takes me anywhereexcept in a crowd. And don't say he's crooked, or I shall be angry. "

"Well, let him pass, " he went on. "It's Charlie Menocal I've more inmind. He talks openly against my project; he calls me a thief and aruffian; he's an avowed enemy. Yet you run around with him as if thatwere of no importance, as if it made no difference. The scoundrel nodoubt counts it a brilliant bit of smartness to carry about in his carthe fiancée of the man he hates, and brags of it. It reflects on usboth, Ruth. I ask you to consider my feelings at least that far. "

She regarded him speculatively for a time. Then the touch of obstinacyhardened her chin and pushed up her under lip the barest trifle. Butthere was no resentment in her voice when she answered and, indeed, her tone was too casual. 

"Oh, nobody pays any particular attention to what Charlie says, " sheremarked. "You surely don't really believe what you've just statedabout his bragging? I don't. Of course, he hasn't brains like Mr. Gretzinger, but he's gentlemanly. And he's very kind. And so is Mr. Menocal, his father. I've eaten dinner with a party of young folks attheir house twice. Your ideas of them are altogether wrong, forthey've been at pains to tell me that a business difference like thatwith you shouldn't affect personal relations. I think the same. Butthat isn't all. You never take me anywhere, you won't go to theparties and shows and things. Am I to sit here every day and everynight at Sarita Creek until your canal is built?" By now her wordswere not only casual but carried a trace of disdainfulness. 

"No, Ruth, " said he. "I want you to have a good time and derive everypleasure that you rightly can. My greatest regret is that I can't takeyou and share the fun. But it goes without saying that I can't. Only, Charlie Menocal----"

"Lee, what's got into you to-night? If it were not for Mr. Gretzinger's and Charlie's thoughtfulness, I'd have died oflonesomeness long before this. You know how I hate this life, thishomestead business. You know I'm only waiting until you've finishedand we can be married and go away where there is something worthwhile. Now be reasonable. You work too hard, so that every littlespeck looks like a mountain. And it's making you narrow, too, or willif you don't watch out. I have to kill time somehow till we can bemarried and so you ought not to find fault with my doing it. Run alongover and talk to Imo in her cabin now, Lee; that's a good boy. Ididn't get back home from town last night until after midnight, andI'm sleepy. "

He did not go to Imo's cabin, but to camp instead. For the bitternessof his disappointment at his failure to move her made him desire thedarkness and solitude of the ride home. With her, it seemed, he was ina worse predicament than he had been when faced with the problem ofhis ditch; for that he had found an answer, found something to takehold of. But she was not like the mesa, to be mastered by sheer willand incessant labour. Character is intangible, and he found himselfbalked. One cannot lay hands on the desires in a heart and pluck themout, or on the spirit and twist it straight. 

His bitterness became acute when some time later Charlie Menocal camedriving with Ruth along the rutted trail by the canal to where hestood inspecting a new drop. 

"You wait, Charlie; I'll not be long, " she said, as she alighted. "Come with me out of earshot, will you, Lee?"

They moved to a spot that satisfied her. 

"I heard you were doing this and I asked Charlie to bring me here, "she began. "I wanted to see for myself. And it's true. You're goingahead and make these things out of concrete. I'm indignant, I'm hurt. After you led me to rely----"

Bryant stopped her sharply. 

"No, Ruth, not that. I'm sorry that you gained the impression I shoulduse wood instead of concrete; and it never was in my mind to do so, touse wood. My decision was fully made when you raised the matter in thehotel parlour at Kennard, and I explained my reasons for the decision. I didn't tell you bluntly, perhaps. I waited, trusting that you wouldcome round to my way of thinking and realize that I could only followmy own best judgment. "

"I haven't changed my mind not one particle, " she exclaimed, vehemently. 

"But, Ruth----"

"I think you're throwing away good money, deliberately. That is, ifyou really ever make any money on your project. You may loseeverything. "

"I may not, also. But if I should, the father of the fellow sitting inthe car yonder waiting for you would be responsible. As for thesedrops, Ruth, Gretzinger was wrong and I was right, and so they'rebeing built of concrete. Now please forget all about it. "

"And that you refused my request, I suppose. "

"Yes. "

"Well, I can't do that; it's too much to ask. " An angry gleam shotfrom her eyes. "You might have thought more of me and less ofyourself. You put your old canal first and me second. " With which sheswung about and marched off to the car, and it went away, rocking andlurching down the uneven trail. 

Lee stood looking after it. Her last words brought up the memory ofthe occasion when she had playfully uttered the like, one night inAugust, with the added inquiry, "What if you had to choose betweenus?" Were things drifting to such an issue? Would she at last forceupon him that hard choice? He flung up a hand in a gesture of despair. Some metamorphosis had occurred in her; she was not the simple andloving Ruth to whom he had offered himself that day they pickedberries in the cañon. Or was it that only now her real self wasrevealed? Was it that she was capable of loving only selfishly? Didshe love him at all?

The questions bit like acid into his heart. And a new one, thatstartled and dismayed his soul: Did he love her? Yes--the Ruth she yetwas. But he could never love the woman she seemed on the way tobecome, breathing an exciting and unhealthy atmosphere, seeking purelypersonal gain, indifferent to worthy objects, selfish, hard, mercenary, worldly. No, that kind of Ruth would kill love. 

He still stood there when Morgan, who had been on an errand toheadquarters, came galloping back on his way to the dam. 

"Accident down below, " he said. "Man hurt in the mixer. Arm crushed. "

Bryant jerked his head about to look at the drop two hundred yardsfarther down the ridge. He saw the workmen grouped together. The hugecylindrical machine was motionless. 

"I'll see, " he exclaimed, hurrying to his runabout. 

He drove recklessly to where the injured man lay, helped lift him intothe car, and bidding the foreman stand on the running board andsupport the unconscious labourer, set off for headquarters at suchspeed as was possible. Into the low shack used for hospital purposesthe two carried their charge, and as the doctor was absent Bryantbegan a search to find him. He ran down the camp street shouting thedoctor's name and along the ditch where the teams moved, until heencountered Carrigan. 

"Doc ain't here. Who's hurt?" Pat asked. For a call for the doctorcould mean but one thing. 

Bryant described the nature of the accident and both men hastened backto the hospital. The door was now closed. Before it, stood the foremanof the concrete gang, who was narrating for the benefit of a group ofcooks and freighters details of the mishap. 

Bryant turned the knob, but the door was locked. 

"He stationed me here to keep men out, " the foreman said. 

"Then he's in there. "

"Yes, came a-running. Was loafing out there in the brush and having asmoke. Said he was going to operate at once, then locked the door. "

"Not alone!" Lee exclaimed. 

"No, he has help. One of the engineers from the office, who had cometrotting over to see what was wrong, and a girl. "

"A girl! What girl?"

The foreman shook his head. 

"Don't know who she is. She came riding in from the south. When shesaw us hustling round, she asked what had happened and jumped off herhorse and inquired of the Doc whether she could be of any help. Helooked at her, then said yes. She's in there now. One of the men iscaring for her horse. "

"A bay horse?"

"Yes. And a pretty girl, too. I'd almost lose an arm to have agood-looker like her hovering over me. "

"All right, Jenks. You can go back now. Get another man for your crewfrom Morgan. I'll obtain this fellow's name and his address, if he hasany, from the time-keeper, in case he passes in his checks. "

The foreman started away. The group before the door disintegrated andpresently disappeared. Pat glanced at the sun, lighted a cigar, andasked:

"Do we start a night shift?"

"Yes; whenever you can bring in the men. "

"Then I'll wire for some right away. The thermometer was five belowthis morning, and only twenty-two above this noon. She's cold atlast. "

"Go to it, Pat. I'll stay here till Doc is through. "

When Carrigan had left him, Bryant sat down on a discarded oil tinlying on the ground--one of the square ten-gallon cans common aboutcamps. He gazed at the door of the hospital shack. He could hear faintsounds from within, a footfall on the board floor, an indistinct wordor murmur. Behind him and farther down the street, in the big cooktents where the crews ate, was the rattle of pans and an occasionaloath or burst of laughter. There the cooks were peeling potatoes andmixing great pans of biscuit dough and exchanging jests, while here inthe shack a fight was going on for a life. 

Bryant saw again that unshaven, heavy-faced workman, with the terriblymangled arm, whom he had brought hither. Poor devil! Some oversight, some carelessness, some mistake on the part of himself or another; andif not a dead man, then one-armed for the rest of his days. He, Bryant, could not consider these accidents with Pat Carrigan'sphilosophic calm--a calm acquired from decades of camp tragedies anddisasters. They harrowed his spirit. Though they appeared inevitablewhere men delved or builded or flung forth great spans, they made thecost of constructive works seem too great. They took the glamor fromprojects and left them hard, grim, uninspiring tasks. 

Lee felt a weariness like that of age. The strain under which helaboured, the sustained effort of driving this furrow through earththat was like iron, his unavailing endeavours to reclaim Ruth, afflictions such as this of the past hour, the uncertainty ofeverything--all sapped his energy and shook his faith. Yet before himthere were weeks of the same, or worse. He had put his hand to theplow; he could not turn back. 

All at once the door of the shack opened. Louise Graham came out, without hat, garbed in a great white surgical apron. Her knees seemedabout to give way. Her eyes were half shut. Her face was withoutcolour, drawn, dazed. With her from the interior came a reek ofchloroform. 

She had been the girl in there! Bryant had guessed it, feared it. Heran forward and put an arm about her shoulders and led her to the tinoil canister on which he urged her to be seated. 

"No, I won't faint, " she said, weakly. He knelt beside her andsupported her form. "I just feel dizzy and a little sick, " she wenton. "Better in a moment. " Lee observed her shudder. Presently shemurmured, "Stuck it out, anyway. Dad says--dad says, 'Never be aquitter. ' And I wasn't one. "

CHAPTER XVIII

Rymer, a sandy-haired, blue-eyed young fellow, one of Bryant's staff, walked out of the shack, pulling on his coat. He had a cigarette inthe corner of his mouth, at which he was sucking rapidly. In spite ofits dark lacquer of tan his face had a grayish tinge. 

"Sick?" he asked of Bryant, jerking a nod toward Louise Graham. 

"A bit. Have Doc give you a little brandy in a glass. And bring outher things, too. "

Rymer went back into the shack, presently returning with the liquorand accompanied by the young doctor, who still had his sleeves rolledup. Louise swallowed the fiery dram. 

"That--that would raise the dead!" she gasped, wiping sudden tearsfrom her eyes. She sat up, pushed back the hair from her brow, andbegan to glance about. 

"How's your man?" Bryant asked the doctor. 

"Right as a trivet--if no complications set in. Have him stowed on acot in the inner room. Bring on your next. "

"You ought to be the next, " said Lee, darkly. 

"Because I grabbed her? Well, I'll use her another time if she'sabout. Steady as a pin. No wasted motion, either. Passed meinstruments and things like a veteran nurse. I just gave a nod orglance and she had the right tray. I wanted to pat her on theshoulder. Can't give people that thing; it's a born knack. Knowingexactly what's wanted at the instant. She has it, has it to the tipsof her fingers. "

Lee said no more. The young doctor was still labouring under theexcitement of the past hour and swimming in exultation at performingan operation that would have taxed the skill of an experiencedsurgeon. It had been one of those wicked cases--arm crushed to theshoulder, everything gone into a hodge-podge of flesh and arteries andsplintered bone, a case for fast work and at the same time fordelicate closure of the stump. This had been thrust at Higginson likea flash, he out of a medical school but a year and a half, stillcoaxing a moustache, so to speak. Lee perceived it all. The matter forHigginson had been like the ditch with Bryant: something tremendous, something to be met with the means at hand, something to beaccomplished at all costs. And now his brain was ringing with triumph. He was superior to anything Bryant might think or say or do. For themoment he was quite ecstatic. One in his exalted state could conceivenothing unmeet in having haled a strange, sensitive girl into theghastly business for an assistant. 

"I'll conduct Miss Graham to my office, where she can remain untilshe's wholly herself, " Bryant said. "This air is too sharp. You haveeverything, Rymer--cap, coat, gauntlets? Bring them along. "

"But I'm feeling better now, " Louise protested. 

"You're not yet fit to start home. Over there it's warm and quiet. " Herose to help her remove the great apron. 

In the shack at the head of the street where he led her, he made hercomfortable in an old arm-chair from his ranch house with a Navajo rugover her lap. As he stirred up the fire, she gazed about at the room. In one corner was a desk knocked together of boards, littered withpapers; near it on the floor were boxes stuffed with rolls ofblue-prints; the wall spaces between windows were filled withstatements and reports; bulging card-board files rested on a shelf;from nails hung an old coat and a camera; in another corner leaned atripod, rod, and a six-foot brass-edged measure specked with clay; andpiled in a heap beyond the stove were a saddle, a pair of boots, chunks of piñon pine, and a discarded flannel shirt on which lay agray cat nursing a kitten. Through the inner door, standing open, shehad a glimpse of two cots with tumbled blankets. The place was theoffice and temporary home of a busy man, a rough board-and-tar-paperhabitation that went forward on skids as the camp went forward, theworkshop and living-quarters of a director who was stripped down tothe hard essentials of toil and whose brain was the nerve centre of adesperate effort by a host of horses and men. 

"You have companions, I see, " Louise remarked, indicating the mothercat and kitten. 

"Dave's, " was his reply, as he finished at the stove. "He found themsomewhere. There were four kittens to begin with, but only one isleft. It's a hard game for cats to survive in a camp like this. "

"Poor little things!"

"Dave says he'll save this kitten, or know why. "

"What about Dave himself with all these rough men?"

"It leaves him untouched, " Lee said. "Doesn't hurt a boy when he'smade of the right stuff. He'll be better for it, in fact. Many a grownman would be more competent with the knowledge Dave's picking up here, young as he is. He's learning what work means and what men are andwhat's what generally. When this job is done, I'm going to send himoff to school; and he'll eat up his studies. Just watch and see. "Bryant laughed. "He's aching to become an engineer. He has his markalready fixed, which not one boy in a thousand at his age has. And allthis is priming him to go to his mark like a shot. "

"I hadn't thought of that, " she stated. 

"Actually he's soaking up more arithmetic, geology, physics, veterinary knowledge, and so on, by pumping Pat Carrigan, theengineers, and the men, than I supposed his head could hold, " Leecontinued. "When he gets at his books, they won't be meaninglessthings to him. Not much! He'll understand what prompted them and whatthey open up. Well, now, are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I think so. " Then she said, "But I'm keeping you away from yourwork. You go, and when I'm--"

"Wouldn't think of it. Nothing pressing. " And Bryant began to moveabout thoughtfully, now going to gaze out a window and now returningto stand and fix his eyes upon her intently. 

"That was a distressing experience for you, " he went on, presently. "Ifeel all upset at your being in there. Higginson was desperate, Isuppose, and grasped at you because you happened to be there and hecould not wait. "

She put out a hand toward Lee. 

"Don't scold him please, " she said. 

"Little good it would do now, " he replied. "He'll be so cocky thathe'll dare me to fire him if I say a word, and grin in my face, for heknows now that he's a good man and that I know it and will never lethim go. "

"Higginson, is that his name?" Louise asked. "Well, he is a good man. When he started the engineer using the chloroform and me arrangingthings, he was swallowing hard. I saw he was terribly nervous andkeyed up. But he went right at the operation without faltering andwith a sort of doggedness. As if nothing should stop him. I myself wasdoing rather mistily what he wanted. The chloroform, the smell ofantiseptics, the shiny instruments, the cutting, the nipping ofblood-vessels with forceps and tying them, the clipping with scissors, the sewing--all went to my head. And I constantly had to tell myself, 'Don't be silly! You're not going to faint. He might fail if you did. That tray, those forceps, those sponges, that thread, that's what hewants now. Keep your head. Don't be a quitter. ' And so on througheternity--it seemed an eternity, anyway. I think the young engineerwith me thought so, too. He turned quite green once or twice. But thenI must have looked that way throughout. All at once it was over, suddenly. Quite unexpectedly, too. I had come to believe that it wouldgo on and on forever. But, as I say, all at once it was done and themen were wheeling the bandaged fellow into the other room. Then thedoctor called over his shoulder at me, 'Open the door, girl; let insome air. ' So I opened it as he wanted, and came out. "

Bryant was greatly affected by that simple recital. He began to walkback and forth beside Louise, restlessly thrusting his hands in hiscoat pockets but immediately pulling them out as if there were nosatisfaction in the action, and casting troubled glances at her fromunder close-drawn brows. His disquietude moved her to speak. 

"You're worrying about me, Mr. Bryant; you mustn't do that. In a fewminutes more I'll be entirely recovered. I should be foolish topretend that the happening wasn't a shock to me, but I'm not aweakling--I've health and strength. I'll not permit the thought of theoperation to depress my spirits. Indeed, I know I'll be very proud ofwhat I did this afternoon, for it was a chance to do a real, disinterested service. And I can guess what father will say when helearns of it--'Louise, you did just right. Exactly what you should dounder the circumstances. '"

Already the colour had reappeared in her cheeks. A resilience ofnature was indeed hers, he perceived, that enabled her to undergoordeals that would prostrate many women. It came, undoubtedly, fromthe same springs out of which rose her splendid courage, her finesympathy. Ah, that golden quality of sympathy! Because of it her dutythat day had seemed plain and clear. 

"Louise--may I not use that name, for we're friends?--Louise, you'rethe bravest, kindest girl I have ever known. I mean it, really. I'venever forgotten your generous act that day when someone so brutallykilled my dog Mike, how you tried to save him. I didn't know you then, but that made no difference to you. And now when you find anopportunity to help save a man's life, you never flinch. "

"Why, it's the natural thing to do. "

"Is it? I was beginning to think selfishness was the natural thing, "he said, with a hard, twisted smile. 

She rested her hand on his sleeve for an instant. A smile and a shakeof her head accompanied the action. 

"I know better than that, Lee Bryant, " she rejoined. "You're notselfish yourself and will never arrive at a time when you'll believewhat you said. "

"But there are selfish people, many of them. "

"Yes. Of course. "

"And one can't change them, and they cause infinite anxiety inothers----"

"Yes; that, too. Has Mr. Menocal been troubling you in some new way?"

Lee rose hastily. "I wasn't thinking of him, " said he; and he went toa window and stared out at the engineers' shack across the street. Hertouch on his arm, her tone, her solicitude, agitated him more than hedared let her see. Why in the name of heaven couldn't he have a Ruthwho was like her? A Ruth who was a Louise, with all of her lovablequalities and splendid courage and fine nobility of heart?

He swung about to gaze at her. She yet sat half turned in her seat sothat her clear profile was before his eyes. Her soft chestnut hairglinted with gleams of the fire that escaped through a crack in thedoor. Her features were in repose. Something in her attitude, in herface, gave her a girlish appearance, as she might have looked whensixteen--an infinite candor, an innocence and simplicity, that alonecomes from a serene spirit. 

Presently he discovered that she had moved her head about, that shewas looking straight at him. Bryant experienced a singular emotion. 

"Some serious trouble is disturbing you, " she said. 

Her eyes continued fixed upon his, increasing his uneasiness. He felthimself flushing. He made a gesture as if whatever it was might bedisregarded, then said, "Yes. "

"You're not still anxious concerning me? I'm rested--see!"

She sprang up, casting off the rug and spreading her arms wide for hisscrutiny. The heat of the fire had put the glow into her cheeks again;a smile rested on her lips; she seemed poised for an upward flight. 

"I'll take you home, " he said, abruptly. 

"Oh, no. I can ride----"

"One of the boys will bring your horse to you in the morning, " hecontinued, as if she had not spoken. "It would be dark before youreached home; dusk is already at the windows. And you would be chilledthrough. You've no business to be riding after what you've beenthrough. I'll bring my car to the door while you're putting on yourthings. "

A vague fear sent him out of the door quickly. Ruth in his mind waslike a figure projected far off in the landscape, occupied, distant, facing away; but Louise Graham was by, and despite his wish or will, or her knowledge, drawing his heart. What he had sought in Ruth was inher possession, the possibility of happiness. Life had deluded him andseemed about to crush him in a savage clutch. As he moved along thestreet, this apprehension lay cold in his breast; he could not dismissit; it persisted like a dull throb of pain. A sudden fury swept him. The place was becoming intolerable, the mesa a hell. He burned tochuck the whole wretched business. 

When he returned with the car he was at least outwardly calm. Hehelped Louise into the seat. 

"I'll have you home in no time, " said he. 

"And you must stay for supper. "

"Yes; why not. Might as well. "

"And we'll pick up the girls; all of us can crowd in here somewhere. "

The slightest pause followed before his answer. 

"Certainly, " he said. "We can all ride. "

Imogene's cabin, however, was the only one showing a light when theystopped before the pair of little houses, and only Imogene was athome. She was delighted to go with Lee and Louise. Ruth had drivenwith Charlie Menocal to Kennard earlier in the afternoon, she brieflystated. Then she remarked:

"Aren't you dissipating frightfully to-night, Lee?"

"Like a regular devil, " was the response. 

CHAPTER XIX

Imogene had been startled by a note in Lee's answer to her banteringquestion that she never before had heard him use. Though his wordswere uttered lightly, there nevertheless was a hard ring to them, agrate, as if his teeth were on edge. Something had happened. Ruth haddriven during the afternoon to see him and returned exceedingly putout. If anything had occurred, Imogene hoped it was--well, one certainthing. 

When Bryant brought her home that evening, he went with her into hercabin. In silence he built up the fire, fussed for a time with thelamp-wick, lighted a cigarette, took a turn across the cabin, inspected thoughtfully the back of one hand, and then lifted his gazeto Imogene. She had been waiting, with a vague alarm. And this hisstern visage and burning eyes increased. 

"Will Ruth marry me at once, do you think?" he questioned. "To-morrow--or the next day?" His tone was calm. He might have beenspeaking of the cabin, asking if it kept out the wind. 

Imogene was dumbfounded by that voice and that inquiry. She hadexpected anything but either. 

"Not then; not so soon, I suspect, " she said, at length. 

"When? At the end of a week, the end of a fortnight?"

"I can't say, " she replied with a sensation now of being harried. This would not do; she must get herself in hand. "The fact is, Lee, I'm not in Ruth's confidence. Haven't been for some considerable time. We've drifted a little apart. "

"Only a little?"

"Only a little--I hope. "

The cigarette Bryant held had gone out. Presently he glanced at it, then crushed it in his palm and dropped it into a coat pocket. 

"Don't fence with me, Imogene, " he said. "Give me the truth. "

The truth--well, why not? He was entitled to it. Besides, since he hadeyes and a brain with which to reason he was not ignorant of thegirls' waning friendship. Pretense was foolish. Imogene leaned forwardin her seat and rested her crossed arms upon her knees, directing herlook at the floor. Her fluffy golden hair had been slightlydisarranged when she removed her hat and so remained. Her face wasthinner than in the summer, with a pinched aspect about her lips. 

"The situation is this, " she began, slowly. "Ruth and I are not reallyon good terms and we've been perilously near a break several times. But I've restrained my temper and my tongue to avoid one, because Ifeel I must remain as long as she does. No, I can't leave her herealone--that would be brutal. And ruinous for her, too. I've thought itall out pretty carefully. You see, we both agreed to stay when wecame, until we agreed to go or had proved up on our claims. Probably Idon't make myself very clear to you. I think now that I made a mistakeand that neither of us ought ever to have attempted homesteading. Somuch has happened that is different from what I anticipated. Not theexistence itself; I don't mean that. Other things. Ruth's change, chiefly. See, Lee, I speak frankly, for we've usually been franktoward each other. You two are engaged, but"--she straightened up inorder to meet his eyes--"she's treating you abominably andshamelessly. Ordinarily, I would hold my peace, I've held it hitherto, but I can no longer. Why, I choke sometimes! Going constantly withGretzinger, who's so despicable that he tries to use her as a tool toreach and corrupt you, or Charlie Menocal, who's your out-and-outenemy, it's too much for me, Lee. And uncle and aunt are furious withme for staying. She listen to me? Ruth listens neither to me nor anyone. " She rose and came close to Bryant. "You're right to marry herimmediately. If you two love each other, that is. " Her look waspenetrating, questioning. "For she needs a restraining influence. People in Kennard are talking----"

"My God!" Bryant cried, hoarsely. "No, no; not Ruth! She couldn't doanything wrong!"

"No, there's nothing bad. But she has given grounds for gossip, sheand some other girls. She sees too much of this Gretzinger and CharlieMenocal and men like them; and the time may come when I'll tremble. I've begged her to be discreet and considerate of your good opinionand love, but she always declares that she's acting eminently proper. Lee. "

"Yes. "

"There's something more. Gretzinger's not only finding amusement inher company, he's in love with her. After the women he's beenaccustomed to in New York, the rouged and jaded type he naturallywould know, her freshness and spirits appeal to him. But you know whatsort of man he is--cynical, unscrupulous, without principles. "

A long time passed before Bryant made a response. He stood knittinghis brows, as if preoccupied. Imogene wondered if he had beenfollowing her at the last. 

"I'll speak to him about his principles in connection with Ruth, " hesaid. The utterance was amazingly dispassionate. Then quiteunexpectedly he remarked, "I've never yet had to kill a man, never asyet. "

Imogene shuddered, and she was terrified. It was as if a curtain hadbeen jerked aside disclosing figures grouped for tragedy. 

"It must never come to that, " she breathed. 

Bryant stirred, then began to look about the room. He grew observant. 

"This is bad for you, Imogene, " he said, presently. "Impossible! Youruncle is right. This wretched cabin doesn't keep out cold or wind; youhave to chop wood and carry water, tasks beyond your strength; you'relonely, you're ill at times--"

"And Ruth?"

"Well?"

"You know her situation. Financial, I mean. "

"I less than any one know it. Extraordinary, too, now that I think ofit, " he said, reflectively. "What is her situation?" Immediately headded, "Of course, I guess that she has no great means and she hassaid that she lacks training to earn a livelihood. But her family?"

"She lived with an aunt until she came here, Lee. "

"So she mentioned. "

"They didn't get on well together after Ruth went to stay with her onher parents' death, " Imogene explained. "The woman was narrow-mindedand exacting, especially in matters of amusements and religion. Youknow the type. " Bryant nodded. "And Ruth was young, exuberant, and, asI now see, wilful. Their clashes were the cause of her desire to comeWest. We had been good friends, but not intimates; and I marvel atmyself now at having gone so rashly into a thing like this, withoutinquiring whether our habits, tastes, desires, natures, everything, fitted us for prolonged companionship. Yes, I marvel. " She satmotionless, staring at the lamp fixedly. "However, I'm in it now up tomy neck. Ruth declares that she will never return to her aunt. "

"And she can't earn a living. "

"Nor would if she could, I fear, " Imogene added, a little sadly. "Atleast, now. It would be too dull. "

"Then I must marry her at once. "

Imogene gave him a strange look. 

"She is waiting, " said she. 

"For marriage?"

"No, to see how you succeed. Oh, to have to say these things isdreadful, Lee!" she exclaimed. But Bryant brushed this aside with agesture almost august in its indifference. "If you finish your projecton time, she will be ready for the ceremony, " the girl went on. "Ifyou fail, she'll postpone it until you're able to provide more thanjust a roof, a chair, and a broom. Her very words! Love must notprevent people from being practical, from her viewpoint. So, as Isay, she's waiting to discover the outcome. " A corner of her mouthtwisted up while she paused. Then she concluded in a low voice, "Andprobably something else. "

Bryant had again fallen into study. Imogene doubted if he had heardher added remark, and she could not divine from his countenance howfierce or in what direction his covered passion was beating. 

"It will be too late, " said he, suddenly and, as it seemed to her, irrelevantly. 

Then she thought that she understood. 

"He's going home in a few days, for the Christmas holidays, " shestated. "Possibly then Ruth will--I'm planning for us all to be atuncle's, you with us. "

"Gretzinger wasn't in my mind. "

"You said 'too late', " she pursued. "Naturally I supposed yourreference to be of them. "

The gravity of his face deepened. 

"I was thinking of myself, " said he, turning his eyes upon her. "Ifwe're not married soon, very soon, it will be too late. I mean that itwould be a mockery. For me, at any rate. One may wish to go one way, and be swept another, especially when the mooring line is slack. " Hisbreast rose and fell at a quick, agitated breath. "But promise me thatyou'll not speak of this to Ruth. "

"The very thing to bring her round, perhaps. "

"More likely to fill her with despair. "

This was something Imogene could not grasp. It was so inexplicable, soextravagant, so perverse, that her cheeks grew hot. 

"I can't follow you at all, " she cried, indignantly. "Ruth alarmed, jealous, in doubt--yes, I can credit her with any one of thosefeelings. But despair! She lays her plans too far ahead to be led intodespair. "

"Even if she knew I had ceased to love her? When she understood ourmarriage would be a hollow ceremony?"

"Would it be that if you succeed with your project?"

Bryant's eyes blazed suddenly. 

"Great God, you talk as if she were to marry the canal!" he exclaimed. He glowered for a time. "I see now what you mean. You believe shewould marry me if I win out with the ditch. Being practical, she wouldaccept money as a substitute for love. That reminds me: she herselfonce declared that if circumstances necessitated she could take a richman for his riches. " Bryant uttered a harsh laugh. "My Lord, I wasfrightened lest in a fit of anguish at losing my love she should go tothe devil!" Again he yielded to an outburst of laughter that madeImogene shudder. "I fancied that at finding herself out of money, unable to work, disinclined to work, unloved, miserable, she wouldrecklessly hurl herself into perdition. And I was going to save herfrom that, marry her at once, sacrifice myself! Like an egotisticalfool! When all the while there was never the slightest danger or need, when all the while she held the string, not I. And love isn't aconsideration whatever. And she will marry me when I've completed theproject. And complete it I must, of course. Not a way out, not asingle loop-hole. Oh, my Lord, my Lord, Imogene, did you ever know ofanything so devilishly laughable!" And his bitter, sardonic merrimentbroke forth anew. 

The girl was appalled. All she could do was to gasp, "Oh, Lee, Lee!Don't laugh like that, don't think of it like that. You make it outworse than it is. "

He stopped short. By his look he might have detested her. 

"I state it as it is, " he said. "Wherein is the actual situationbetter?"

"You could break your engagement; certainly she has given yousufficient cause. "

"Yes, break with her, as might you. Why don't you?"

Imogene put out a hand in protest. 

"You know why, Lee; I've told you, " she said, earnestly. 

"No more can I, for the same reason, " was his reply. He turned andlifted his hat and gloves from the table. "I will have no act of minecut her adrift and push her under. Much better to stand the gaff. Isuppose one hardens to anything in time. " His look wandered about theroom. "And the diabolic part of it all is that this squeamish feelingof responsibility for another may achieve as much harm in the long runas its lack. Who knows?"

He glanced at her as if expecting an answer. Imogene remained silent;indeed, nothing need be said to so evident an enigma. For that matter, nothing more said at all. Bryant drew on his gloves and bade hergood-night. At the door he remarked, quite in his accustomed manner:

"I'll send Dave over in the morning with more blankets and have himchop some wood. There's a drop in the temperature coming. "

CHAPTER XX

The predicted cold weather came, bringing winter in earnest. The frostwent deeper into the ground and construction grew slower, but the dayscontinued fine and without gales, those fierce and implacable windsthat sometimes rage over the frozen mesa hours at a time under a dull, saffron sun, sharp as knives, shrieking like demons, and driving manand beast to cover. They had not yet been unleashed. 

Night work was begun, amid a flare of gasolene torches that gave aweird aspect to the plain. The yellow lights; the moving, shadowyforms of the workmen and horses; the cries and shouts--all made ascene gnome-like in character. Frost gleamed upon the earth in asilvery sheen under the torches' smoky flames. The headquartersbuilding and the mess tents now glowed from dusk until dawn. Fireswhere workmen could warm their cheeks and hands were burningcontinually, fed from the great piles of wood brought from themountains. And so by day and by night, without halt and despite cold, the restless life was maintained and the toil kept going and the hardfurrow driven ahead. 

With the approach of Christmas the advance of the project was marked. The dam was nearing completion, with its long, gently inclined, upstream face constructed of smooth cobbles--a slope up which any vastand sudden rush of cloudburst water would slide unchecked to the crestand harmlessly pass over. All of the drops, as well as the head-gateand flood weirs, were finished, standing as if hewn out of solid whitestone. The miners had blasted out a channel through the reef of rock, and gone. From the dam the canal section all along the hillside andfollowing the ridge, from drop to drop, and out to a point on the mesaa mile beyond, was excavated, a great clean ditch; while from PerroCreek the canal ran northward for six miles to the main camp, curvingin the great arc that constituted its line. Three and a half miles, and complements, constructed at one end; six miles at the other. Between, five miles of unbroken mesa. Seven weeks remained for thesmall camp working down from the north and the great camp pushing fromthe south to dig through those miles and meet--seven weeks; but in themost bitter season of the year. 

It seemed that it was with infinitely greater effort that the twosections of the canals were forced ahead each day. The surface of theground was like stone, only by repeated attempts pierced by plows andtorn apart; while the subsoil immediately froze if left unworked. Theweaker labourers began to break: the scrawny Mexicans, the debilitatedwhite men, the drifters and the dissatisfied; and they left the camps. These the labour agencies found it harder and harder to replace as thecold weather persisted, so that the force showed a considerablediminishment. 

A few days before Christmas Gretzinger paid Bryant a visit. He had notbeen to camp for a week and therefore on this occasion examined theprogress of work with care, studying the rate of excavation andcalculating the result. 

"You'll just about make it through, Bryant, if nothing happens to puta crimp in your advance, " he stated when he was about to take hisdeparture from the office, where he and Lee conferred. 

"Yes, " said Bryant. 

"And if anything should happen, then good-bye canal. "

"That doesn't necessarily follow, " said Lee, calmly. 

Gretzinger ignored this reply. He thrust an arm into his fur-linedovercoat and began to draw it on. That evening he was leaving Kennardfor New York, and now was desirous of returning to town by noon, wherehe had a luncheon engagement with Ruth Gardner. He had casuallymentioned to Bryant that the girls had gone the day before to theMcDonnells for the holidays. 

"My people were certainly handed a phony deal here, " he remarkedshortly, as he buttoned the coat collar about his throat. "Questionable title to the water! Extravagance and poor management!Rotten project all through! If I had lined this thing up, I shouldhave learned what I actually had before a cent was expended. But ofcourse if the thing goes smash, we in the East have to stand the loss;you're losing no cash, you have nothing in it but a shoestring. Well, I'm expecting you to put your back into the job and do no loafing andpull us out of the hole you've got us into. "

Bryant's face remained impassive. 

"I'll attend to my end, " said he, "if the bondholders take care oftheirs. They'll have to dig up more cash. "

"What's that!"

"More money, I said. "

"They'll see you in hell before they do. "

"Then that's where they'll look for payment of their bonds. You're notfool enough, are you, to imagine a system can be built in winter andunder high pressure for what it could be constructed in summer and notin haste? Strange the idea never occurred to you before--you, Gretzinger, irrigation expert, though you never saw an irrigationditch till you came West. The sixty thousand dollars from bonds andtwenty thousand more I've put with it will be gone sometime nextmonth. Possibly I can stretch it out to the first of February. Afterthat, the bondholders will have to come forward to save theirinvestment. "

Gretzinger unbuttoned his overcoat and sought his cigarette case. Hisscowl as he struck a match was lighted by vicious gleams from hiseyes. 

"Why didn't you stop work when you received notification from thestate engineer of the Land and Water Board's action?" he demanded. "When you yet had the bulk of the money?"

"I preferred to continue. "

"And now you're sinking it all. "

"It costs money to move frozen dirt, " said Bryant. 

"Well, I tell you the bondholders won't put up another pennyunless----" The Easterner paused, growing thoughtful. Some minutespassed before he resumed: "There's one condition on which they'll doit, and I'll guarantee their support. "

"And the condition?"

"That you surrender your stock to them. "

"For the twenty or twenty-five thousand dollars more that will beneeded? My shares representing a hundred thousand? And I presume Ishould have to withdraw altogether. "

"Naturally, " Gretzinger responded. "I should then take charge. "

Bryant's expression exhibited a certain amount of curiosity. 

"Do you really think you could finish the ditch on time?" he inquired. 

A slight sneer was the answer. Gretzinger was one not given to wastingtime with men of Bryant's type. 

"How about it? Am I to take back to New York with me your agreement tothis?" he asked, curtly. 

The other spread his feet apart and hooked his thumbs in his coatpockets and directed his full regard at the speaker. 

"You think you have me in a hole, Gretzinger, " he said. "You proposeto take me by the throat and shake everything out of my pockets andthen throw me aside. Well, I'm in a hole, no use denying that. But youhaven't me by the throat and you're not going to loot me. If I gobroke, it won't be through handing over what I have to you and yourgang of pirates, just make up your mind to that. "

"Then you intend to wreck this project. A court action will stop that, I fancy. "

"The only court action you can demand is a receivership for thecompany, and not until my money-bag is empty at that, " Lee rejoined, coolly. "And the time will expire and the company be a shell beforeit's granted, at the rate courts move. "

The New Yorker considered. Finally he began to re-button hisovercoat. 

"I'll leave the offer open, " said he. "I was uncertain before aboutreturning, but I'll probably do so now. You'll find as the pinch comesthat my proposition will look better--and we might pay you two orthree thousand so you'll not go out strapped. Besides, if we took overand completed the project, it would save your face; you wouldn't bewholly discredited; you would be able to get a job somewhereafterward. Might as well make the most you can for yourself out of abad mess. Think it over, Bryant. " He set his cap on his head with aconclusive air. 

Lee pointed at a chair by the table. 

"Sit down for a moment; there's another matter. " He crossed to hisdesk, put his hand in a drawer for something, and came back. "Look atthat, " he said, tossing a revolver cartridge on the table beforeGretzinger. 

The man picked it up and turned it over between thumb and finger, examining it with mingled surprise and curiosity. 

"What about it?" he questioned. 

"I understand you're interested in a certain young lady, " Bryantstated, smoothly. 

Gretzinger straightened on his seat, flashing his look up to theother's. A sudden tightening of his lips accompanied the action and heceased to revolve the cartridge he held. 

"I'll not discuss my personal affairs with you or----"

"When they touch mine, you will, " was the answer. 

"Are you jealous?" Gretzinger asked after a pause, with a trace ofinsolence. "Believe you are. I thought, along with your othershortcomings, you weren't capable of even that. Now that we'retalking, I'll say that I've taken Ruth round and found herentertaining. What about it? And I've given her my opinion of the wayyou've run this work, because she asked for it. I told her that youhad botched the business from the beginning. I told her you wereunpractical, incompetent, small-gauged, and lightweight, and wouldmake a failure of everything you touched. There you have it all. Well?"

Bryant's brows twitched for an instant. 

"I guessed as much. " He stood staring in silence at the table, butpresently brought himself to attention. "Honour is something you don'tunderstand. So I thought that bullet might focus your mind on possibleconsequences. "

"What's all this rot!"

Lee leaned forward with his fists resting on the table and his eyesprobing Gretzinger's. 

"If any harm comes to Ruth through you, that bullet will pay it out, "he said, harshly. "You've felt its weight. It's forty-four calibre, plenty heavy enough to do the business. I can smash a potato at thirtypaces. One shot is all I shall ask. I won't do any hemming and hawingover the matter, or----"

Gretzinger sprang up. 

"See here, Bryant!" he cried. 

"Or advertising in the newspapers, " the other went on, in a leveltone. "I'll attend to your case, quickly and quietly. Here, or in NewYork, or wherever you are. That's all. "

Gretzinger had gone a little pale. He was nervously drawing on hiscap. 

"Listen to me for a moment----"

"I said that's all. Get out. " And Bryant's mien brooked notemporizing. 

It was of Lee's nature not to brood on such matters. He had given thewarning and must await the issue. Meanwhile, the burden of work andthe needs of the project would afford sufficient occupation for hismind. 

Christmas came. Bryant had ordered that labour cease for twenty-fourhours, as the gruelling fight of weeks had worn down the spirit of themen. A holiday would rest them, while a big turkey dinner andunlimited cigars and pails of candy would put them in a good humour. At dark on the afternoon before the day shift at both camps ceasedwork, the horses were stabled, the torches left unlighted, the firesalong the ditch allowed to die down, and the project was idle. A lightskift of snow had fallen during the morning, whitening the earth, butthe clouds had passed away, so that the still air and clear sky gavepromise of a fine morrow. 

Christmas Eve, however, did not lapse without a disturbing incident. About supper time Dave came running to Bryant and Pat Carrigan inLee's shack. He had seen workmen going furtively into a tent innumbers that aroused his curiosity, and had crept unseen under the leeof the canvas shelter, where, lifting the flap, he beheld in theinterior a keg on the ground and a Mexican, by light of a candle, serving labourers whisky in tin cups. 

"Whisky in camp!" Lee roared. "Come with me, Pat. " The two men, guidedby Dave, strode down the street. Before the tent indicated they haltedto listen. The shelter glowed dimly; formless shadows stirred on itscanvas walls; and from within came low, guarded voices and once amuffled laugh. 

Jerking the flaps apart Bryant entered, followed by the contractor. Heforced an opening through the group of workmen by a savage sweep ofhis arms and came to the keg, where the Mexican at the moment wasbending down and holding a cup under the spigot. When the manperceived the engineer, he leaped up. The fellow's short, squat figureand stony expression had for Bryant a vague familiarity--that faceespecially, brown, stolid, brutal, with a fixed, snake-like gaze. 

But Lee had no time to speculate on the Mexican's identity. The liquorwas the important thing. The man stood motionless, holding in his lefthand the half-filled cup that gave off a pungent, sickening smell ofwhisky; his eyes were intent on the engineer. Behind Lee, Carrigan wasalready herding the others from the tent. 

"Where did you get that stuff?" Bryant demanded. But as the Mexicanonly shook his head, he changed to Spanish. "Trying to start a bigdrunk here?"

"To-morrow is a fête day, señor, " was the reply. "A friend made me apresent; I share it with the others. Besides, in cold weather it keepsone warm. "

"How long have you worked here?"

"Three days. "

"There's a camp order: 'No liquor allowed in camp. ' You can't say thatyou don't know it, for it's posted everywhere on placards in Englishand in Spanish. "

He received no response. A faint shrug of the shoulders, perhaps. TheMexican's glistening, sinister eyes, on the other hand, continued asrigid as orbs of polished agate, and his face as expressionless. 

"Well, we'll lock you up and see if we can learn who your 'friend' isthat sent this barrel in, " Lee stated. 

There was a slight movement of the man's elbow. 

"Watch him--his right hand!" Pat cried, sharply. 

The hand had darted swiftly to the fellow's hip, but Bryant's fist wasas quick. It shot up, catching the man's jaw and hoisting him off hisfeet. Next instant the engineer had disarmed the prostrate ruffian. 

"The Kennard jail for you, " said he, in English. "A bad _hombre_, eh!Up with you, quick. "

But what followed neither the engineer nor the contractor anticipated. With a lightning-like roll of his body the man vanished under the sideof the tent. When the others rushed out in search of him he had madegood his escape; and a search through the dark camp would be useless. They therefore emptied the keg upon the ground, extinguished the lamp, and returned to Lee's office. Though the Mexican had got away, theynevertheless had put a foot on the malicious scheme. 

All at once Dave, who was walking at Bryant's and Pat's heels up thestreet, exclaimed:

"I've got that greaser's number now! We saw him once at the depot inKennard, Lee. He was watching you, remember?"

"I guess you're right; I recall him. "

"Bet that old devil in Bartolo put him up to this. " Dave asserted. 

"Tut, tut, kid! Language like that on Christmas Eve! Charliemight--but not his father, I imagine. "

Dave, however, was not altogether to be suppressed. 

"Well, I don't put anything past either of them, " he sniffed. 

CHAPTER XXI

On Christmas morning the thought occurred to Lee that he had heardnothing more from Imogene of the plan for him to spend the day at theMcDonnells', which she had mentioned the night of their talk. Ratherstrangely, too, he had not received from either of the girls even anote of holiday greeting; to Imogene he had had sent from Denver anedition of Ibsen's plays, and to Ruth a splendid set of furs, both incare of Mrs. McDonnell, who had promised they should be delivered whenSanta Claus came down the chimney. Odd, the girls' silence. 

He was at work on his accounts at the moment, but now he remainedbiting the end of his pen-holder and staring through the window. Fromsomewhere in the sagebrush came the sound of shots: Dave potting tincans with the . 22 rifle that had been Lee's gift to him. In the roomwas only the snapping of the fire. Presently the telephone rang. 

"Imo now, " he exclaimed. "I'll be hanged if I go down and carry outthe farce before the McDonnells. "

But the person proved to be Louise Graham. 

"I wondered--well, several things, " she said, when he had answered. "First, if you had gone away anywhere; next, in case you hadn't, whether you were working; and last, should the camp be resting to-day, if you wouldn't come to Christmas dinner with father and me. "

"No work's going on. "

"Then we'll be delighted to have you come--and Dave also, of course. There's an especially fattened turkey ready to slide into the ovennow. Father has just said, too, to tell you that there's going to besomething else--Tom and Jerry. How does that sound?"

"Like a man and a boy coming down the road toward Diamond Creek, " Leeanswered, with a laugh. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness inremembering us. "

"I'll judge how sincere you are by the amount of turkey you eat, " shesaid. "Dinner will be about one o'clock. "

"We shall be prompt. "

Lee hung up the receiver, then glanced at his watch. It was ten. Hereseated himself at his desk and endeavoured to fasten his thoughtsupon the entries in the book before him, but at last he exclaimed, throwing down his pen: "Damned if I can or will!" and jumped up, andwent to tramping about the office, and when Dave's cat and kittenpresented themselves to be stroked, unfeelingly thrust them aside withhis boot as he tramped. And when Dave came in, about half-past eleven, the boy found him part way into a clean white shirt, with the cat andthe kitten eying him resentfully, and received the order: "Get a moveon you; we're going to the Grahams' for dinner. See that you scrubyour face, too--and ears!" Which left Dave quite as indignant as thecat, for he always washed his ears. 

They arrived at the Graham ranch house shortly after noon, wherewreaths of holly, strings of evergreen, and red paper bells created aChristmas atmosphere. Coming from their cold ride into these cheerfulrooms and to a warm welcome, the hearts of both man and boy glowedwith unaccustomed feeling. And throughout the dinner that followedbetimes--during which Mr. Graham's pleasantries and Louise's gayspirits and mirth evoked in Lee a blitheness to which he long had beena stranger and in Dave a state of joyous bliss--they luxuriated inhalcyon well-being. After the meal Louise, at her father's suggestion, went to the piano and sang while the men were smoking their cigars. And then followed an hour at cards, High Five, at which Mr. Graham andDave won the most games; and then a maid, a Mexican girl, Rosita, brought in a bowl of nuts and raisins for the rancher and the boy whosettled themselves for a match at checkers, and Lee and Louisestrolled to a window seat at the other end of the long living room. 

A delicate pink was in the girl's cheeks. Her eyes were tender undertheir long lashes; a smile still lingered on her lips. It was as ifher countenance, her mind, her spirit, were suffused with thehappiness and peace of the hour, of the day. 

"My poor one-armed man, how is he?" she asked. "I intended to go seehim, but the cold has been so steady that I gave it up. You said overthe telephone several days ago that he was doing as well as could beexpected. "

"Quite out of danger now, " Lee replied. "The doctor told him a ladyassisted at the operation and now he's full of curiosity regardingyou. "

"I'll surprise him some day by just walking up to his cot and saying:'Good morning, how's my patient?' The day I'm going to pick is thenext one you move camp: I want to see how all those tents and shacksand everything rise up on their feet and travel. "

"You shall, " he stated, with a laugh. "I'll notify you of the date. About New Year's Day the next migration will occur. You've had yourturn at hospital work and now perhaps you wish to try your hand attransportation. I wager you'd make a good camp manager if you tookhold of the job. "

"Would you revive me a second time if I threatened to faint?" shequeried, gayly. "You and Imogene Martin gave me just the righttreatment that evening, for you kept my thoughts off the ordeal I'dbeen through. Next day I was myself, as I told you when you calledup. "

"I haven't seen you since that day, " Lee remarked. "I was reallyworried that afternoon, you know. " And an echo of the anxiety he hadsuffered sounded in his voice. 

Her face showed that she noted it, and it softened. 

"And you have so many anxieties, too, " said she. 

He stirred, then withdrew his gaze from her and directed it out awindow. The emotion he had experienced that afternoon when she satbefore his fire, when she sat there so frank and so simple-hearted, was rising in his breast again. The breath trembled a little upon hislips. But after a time he felt himself grow calmer. 

"I have anxieties, yes, " he said, "but so, I suppose, has every manand woman, of his or her own kind and degree. And they aren't theimportant thing, after all. What has happened in the past, not whatmay occur in the future, is what really matters. One can't change thepast, what's done; especially by one's own act. And if the act was aserious mistake. That's fatal! I see now that failure to accomplishwhat one sets out to do, as for instance in the building of my canal, may not be ruinous to a man. A man may fail and be quite as able a manas ever, as those who succeed; for human beings can do only so muchand no more. Nothing that he has done or not done would alter theresult. And he need not take the failure greatly to heart. Butvoluntary and heedless acts of folly, precipitate and unconsideredleaps in the dark, these indeed are ruinous. Oh, yes, they do thebusiness. They become balls and chains. Leave him no choice or action. If it were only so simple as the game of checkers your father and Daveare playing! When one game is over, they can start another. Butthere's only one game to life. "

"But it is a long one, and changes, " Louise said. 

She glanced at him. He intended that his words should be taken, sheperceived, in a general sense. But the mind always seeks the specific:hers instinctively seized on the particular thorn that had promptedhis utterance. Of Ruth Gardner's extraordinary and inexplicablebehaviour she had become informed, like everyone else; it at firstamazed, then shocked, and finally outraged her sense of decency. Itrepelled her--but, then, her early attempts at friendship with theother had never advanced. The girl had always been absorbed in her owndoings, immersed in pleasure or in plans for pleasure, concernedentirely with the friends she had, and, unlike Imogene, receivedLouise's calls and approaches at cordiality with an indifference thatwithered all feeling. With the passing of time Louise had consideredLee's course in relation to the girl as a cause for wonder. Theengineer was singularly patient, or incredibly obtuse, or marvellouslyin love. Whichever it was, her heart stirred with pity. He deservedbetter, he deserved the best. As for Ruth Gardner, she could now onlythink of her with a hot resentment that set her lips quivering; andshe was moved at moments by a profound desire to express her sympathyto him and to give that warm encouragement his spirit on occasion mustneed. But she must refrain. 

At his speech her conclusions, but not her feelings, underwent a sharprevision. The revelation startled her. He had not been obtuse. He nolonger was marvellously in love with Ruth Gardner, nor in love withher at all. Relief followed surprise in her mind, the relief thatcomes at a fear unrealized, a disaster avoided. Disaster had beenprecisely what she had sensed if not thought, since a union of twopersons whose natures were as utterly different, as essentiallyopposed, as Lee's and Ruth's would inevitably lead to disillusionment, antagonism, sorrow, havoc. That his eyes at last were open was ablessing. 

"What are you thinking of?" he asked, all at once. 

She found his eyes full upon her. 

"Of what you had said, " she responded. "And at this minute I'mspeculating on whether anything--one's decisions, or acts, orsentiments--are ever quite conclusive or final. Or fatal, too, as yousaid. We might possibly except murder and suicide. " She smiled as shementioned this reservation. 

Lee shifted his position with a trace of impatience. 

"I'm not a pessimist, " he exclaimed. 

"No, you're too active to be. Pessimism is at bottom a kind of mentalindolence, I'd say--an unpleasant kind. "

"Some matters are not solved by action, " said he. "That is, when theyare out of one's hands and in another's. "

Her attention was caught by those words, and she hung on them for alittle. They distressed her; they caused her to understand the forcedimmobility of his face as he spoke, and wish that he would give way tohis feeling. The phrase "out of one's hands and in another's" referredundoubtedly to Ruth Gardner. She did not trust herself to speak. 

"What became of all those flowers that were in your garden lastsummer?" he asked, suddenly. "Do you dig up the roots, or cover them, or let them freeze? You have no idea how many times these cold daysthe recollection of that hour with you last summer when we walkedamong them recurs to me. It seems ages ago, however. That was one ofthe happy days, Louise. "

A delicate tint of pink stole into her face. For to her also the dayhad been one of happiness, as clear-cut in her memory as a cameo. Thethought that it and she had been dwelling in his mind produced in herbreast an unaccountable agitation. The coral pink in her cheeksdeepened to a flush; she lowered her eye-lashes and averted her look. 

"The flowers are banked with straw, the perennials, " she said, toprevent a silence. 

"I shall come and see them when they're blooming again, " he stated. "The more I recall them, the more beautiful it seems they were--yes, and the orchard, too, and the grassy canals, and the sunshine thatday. And you in the picture--the centre of the picture, Louise. Theimpressions one retains that stand out vividly in the mind are few:that is one of the number for me. But perhaps not for you. "

"Oh, for me also, " she exclaimed. 

Bryant stared at her round forearms and hands lying on her lap, butwithout observing them. He had marked the quick sincerity of herresponse. It affected him as would her soft hand-clasp. He began toglance restlessly about the room. 

The dusk of the early winter night was at hand. It had thickened inthe corners and over where Mr. Graham and Dave were meditating theirgame in silence. The flames crackling in the fireplace intensified theforming shadows. Lee recognized that it was time to be going. Nevertheless, he continued to linger for a while, with his eyessometimes resting on his companion in enjoyment of her face, engagedin thought, experiencing a contentment in merely being in herpresence. 

"This will be another of those days, " he at length remarked, in amusing tone. 

His words aroused her from her own reflections. 

"One for winter as well as for summer, " she said, raising her look. "Did I seem to be dreaming when you spoke? I was doing scarcely that;my mind was lulled; the quiet--the twilight--Christmas Day--they bringa soothing mood. "

"Something that in a world of money, money can't buy, " Lee said. Heappeared about to make a further remark, but failed to do so. Histhoughts, however, had gone off somewhere, Louise observed. Then heinquired in a matter-of-fact way: "When will you ride up to campagain?"

"Not until it grows warmer. Twelve miles or more is rather too far fora canter on a sharp day. "

He cast his eyes about at the strings of evergreen and the suspendedred bells and holly wreaths. 

"I'll run down again, if I may, before the holidays are over, " saidhe. "If only for another look at those things. They give a fellow apull--out of the ditch, so to speak. " And he rose. 

"Come, by all means, " Louise replied, with a nod. 

CHAPTER XXII

A week of twenty-below-zero weather opened the month of January andhalted work on the mesa. At that time four miles of canal remained tobe dug. Bryant and Pat Carrigan sat by the stove in Lee's shack andwaited, as the whole camp waited, for the thermometer to rise. On oneof these mornings, when Dave had gone across the street to theengineers' building, Lee informed the contractor that company fundswere not far from exhausted and related his talk with Gretzingerbefore the latter's departure for New York. 

"So he would squeeze you out, " Pat remarked. "What you might expectfrom him, nothing more! I've had the notion for some time that yourcash was getting low, from the way the money has gone. "

"I've spent five thousand on engineering, medical, and generalaccounts, " Lee stated, "twenty thousand on concrete work, and paid youforty thousand. I've fifteen thousand left from the sale of bonds anda personal loan I obtained from McDonnell. That will pay for about twoweeks' work. And I think we've made every dollar go as far as it wouldunder the circumstances. "

"My word for that. "

"It's this little trick of Menocal's that's burning up good coin. Sixty thousand would have built the project ordinarily; my estimateswere correct enough. But having to do the job in this infernal weatheris what's raising the cost forty thousand more. I feel like enteringin the ledger 'To account of frost--$40, 000. 00. ' Like that. " Leescribbled the line on a sheet of paper and handed it to Pat. "Butthere's one thing sure, I'll sink the last cent I have in the groundbefore I quit and let those Eastern pirates get their claws into me. I'll have you cut down your force if necessary and string the lastdollar and last day's work out till my three months' grace is up. "

"Might try McDonnell for another loan, " Carrigan suggested. 

"I hate doing that worse than anything I know. He, not the bank, letme have that twenty thousand on my unsecured note. I had nothing tooffer but my stock in this company, and until the project's finishedthat's no better than so much blank paper. Loaned it to me because ofmy nerve, he said. And at the time I told him it would be enough moneyto carry me through, which I believed. Now to go back to himagain----" Lee stopped, with an expression of deep chagrin upon hisface. 

Pat tapped the dottle from his pipe and refilled the bowl. He glancedonce or twice at the engineer during the act. 

"You can make a better showing now than before, " said he. "Four milesmore and you'll be to the good. One of the excitements of constructionenterprises, and of irrigation projects in particular, I've observed, is the financing. The more often a man can go and pull his backers'legs for cash, the better financier he is. It seems to be largely amatter of keeping at them, talking them to death, wearing them out, until they weaken and hand over the money. More than one railroad wasbuilt that way. Try it on McDonnell. "

"You come with me. "

"No, thank you, " said Pat, with vigour. 

"I thought you wouldn't, " said Lee. 

He took Carrigan's suggestion, however, and went down through thebitter cold to see the banker. But the visit was fruitless. The bankcould not make the loan, and money being tight because of first of theyear settlements, McDonnell was not in shape to make it personally, nor would be in time to render any assistance. He was perfectlywilling, he said, to gamble another twenty thousand on Bryant'sability to win through, but he did not have the cash. Then he went onto say that Imogene had been suffering from a slight cold, and thatRuth Gardner was visiting at present with other friends in Kennard. 

Lee had had a telephone call from each of them the morning afterChristmas, thanking him for his gift, and later a letter from Imogeneagain expressing her appreciation, with a line that a change in Mrs. McDonnell's plans had prevented having him with them on Christmas. 

Nothing from either since. He now asked the banker to convey toImogene his wishes for a quick recovery, then set out for camp. Ruth--he did not even know where in town to look for Ruth, had he beenso inclined. Engaged! The thing would have been amusing if it was notso horrible. 

"No luck, " he said to Pat, briefly, when in his shack warming hischilled body at the fire. "Your system may work in summer, but allthe money is froze up at this time of year, like everything else. "

At the end of the week the winter's frigid grip on the earth relaxedand a period of mild, almost balmy days followed. Under the noon-daysun the top ground even softened a little. The camps awoke, the restedmen and horses fell upon their task with new spirit, and excavationwent ahead steadily. If there had been a full force, as Carriganpointed out, he could have moved at the rate of a mile in six daysinstead of in eight. Still the canal was being built, yard by yard, rod by rod, until by the middle of January another mile of the totalwas finished. The two camps were now easily within sight of eachother, the larger in the south, the smaller in the north, and butthree miles apart across the sagebrush. Moreover, the last stones ofthe dam had been laid; it stood completed; and the men who had beenengaged there moved down to add their strength to the north camp. 

One day toward noon Lee entered his office and to his amazement foundRuth seated there, glancing over an old magazine and toasting her feetat the stove. The furs he had given her reposed on his desk, where shehad laid them aside. At his entrance she sprang up, uttered adelighted exclamation, and rushing forward clasped her arms about hisneck and kissed him. 

"Lee, how good it seems to see you!" she said. "After so long! And Ican't thank you enough for those darling furs! I've thought of you somuch, working up here in the cold and alone with just men. My, yourface is like ice! Come to the fire. Poor thing, you look so thin andtired! I hope that soon you'll be able to rest; I'll make it a pointto see that you do take a long vacation and rest, for you need it. "She concluded with a hug and another kiss. 

"Go easy with my ears, Ruth, " he said, disengaging her arms. "Theywere nipped the other night and are still tender. How did you gethere? I thought you were in Kennard. "

He led her back to her seat and began to remove his cap and longsheep-lined overcoat, saying in an undertone that the weather wasreally too warm for the things. Afterward he posted himself by thestove near her, where he stuffed his pipe with tobacco and began tosmoke, while his eyes considered her face. 

"Imo and I returned to Sarita Creek yesterday, " she remarked, with anair of satisfaction. "It was good to be back, too. There has been somuch going on at Kennard that I felt quite worn out; one becomes wearyof too much buzzing around. I don't want any more of it for some time. And I missed you dreadfully, Lee!" She flashed up a smile at him, caught his hand for an instant, and gave it a squeeze. A thin streamof smoke issued from one corner of Bryant's mouth at the action. "Thepeople were proving somewhat tiresome also. So as the weather hadmoderated Imogene and I decided to return to our cabins. "

"Has she recovered from her cold?" Lee inquired, raising his look tothe ceiling. 

"Oh, yes; entirely. And we're quite comfortable. We had even thoughtof having our ponies brought from the stable at Bartolo, so that wecould ride if it grew still milder. "

"Risky. "

"Well, you're probably right. " She paused and scrutinized her toes tosee that they were not scorching. "Charlie brought Imo and me here onhis way home; you can take us back to our cabins when we're ready togo. "

"Imo here?" Bryant's eyebrows lifted. 

"Over in the shack Dave called 'the hospital. ' Dave was here when wecame and Imo asked him to take her to the place; she had heardsomething of an injured man from Louise Graham. Did Louise really helpduring an operation?" Lee nodded. "Well, she's odd in many ways. Mustbe--what shall I say?--a little thick-skinned not to mind blood andall the rest of it. And she doesn't go about much; not at all with thereal crowd at Kennard, only with a slow one when she does go. With herfather well off, I'd think she would want to be doing something worthwhile. Charlie's still mad for her, but Gretzie thought after he mether at our cabins that she was too self-conceited. When he asked herif the men of New York, compared with Western men, didn't impress herwith superiority and smartness of dress, she said, 'Not those of myacquaintance; they don't try to impress one; it isn't done in theircircle, you know. That's one of the differences in manners, I suppose, that distinguishes Fifth Avenue from Broadway. ' Gretzie was furious. He had been speaking of Broadway shows and restaurants and things atthe time. He declared later that a little attention had turned herhead, and that what she had said was all rot. I don't care for her, either. But let us talk of ourselves, Lee. "

"Yes, that's more interesting, " he remarked, with an accent of ironythat escaped her. 

He was curious to learn what this talk was leading to. His curiosityoutweighed the irritation he felt at her calm ignoring of the pastweeks, at her complacent assumption of his love, at the kiss and thecaress she had bestowed, indeed, at her very presence in the room. 

"Tell me everything about your work and about yourself, " she said, folding her hands and gazing up at him. "I'm so impatient to hear. "

"Nothing worth relating has occurred, " he replied. 

"You've been well?"

"Oh, quite. This is a regular health resort. "

"And you're not working too hard?"

"For a whole week I scarcely stirred from the stove, " said he. 

"I'm so glad. You had earned a rest. You don't seem worried aboutanything, either. "

"Worried?" His intonation was that of surprise. Then he added, as ifby after-thought, "Oh, no. "

"How relieved I am! I feared you might be worrying your head off aboutdifficulties--cold weather, the time limit set, perhaps money matters. I gained the impression somewhere that you might run short before youfinished; I can't just say where I got it. From Imo, perhaps. Nothingdefinite, you know. But it's so nice to know that you're no longeranxious. That means you're sure you'll build the ditch. How much moreis there to do?"

"You can see the north camp out of that window. "

Ruth rose and went to the window indicated, where she stood surveyingthe men and teams at work beyond the camp and the stretch ofsagebrush extending to the white specks of tents in the distance. 

"That's all that's left to do, Lee?"

"That's all. Three miles. "

"Charlie Menocal hasn't said anything about it lately. "

"Knowing Charlie, I'm amazed, " he commented. 

Ruth resumed her seat and proceeded to toast her toes anew. Herglances from time to time were directed at Lee's countenance somewhatspeculatively. Several times she smoothed her dress with slowattention. Lee continued his deliberate smoking. 

"Well, it's a great comfort to know that you're well and thateverything is proceeding so brightly, " she stated, at length. "Youmust take time to run down and see me, now that I'm back. I'm notgoing to be satisfied with anything less than almost every eveningwith you. Bring along one of those nice engineer boys for Imogenewhile we talk. "

Lee gave a shake of his head. 

"Don't count on me, " he said. "We're doing night work as well as day. We're near the end. Have to push the job. Little time to spare. " Hejerked the phrases forth shortly, one after another. 

"Do try to come once in a while, though, " she responded, gazing aboutthe room in a way that gave her speech a perfunctory character. That, at any rate, was the impression made upon Lee; and he continued topuzzle his brain as to what underlay it all--what motive, what object. At the same time he was sickened by the suave interest she pretended, by her shallow insincerity. "I've wondered if I could be of any helphere to you, " she went on. But a sharp movement on his part causedher to say, "Still, I know a man doesn't like a girl messing up hiswork. That's one reason I've been careful not to propose it before, oreven to make the demands on your time that some girls would have made. I'll be glad when the project is out of the way; then we can begin toplan for ourselves. " She cast her eyes upward at space. "There arelots of things to decide--where to live, and so on. You come soon andwe'll set some of them down on paper for consideration. "

Lee could not escape that feeling of perfunctoriness in her twitter oftalk. It went no further than that, however; he had no chagrin orrepugnance or anger at the thin duplicity, not even at her complacentconfidence in his stupidity and infatuation. For to count on his beingblind to the past and deluded by her words, she could only believe himboth stupid and infatuated. He was quite calm. His actual state ofmind was, more than anything else, one of detachment. He imagined thathe had come to a point where she was incapable of arousing in him anykind of sentiment or passion. 

Presently she took up her furs and walked humming about the office asshe adjusted them. 

"I'd like to stay all day, but must be going, " she said. "Imo and Iwere wondering, by the way, if you could send us a man with sometar-paper to line our cabins. "

"Of course. I'll send him after dinner. And he can chop you some woodand bring your water. "

She stood for a little examining a blue-print tacked on the wall. 

"That's like the one Mr. Gretzinger sometimes carries, " she remarked. "I suppose he'll be returning one of these days. Not that it matters;he was tiresome at times, like Charlie Menocal. " She studied the linesof the map attentively. "He appeared anxious to get to New York. Saidsomething about a sweetheart there. You'll be glad if he doesn't comeback to bother you again, won't you, Lee dear?" She swung about, laughing. 

"Oh, he'll show up. "

"I wasn't sure; he said he thought not. "

Lee emptied and put away his pipe. 

"He'll come, " was his assured reply. 

"Then he must have been 'kidding' me. "

Her thoughtful air returned. She picked a raveling from her sleeve, and stroked her fur, and inspected the tips of her gloves, and untiedand retied the strings of her cap--all with an inscrutable face. Thensuddenly her mind appeared to be made up. 

"Well, dear, run and bring your car and we'll pick up Imogene, " shesaid, giving him a quick pat on the cheek. 

Lee experienced an inward and involuntary shrinking at that touch. Heno more could have returned the caress than he could have risen offthe ground into the air, like those floating figures depicted insacred paintings. After all, she was quite capable of stirring asentiment in his heart--a sentiment of aversion. 

"Go join Imo, " he replied. "One of the boys will bring the car to thehospital and take you home. Impossible for me to drive you thereto-day. "

That was it--impossible, literally impossible, for his whole being wasin revolt. The threshold of the door might have been a dead-line; hewas unable to cross it, at any rate. With a stony aspect he watchedher depart and wave a hand back at him from a distance and at lastdisappear. Then he closed the door and leaned his head against it, with his features drawn in an expression of pain and desperation. Hisposition was diabolical. She meant to hold him to his word; shebelieved he loved her; and, anyway, she had him fast in a coil. Yes, she had him fast. And he did not love her, not at all. On thecontrary, he detested her--detested her with all his heart, almost tohatred, utterly. 

CHAPTER XXIII

"Will you be so kind as to come here?" Mr. Menocal inquired of Bryant. 

It was an afternoon in late January, and the banker, bundled in agreat overcoat and numerous rugs, had reined his team to a halt at thespot where he found the engineer. The air was cutting. Steam in sharpjets came from the nostrils of his pair of bays, as from those of thehorses straining at the plows and scrapers in the stretch of partiallyexcavated canal near by. 

Lee went forward to the buggy, slapping his gloved hands together toquicken their circulation. 

"What do you want of me, Mr. Menocal?" he asked. "You're picking afrosty day to look at the scenery. "

"Well, there's a matter that's been troubling my mind for some timeand I decided to let it go no longer. We have our differences, Mr. Bryant, but I wouldn't wish you to believe me responsible for a numberof annoyances to which you've been put. I am a gentleman; I fightfair. For instance, I was quite within my rights in suggesting thosemen take homesteads down yonder along the base of the mountains, though I was wrong in my guess. Also, in taking advantage of the lawunder which you were limited by the Land and Water Board, I wasn'tstepping out of bounds. But I've learned that some time ago a manintroduced whisky into camp against your rules, and I wish to tellyou that I knew nothing of it at the time and would countenance nosort of disgraceful act like that. "

"I judged that you wouldn't, " said Lee. 

"Then again last summer someone killed your dog, I understand. Thatwas a bad deed. I am fond of dogs, and had I been able to learn whodid it I should have informed you so that you could have had Winshiparrest him. Since that time, too, there have been other things, manyof them--men cutting your telephone wire, removing your survey stakes, and the like. All making you angry. Well, I was angry when I heardthat those things were being done. Resorting to questionable andcriminal tactics against any man is the worst possible course a personcan follow. I do not do it in your case; I will prevent any one elsefrom doing it if I can. You have the right to work undisturbed. "

"I never connected you with these underhanded acts, " the engineerstated. 

"Thank you, Mr. Bryant. It pleases me to hear you say that. I shouldlike to see you lose your water right, of course; it would mean muchmoney in my pocket; but I'll not do contemptible things or crookedthings to get possession of it. "

Lee glanced at the speaker's face. It was sincere, earnest, and nowrelieved. He felt an increase of respect for the man, opponent thoughhe was. Menocal appeared, to be sure, unable to comprehend the ethicsinvolved in seeking to thwart Bryant, but he was scrupulous andhonourable within his understanding. Far more so than Gretzinger, forinstance. Or Charlie Menocal. The thought of the banker's son pulledBryant up. Should he mention his conviction that Charlie was theinstigator of the mischief discussed? As he was still in doubt whenhis visitor turned the subject, he let it rest. 

"The way you're going ahead with your canal, I'm afraid that my chanceof retaining the water is poor, very poor, " Menocal said, with alugubrious sigh. He drew his fat chin deeper into his coat collar, tugged at the ice on his big white moustache, and ran his eyes up anddown the long line of moving teams. "And it will cost me a lot ofmoney. " Again the sigh. "I didn't think you could do it; I didn'tthink any man in the world could do it. In cold weather, in ninetydays! I said it was impossible. Charlie said it was impossible. Everyone said it was impossible. "

"Everyone except my contractor and me, " Lee interjected, smiling atight smile. 

The other nodded. "Except you, yes. And you're showing us that afterall it's not impossible. I shall never say again that anything isimpossible. If I ever have a big ditch to build, I shall insist, Mr. Bryant, that you take charge. Then I would say, 'I should like to haveit built so and so, and by such a time, ' and sit down at my desk andthink no more of it, knowing it would be built. "

Bryant laughed softly. He could not help doing so. That naïve avowalfrom the one whom he considered his chief enemy tickled his fancy. Andpresently Menocal, catching the humour of it, himself began to smile. 

"I shouldn't be surprised if we have had a misconception of eachother, " Lee stated. 

"Ah, _cielos!_ That is nothing less than the truth. What a pity, too, my young friend, that we could not have found it out earlier. Ouraffair, perhaps--we might have reached a satisfactory agreement. Thiswinter work, it is costing you something. "

"A good many extra thousand. "

"And, alas, costing me even more! But it is too late now. " He made atragic gesture. "It has gone too far. Within two or three weeks itwill be settled one way or the other. For you if the weather remainsgood; for me if the weather becomes stormy. " He again studied themoving horses along the canal. "For me then--perhaps. You might notallow even a great storm to stop you, in some way. This winter isremarkable; there seem to be no storms to happen. You're very lucky. "

"Yes, I am in that respect. "

"Well, I've done all that I shall do in the matter. I've become quitecalm, fatalistic. There's nothing else to be. " He gathered up hisreins. 

"That's a good team you have, " Lee remarked. 

"Of the very best. I disliked to use them in this cold, but Charliehad gone with the car to Kennard. Va! He is never at home any more. Itwould be well if I made him drive a team on your ditch. "

"Send him along; I'll give him a job, " Lee said. 

The banker shook his head. 

"He would say I was crazy and he wouldn't come. He doesn't even attendto matters that require attention. This winter he has been running toomuch with idle men in town and spending money as if it took no effortto get it, as if it could be picked off of weeds. It's veryperplexing. I am too easy with Charlie, I let him have his way toomuch. I should put him in a pair of overalls for a while and say, 'Youare going out with a band of sheep; you have to work. ' Several timesI've made up my mind to do that, but when the moment came I couldn'tsay it. He isn't robust, he has always had the best of everything, andhe's been educated in a college. "

"Cut off his allowance and take away his automobile. He would stay athome and attend to business then, " Lee offered. 

"But it would shame him. He isn't a little boy any longer; he's thirtyyears old. The trouble is that he isn't like me, particular andcareful; he's wild and impatient and reckless. His mother wasn't thatway, I am not that way--I don't know where he got that nature. "

Menocal senior drove off and Bryant turned back to his work. The pityof the thing was, as the banker had stated, that they had been hastyin the beginning, that they had not sought to come to anunderstanding, some arrangement. It was another mistake. To Lee hiswhole past here was beginning to appear a record of oversights, incredible misjudgements, blinded blunders, and ghastly mistakes. 

CHAPTER XXIV

Ghastly mistakes! Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a mancan make is "to go broke. " Bryant did not realize until afterward theirony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal. He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker'scommendation. The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses werepulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; butthat was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture. Only a fewwretched dollars lay at the bottom of the money chest. A day more, andMenocal would have won. 

That evening Lee climbed in his car and drove away from camp. Carriganhad said nothing, but he as well as Bryant knew the company's bankaccount was drained; he would expect a settlement and when it wasmade, discharge the crews, pull up stakes, and move his property toKennard. At Sarita Creek Bryant alighted. 

"I wish to see Ruth, " he told Imogene. "Is she away? Her cabin is darkand I obtained no answer to my knock. "

"She's gone to town. "

"Well, I wanted to tell her I've failed. Work stops to-morrow. Out ofmoney. And less than two miles to build!"

Imogene's face became a picture of dismay. 

"Oh, no, Lee! There must be some way to go on, some place to obtainmoney, " she cried. 

"None. I've tried, but have reached the end of my rope. Only twentythousand more needed, or maybe twenty-five. Just enough to hammerthrough during the next two weeks. But it might as well be a million. I decided to inform Ruth at once; she might consider it important. "

"She would, " said she, positively. 

"I haven't been to Sarita Creek before since you returned. You canguess why. "

"Yes. "

"Does Ruth suspect that I've ceased to love her?" he asked, frowning. 

"I think not. There was considerable talk on her part about beingbored with Kennard and how happy she would be when she was married, but it was on the surface. She's really waiting for something I'm notable to divine. I'm reminded when I observe her of a card-playerstudying a hand before the cards begin to fall. "

"Where is she to-night? With Charlie Menocal?"

"With Gretzinger. "

"Gretzinger back?"

"Arrived in Kennard this morning. Two days ago Ruth received a letterwith a New York post-mark and became very animated. I'm sure she hashad none before. Then late this afternoon the man himself appearedhere, ate supper with us, and took Ruth off to a concert in town. Hesaid he had business in camp with you to-morrow. "

"Ruth's spirits have revived and her retirement has ended, " Leeremarked, with sarcasm. "Well, don't say anything about this now toeither of them. "

"Oh, I'll be long asleep when they return, and I'll not speak of it toRuth in the morning. She'll not rise before noon, I suspect, as itwill be one or two o'clock before they're home. Or she may stay withone of the girls she's chummy with and come up with him to-morrow. Probably that. "

Lee made ready to go. He gave Imogene a sardonic smile. 

"May the music she hears to-night strengthen her soul for the morrow'ssmash, " he said; and went out. 

Where the trail from the cabins debouched upon the main mesa road heslowed the car to a stop and sat for a time in thought, with theengine humming softly and the freezing night air biting at his cheeks. It seemed to make little difference where he went, or if he went atall. Nothing worth while was at the end of any road. His inclination, however, was working and at last he set out for the Graham ranch. 

Since his Christmas visit he had made a number of calls there, arather large number, indeed, considering everything. He had schooledhis face and words on those occasions to a passivity he was far fromfeeling, and had left Louise's presence each time with a greatertorment of mind. Now this was the end--of her as of everything so faras he was concerned. To-morrow the project came down in wreckage. Thenhe should go from Perro Creek, poorer in purse, poorer in spirit, poorer in faith, sore, and bitterly disillusionized. 

Louise Graham observed a shadow upon his countenance as she invitedhim to a seat before the fireplace. Her father was absent and she hadbeen reading a book when Bryant's knock came. She had been wondering, too, if the engineer might not choose this night to call again. Howmuch these calls of his now meant to her she did not dare consider. 

"What's wrong, Lee?" she asked at once, anxiously. "I see somethinghas happened. "

He moved round on the divan that he might fully face her. 

"Everything so far as my affairs go, " he replied. "Work stops on thecanal to-morrow. That will result, of course, in the water rightlapsing and in the ditch never being finished or used, except underthe circumstance of my handing over my interest gratis to Gretzingerand the bondholders. If I did that even, I don't believe Gretzingercould finish it on time, for neither Carrigan nor the men would exertthemselves for him as they have for me, and they would be sure oftheir pay in any case. The trouble is, I've used up all the money andcan borrow no more. I'm through. And I can't bring myself to the pointof surrendering my interest in the company to the bondholders merelyto pull them out. They're trying to strangle me in order that they mayprofit; they could put up the cash needed easily enough if they would;but they count on my yielding. I shall not do so. And so the projectfails. Those New Yorkers will wait too long if ever they do put up thefunds; and I can do nothing myself. The uncompleted ditch will remainsimply a scar on the mesa. "

"I never dreamed you were in this strait!"

"No, probably not. One always hopes to the last that somehow--by acredulous belief in one's own letter of credit with Providence, Ipresume--one will pull through. So I delayed telling you of what wasimpending. "

"If--perhaps father----"

"Your father? No. Above all persons, no. That's a suggestion I can'tconsider for an instant. "

"But what will you do?" she exclaimed, nervously. 

Lee glanced at her, then compressed his lips. 

"I'm going away; I couldn't stay here on the scene of this disaster. It would be intolerable. Before long people will be describing theunfinished project by the name of 'Bryant's Folly', or the like. Haven't you seen old, windowless structures that were never completed, or grass-grown railroad enbankments never ironed, or rusting minemachinery never assembled? Men's failures, men's 'follies'. "

"Lee, Lee! It never will be so!" she cried. "Nor will your project bea failure to me who have known how you've striven and sacrificed. "

Bryant looked past her and about the room, but his eyes in the endcame back to hers. 

"You have always been generous in your thoughts of me, " he said, in anunsteady voice. 

"No more than you deserved. "

"Listen, Louise, " he went on, after a pause. "This is the last time Ishall see you for a long time, possibly for all time, and it's of yourkindness I wish to speak--and of another matter. Of course, Ishouldn't be quite human if I hadn't complained a bit about this blow, but my complaints are done now. I'll possibly do some grimacing tomyself hereafter, though. What I came to say is that wherever I go inthe future I'll always carry with me as a treasure the memory of yourgoodness and of your face. "

Louise's lips had parted, while the colour slowly receded from hercheeks. 

"But we shall see each other, " she gasped. "We'll meet, we can keep intouch. " After a silence there came in a whisper, "Friends should. "

Bryant began to tremble. He turned away from her in order to gaze intothe fire. Her low utterance had wrung the chords of his heart; hedared not allow his eyes to continue to dwell upon her face. 

"What good in that?" he asked. Then he gave a passionate shake of hishead. "The risk for me is too great. I shall seek an engineeringbillet altogether out of the country, in South America, in Asia, wherever one is open. A job without responsibility, preferably. No, no; I can't remain and play with fire--any longer. "

An intense stillness rested in the room after these words. He doubtedif Louise even breathed. 

"Would it be that?" she asked, at last. 

"Of course. Haven't you seen?"

"I--I----" Her voice failed her. 

"I could no more help loving you, Louise, after I came to know you, than can the earth its blooming under a summer sun. The thing wasinevitable. " He was speaking now in a slow, fixed attempt atrestraint. "And this love coming when it did, after I was betrothed toRuth Gardner, is the capping madness of the whole nightmarishsituation in which I find myself. 'Nightmarish' isn't an exaggeration, honestly. By all the empty, senseless conventions I ought to seal mylips on my love and to go dumbly away, because I'm engaged to RuthGardner. " He turned abruptly to her. "Do you think I should?"

Her hands were locked together in a clasp that expelled the blood andleft them white. Her regard had the intentness of a stare. 

"If you love me, if you're going away--" She suddenly became agitated. "Oh, I am unhappy!" And with a quick movement she bent her head aside. 

"Louise, forgive me for causing this distress, " he exclaimed. 

Without looking about she put out a hand, touched and pressed his. Theunexpected act filled Bryant with amazement. He sat gazing stupidly atthe hand until she withdrew it. Then he found an explanation. 

"You feel compassion for me, " he said. "You would. " A sound, low, inarticulate, reached him. "It's your kind nature to make some returnfor my love even if it's not love you can give. Or ought to give! I'mexpecting nothing, can expect nothing. That is out of the question. IfI were entirely calm and rational, I should doubtless be asking myselfwhy I should speak of my passion instead of trying to tear it out ofmy heart. But, of course, being in love I'm neither the one nor theother. The only explanation for the impulse to pour out a confessionlike this is overcharged nerves. Or, after all, is it just unconsciousegotism?" His composure had slipped off and his tone had grown savage. 

"Don't, don't, Lee! Don't cut at yourself!"

"What was it I had started to say? Oh, yes. I had said I felt nocompunction in brushing aside the usual conventions of duty asproscribed for an engaged man. Cobwebs in my case! Why pretend lies?No honour is involved that I can discover. I don't love Ruth, and Ithink she's incapable of loving me or any one else. She never felthalf the affection I did for her, and mine withered quickly, Godknows! A dash of passion on my part, and lonesomeness and the belief Ishould have wealth on her side--there's the salad. "

Louise leaned forward a little breathlessly. 

"And if she believes you're ruined?" she asked. 

"She'll hold me if she thinks she can't do better, " Lee responded, bitterly. "I at least beat homesteading. "

"Lee!"

Louise had risen. The pallor of her face startled him. Her hands werefast clenched. 

"What is it?" he asked, fearfully. 

"I can bear this. To have you love me--love me and go away! It willbreak my heart. To stay here alone!"

The words struck his brain as if they were cast in a fierce glare oflight. The suddenness of the knowledge they gave, the revelation theymade, left him speechless. Louise loved him in return. The firsteffect upon his mind was to produce a blank incredulity; he stared ather as if to ascertain whether or not this was in truth she; forthough he well knew he possessed her friendship, he had neverconceived so fantastic a possibility as that of winning her love. Thena swift exaltation succeeded. He swam in a kind of spiritual ether. 

"Louise, Louise, my dear beloved!" he murmured. 

He caught her hand, pressed it. She glanced at him without replying, looked away, back again. Her bosom rose and fell with a slow andtremulous movement, as though stirring with deep, soundless sighs. Alittle smile hovered on her lips, tender, rapturous. 

But at length she withdrew her hand, while the soft gladness passedfrom her face. 

"It cannot be; you must go, Lee, " she said. 

Bryant remembered--and felt the ice forming about his heart. Heshivered slightly. The full cruelty of the situation was reached. RuthGardner not only held him, but he held her as well by a thread towhich she could cling for safety against the blandishments ofscoundrels, and her own desires, and the dark uncertainty of thefuture. And much as he loved Louise Graham, he could not snap thatthread; much as he detested Ruth, he lacked the flintiness of heart tolet her slip into the abyss. Nor would Louise have it otherwise. 

She was seeking his eyes, questioning them. 

"Well, this hour is worth it all to me, " he said, calmly. "All of theunhappiness of the past, and all the loneliness of the future! I ampoor now; in that fact lies what hope I have. "

A gentle inclination of her head answered him. 

"I am happy to-night, anyway, " said she. 

"The only thing for me to do is to remain away from you, " he answered. "Heaven knows I shall be miserable enough then, but I should growdesperate if I were near. "

"I know. We mustn't see each other, Lee dear. "

He walked to where his storm coat and cap lay on a chair by the door. In silence he drew on and buttoned the former. She had accompaniedhim to the spot and watched with moisture on her lashes hispreparation for departure. His eyes were lowered while his fingerswere engaged with the buttons. 

"You should understand about this, " he said, grimly. "That manGretzinger is after her. She has no money, no training to earn money, is crazy for pleasure and attention and clothes. I ought in alldecency to break our engagement. She has given me grounds enough. Butit's keeping her straight. If I broke it"--his hand dropped to hisside and he stood for a moment quite still--"he drags her under. " Hisgaze rose to hers. 

"I guessed it long ago, " she said, in a choked voice. "And loved youfor it. " Next instant she leaned forward, took his temples between herhands, and lightly touched his brow with her lips. "Go, go!" sheexclaimed, with an accent of despair. 

She herself turned and went quickly out of the room. 

CHAPTER XXV

Bryant had asked Carrigan to come to the office at two o'clock, stating that the company was insolvent and but enough money remainedto square accounts with the contractor. Pat had cast a shrewd glanceat Lee and nodded. This was during the morning. Afterward the engineerhad gone for a visit to the dam, the drops, and the canal line, a lastview of the project as a whole; and the ride was pursued in thatpeculiar melancholy of spirit which appertains to mortuary events. Tohim, indeed, the ride marked a burial, a burial of high hopes andambition, and of his youth, with the partially excavated canalproviding their pit and the concrete work standing as a headstone. 

He came back to camp somewhat late for his appointment and found Patwaiting in the office, but not alone. Gretzinger stood, back to thestove, smoking a Turkish cigarette. 

"Well, Bryant, I've returned to discuss our little businesstransaction, " he greeted. "Judged this to be about the right time. How's the exchequer?"

"Little in it, " said Lee, hanging his coat and cap on a hook. "But Imade sure it was locked before leaving here; you might come anymoment. "

"Oh, I don't waste time on an empty box, " was the light answer. "Mindif Carrigan hears what we say? Don't, eh? Neither do I. He knows, orought to know, you're through. And besides, I'll want to discussconstruction matters with him when you and I are done. "

"Perhaps Bryant can yet secure a loan somewhere, " the contractorremarked, mildly. 

"From Menocal, possibly, " Gretzinger suggested, cocking his eyebrowsat Carrigan with mock enthusiasm. "If Bryant could have secured aloan, he would have had it in his pocket before this. I made inquiryof McDonnell when I reached Kennard concerning the company's cashaccount and discovered that it looked awful sick. No, he can't getmoney for the company except through me. "

"I see, " said Pat. 

Gretzinger turned to Bryant. 

"Now, Lee, let's get down to brass tacks. You're played out as managerand engineer-in-chief, so it's time for you to step out and give themen who are able a chance to complete the work. I made you one offer;I'm prepared to-day to make even a better one. The bondholders wentthoroughly into the subject with me of what they could afford to payyou for your stock and a decision was finally reached to give you tenthousand dollars for your interest in the company. Consideringeverything, that's exceedingly liberal. I'm authorized to draw a checkfor that amount to your order when you've assigned the shares. "

"Not enough, " Lee replied. He sat down at his desk, lifted his feet toa window ledge, and held a match to his pipe. 

"That's the limit. "

"It's not enough; I need more. "

"What you need and what you'll take are two different things, " theother stated, sarcastically. 

"Go higher, " Lee said, with his gaze upon the window. 

"Not a cent!"

"I owe McDonnell twenty thousand that has gone into the canal. I'veput in my ranch, and land I traded for it, and months of work andorganization--value twenty thousand; and I figure my present controlof things worth twenty thousand more. But let us say fifty thousand. I'll sell for fifty thousand; that gives you my stock at fifty centson the dollar. Exceedingly liberal, I call it. "

The look the other directed at him was heavy with contempt. 

"Ten thousand is all--and make up your mind to that, " said he. Then hefaced round toward Carrigan, whom he addressed. "I want you toincrease the force to double its strength at once, so that the work--"

"What are you paying a yard for moving dirt?"

"The same as before. "

"Not to me, " Pat responded, complacently. 

"What do you mean?" Gretzinger demanded, angrily. 

"It's not enough. "

"Not enough! You seem to imagine your contract doesn't bind you. "

Pat slowly uncrossed his knees and stared at the speaker with acountenance of bewilderment. 

"Now what in the world is the man talking about! Contract? The onlycontract I had with Bryant was an oral agreement to build the dam andmove dirt at a certain day rate per man and per team, terminable athis option. Oh, you mean the first contract to construct the ditch ina year! We tore that up after he got notice from the Land and WaterBoard. "

"Well, we'll continue the oral arrangement. "

"Not any more, " said Pat. 

Gretzinger inspected the coal of his cigarette, replaced the latterbetween his lips, and glanced at Bryant. But the engineer wasmaintaining his consideration of objects on the outside of the window. 

"So you're trying to hold me up, " was Gretzinger's remark. 

"You're slicing the fat off Bryant, and therefore I'll trim a bit offyou, " Carrigan replied. "You're not the only one who can work a knife. Once I used to sit back and let others keep all the easy money, but Idon't any more, not any more. " With considerable relish he rolled thewords upon his tongue and nodded at Gretzinger. 

The latter scowled. 

"How much do you want?" he demanded. 

Pat spat, then remained pursing his lips while he engaged incalculation. Once he shook his head and muttered, "Not enough, " andagain after a time repeated the words. The man by the stove glared atthe seated contractor during the prolonged period of study as if hehoped his look would consume him. 

"How much?" he questioned a second time, impatiently. 

Pat looked up at Gretzinger from under his bushy eyebrows with asteely glint showing. The lines of his weather-beaten face hadhardened. 

"I don't like you, " he stated. "I don't like you at all. When I workfor people I don't like, it costs them money. I like you less and lessall the time. If I go ahead and finish the ditch, I'll be liking youso little that I'll be hating myself. And when I don't like any onethat much, I don't do it cheap. The job will cost you one hundredthousand dollars. "

"You--you----" Gretzinger choked. 

"Cash down before I move a wheel, " Pat added, calmly. 

The other was white with rage. He cast his cigarette upon the floorand ground it under his heel. His lips worked and twisted in a vicioussnarl. Carrigan observed him unmoved; and Bryant had turned his headabout to see. 

"You grafters, you infernal thieves, you pair of rotten crooks!" heshouted, shooting murderous glances from one to the other. "You've'framed' me! Arranged it between you. Been waiting for me to come backso you could spring your game! If there's any law in this state, I'llhave you both where you belong for deliberately wrecking thiscompany--in a cell!"

His raving outburst continued for a while in this strain. His voicehad the high and squealing pitch of a wild pig caught fast by a foot;on his pink, fleshy face, now distended with anger, was a look, too, of porcine hate and fury. The cynical and patronizing manner heusually affected had dropped off, leaving revealed his actual coarse, spiteful, greedy, craven spirit--a creature of infinite meanness. Atlength, however, Gretzinger's torrent of abuse diminished until itended in a last muddy dripping of threats and curses. With an efforthe strove to pull himself together and assume a composure his eyesbelied, while he lighted another of his offensive Turkish cigarettes. 

After a time he said shortly:

"You can't bluff me. When you fellows get down to my figures, thenwe'll do business. "

"Look out! Your coat is scorching--or is it only that tobacco?" Bryantrejoined. 

Gretzinger stepped hastily aside and felt behind him, where his handmoved about on the hot cloth fabric with searching movements. Thesolicitude for his garment thus quickened seemed to effect the finaldispersion of his inward heat. 

"Well, are we going to get together on an arrangement?" he questioned, when assured his coat was uninjured. 

"I stated my terms--fifty thousand, " Lee said. "That or nothing. "

"You won't get it. "

"Then there's the alternative of the bondholders putting up moneyenough to finish the work. "

"That, neither. "

"All right, Gretzinger, " Bryant stated, rising. "You have an idea thatI'll give in----"

"Yes, I have. You'll grab this ten thousand I offer, grab it quick byto-morrow night, which is the limit I set for it to remain open. I'veseen men before in a tight hole who swore they wouldn't take the termshanded them, but they always did in the end, and so will you. Only afool wouldn't. And I fancy Carrigan won't sacrifice a good piece ofwork in a dull season and pull off his men and teams. "

Pat hoisted himself off his seat stiffly. 

"Why don't your outfit sell instead of trying to buy?" he asked, crossing to Lee's desk and obtaining a can of tobacco sitting there. "I suppose they'll sell. " He began to stuff his pipe, pressing thetobacco into the bowl with a brown forefinger. 

"Certainly; they would unload what they have in this rotten project sofast that the bonds would smoke. But who in the devil would touchthem?"

"I might. "

"You?" Gretzinger began to laugh. "What have you besides your outfit?They're not taking worn-out fresnos in exchange to-day, thank you. "

"And what are the three bondholders you represent worth?" Patinquired, in a nettled tone. 

"Half a million each, or more. "

Carrigan's brows rose contemptuously. 

"Is that all?" he exclaimed. "Why, from the way you talked, I thoughtthey were real financiers! And they're only piffling tin-horns, afterall. What d'you know about that, Lee?" Pat turned to the engineer withan amazed air. 

Gretzinger's anger surged up anew. 

"You never saw half a million in your life, " he sneered. 

"I could buy out all three of them with what I have in one trustcompany in Chicago alone, " was the unperturbed reply. "It's cheapsports like you that make a real man sick. How much for the bonds? Youwant to unload. Speak up; how much?"

Despite his anger, the other's brain perceived that the contractor wasin earnest. 

"The amount of the face of both bonds and stock, with interest on theformer to date, " he answered quickly. 

"I buy only bargains, " was Carrigan's dry statement. 

"One hundred thousand then. "

"You're still sailing way up in the clouds. The stock was a bonus, Gretzinger; it cost your parties nothing. So it's only the bonds thatcount. And the project is rotten, it may not be finished on time, be adead loss; your men want to get out from under; they'll jump at thechance to sell, you say. All right. They can unload on me. Wire themto deposit the bonds and stock in any New York bank and draw onMcDonnell for forty thousand dollars. That's what I'll give. "

Gretzinger walked to the wall, where he reached down his overcoat andput it on. 

"The ditch will go to weeds first, " he said. 

"The offer's open until to-morrow night, " said Pat. 

"You bloodsuckers can't put anything over on me, " was the Easterner'sdeparting declaration, as he opened the door. "I'm on to you, Carrigan. You're backing Bryant and will finish the ditch. We'll justsit tight on our bonds and stock. "

Pat watched him go. 

"I hate to make money for men like them, " he remarked to the engineer, "but I guess I can't help it, because I'll not let you down, Lee, fora matter of cash payment. I'll advance what's necessary and take acompany note. Maybe you're wondering why I let you sweat all thistime? Because you needed the experience. You laid down too easy. Allthe time that you were thinking the game was up, I was waiting foryou to grab my leg and begin to pull. But you never did. "

"You had done too much for me already, Pat; and though I supposed youwere well-fixed I had no idea you were wealthy. The thought you mightrisk twenty thousand dollars----"

"Why not? I know this project better than any banker; it's sound, it'sabout completed, " the old man interrupted. "All that's necessary is totake a long breath and push hard for three weeks more. Sometimes Ithink you have the making of a fair engineer, Lee, but you discourageme dreadfully when I try to picture you as a financier. I'm afraidyou'll wind up like one of these bondholders of Gretzingers, justpiffling. "

Lee went to stand at the window, so that Carrigan could not see hisface. Emotion had unmanned him. He would not have even Pat know howstrongly he was moved by this act of magnanimity. 

"Well, I better be getting back to the ditch, " said the contractor, presently. 

CHAPTER XXVI

A week later the long-belated big storm appeared at hand. McDonnelltelephoned Bryant one morning, a morning in February now, that theweather forecast predicted blizzard conditions sweeping down the RockyMountain region from the Northwest. A mile of excavation yet remainedto do. Lee at once sent Saurez and other Mexicans abroad in the nativesettlements with offers of double wages and this drew the mostindolent back to camp again. They were flung into the night shift, which toiled with increased vigour at news of the impending storm. Fortwo days and nights the desperate effort was pushed while the skycontinued clear, with the crews of both camps attacking the iron earthand steadily forging closer. 

Bryant scarcely slept during that time, or ate. Toward morning, whenthe night shift went off, he would cast himself down fully dressed anddrawing the blankets to his chin sleep restlessly for two or threehours, then again rise to drive the work. The third day came sunny andquiet, but with heavy warmth in the air wholly strange to the season. During the night both Lee and Pat had continually and anxiouslywatched the peaks of the Ventisquero Range for portent of the changeimminent in the weather; and now on this morning they beheld about thecrests long, low-lying layers of gray cloud. 

Again McDonnell telephoned, but now with particulars of the storm. Itwas general in character, covering the states from the Canadian linesouthward, with very low temperatures and raging furiously, destroyingwire communications and blocking railroads, and at the moment wasbearing down across Utah, Colorado, and Kansas. The entire region fromthe Pacific coast to the Mississippi was in its grasp. 

"Ten days is all that's left of our time, " Lee said to the contractor, with a heavy heart. "And no one can tell how long this weather spreewill last. "

"It's not a mile we've got to go any more, any way. With what we'll doto-day it will be half a mile of dirt moved in three days. That leavesbut half a mile. This storm may be played out when it reaches us. " Butthe worry on his face showed that he put little faith in thispossibility. 

What he stated in regard to the ditch was true. The work of night andday had eaten well into the remaining mile between the two camps. Tobe sure, it had been rushed work: the sides of the ditch were gougedand ragged, the bottom uneven and rutted, and the removed dirt waspiled anywhere along its banks. But nevertheless there was a canal, dug on grade and to measurement, and capable of carrying water. 

During the afternoon a pair of men drove two lines of waist-highstakes to mark the survey of the short section of ground yetuntouched, doing this under Carrigan's supervision. In case snow came, he told Lee, he wanted something he could see. "Nine hundred yards ofunbuilt ditch will be lying buried, " he added, "and I don't proposeto paw up the whole mesa finding this section. "

About four o'clock Bryant rejoined him. 

"Still lovely, " said Pat with a grin. "I've just set some plowstearing up the scalp on another two hundred yards. If this storm willjust hang off for three or four days longer, it can come and welcome. I'll have my fresnos stacked and waiting to go down to Kennard. "

"Take a look at the northwest, " said Bryant, significantly. 

A smoky haze lay along the horizon. 

"Aye, I see. That's her hair blowing out ahead. There will be plentyof wind after awhile, I'm thinking. Get word to the men in camp, willyou, to make all the tents tight. "

At sundown the haze in the west had thickened somewhat. The air, however, remained warm, almost oppressive, and the sharp cold thatusually fell at night was wanting. The Ventisquero Peaks were hiddenby a mass of cloud. At seven o'clock the night crew began work, asordinarily; no wind was stirring and the steam that came from thehorses' nostrils was light. 

"I'm taking a little time to skip down to Sarita Creek and see ifthose girls are still there. If they took a notion to stick, they'dtry to do it, whether McDonnell sent after them or not. But I'll prythem out. If the storm breaks in a hurry, get the men and teams intocamp at once. Don't take any chances, Pat. " Thus spoke Bryant. 

"Aye, I've seen blizzards before, " was the reply. 

Lee sped rapidly toward Sarita Creek, with the headlights of his carcasting their glow before him upon the dark road. The silence of thenight was broken only by the steady humming of his engine. The mesaseemed very hushed, unstirring, unnatural. 

When he reached the girls' cabins, he saw that the windows of eachwere lighted. The girls were there. What incredible folly! Then hislamps brought into view an automobile. He breathed relief. Someone hadcome for them. Alighting he walked forward and knocked on Ruth's door. When it was opened by Ruth, he discovered Gretzinger seated within. 

"Oh, it's you, is it? Well, come in, " Ruth said. 

She wore a pink party gown, with her throat and smooth, round armsshowing through some filmy stuff that was part of the creation. Bryanthad never seen her so dressed; she looked very youthful and charming, almost beautiful. 

"There's a party at Kennard to-night, " said she, before Lee could openhis mouth to make an explanation of his presence, "and Mr. Gretzinger's taking me. He just came. Sorry you chose to-night tocall, Lee. And we're starting immediately. " She reached forth and gaveLee a pat on the cheek, at the same time smiling. 

Bryant continued stony under the touch, under the smile, under thefalse affection. He gazed at her and detected beneath her apparentgood spirits and loveliness a suppressed excitement. His glance wentto Gretzinger; the man was observing them with a restless, frowningface. On the instant the truth flashed into Bryant's brain. She wascunningly playing him off against the New Yorker, using him as a layfigure in her despicable game, bestowing endearments to angerGretzinger and arouse his jealousy. 

"I came to tell you a big storm is brewing, " he said quickly. "You andImogene must plan to stay in Kennard for some time. If a heavy fall ofsnow occurs, the mesa will be closed for ten days or two weeks withthe temperature very low. "

"Then I'll pack my things in my suit-case so that I can remain thatlong, " Ruth exclaimed. "I'll stay with Mabel Seybolt. Imogene's unclesent up his car this morning, but I didn't imagine there was anyreally bad storm coming and sent it back. I doubt if the snow amountsto much, anyway. The weather's too warm. " Nevertheless, she began tofill a suit-case. 

"I'll tell Imogene also, " Lee said. 

Ruth's eyes turned toward Gretzinger with an inquiring look. 

"There won't be room for three of us, will there?"

"No, " he answered. 

Her regard still continued directed at him. 

"I'm sure there won't be, " she said, with conviction. "It probablywon't storm before to-morrow, in any case. I'll tell Mr. McDonnell inthe morning and he can send up his big car for her. "

"Or you can take her to town yourself, " Gretzinger added in anindifferent tone. 

"I can't spare the time, " Lee said. 

"But dearie, I'll be done packing in two minutes, while it will takeImogene half an hour, " Ruth replied. "She's too slow to wait for. Andshe has one of her eternal headaches, too. "

Ruth was hurriedly removing articles from her trunk to the suit-case. 

"Listen, please, " Lee said, addressing her. "If Imo remains she maybecome snowbound, and if snowbound, freeze. I can't go, I can'tpossibly go. With this storm coming, I must stay at camp. As thingsare, a blizzard may put me out of business. "

Ruth straightened up to confront him. 

"You mean the work would stop, that you couldn't finish it on time?"

"That's just what I mean. "

"Why?" Gretzinger spoke. "You have ten days left. "

"Yes, and what are ten days with two feet of snow on the ground andthe mercury forty below zero?" Bryant retorted. 

Gretzinger stood up, glanced at his watch, and buttoned his overcoat. He then bent down and set to work buckling the straps of the suit-caseRuth had closed. 

"You do seem to get into every possible kind of trouble, Lee, " thegirl said. 

"Perhaps I do. But the point now is about Imogene. Will you take herwith you, or not?"

"Mr. McDonnell can send for her to-morrow; that will be soon enough. "

"My God, you leave her! With a blizzard coming!"

"I don't think there'll be a blizzard. Or if there is, she can getalong comfortably till her uncle comes. "

"Are you ready, Ruth?" Gretzinger asked, impatiently. 

"Yes, as soon as I fasten my gloves. Anyway, Lee, you can take her toKennard if you want to. It's because you're just obstinate. Besides, she didn't have to come up here; I told her so; I could have got alongwithout her--much better, probably, for she's always finding fault;she came on her own responsibility and so can look out for herself;and if you're so anxious for fear she'll freeze, why, take her. Itwon't make any difference about your ditch that I can see, for you sayyou'll very likely lose it, anyway. Now you'll have to excuse us;we're going. Blow out the light, please, and lock the door, our handsare full. Give the key to Imo to keep. "

Two minutes later Gretzinger's car was gone with a swirl of theheadlights as it circled and with a sudden roar of its exhaust. Leeextinguished the light and closed the cabin. To him that little houseseemed poignant with tragedy; and he knew, whatever came, his footwould never be set in it again. 

He found Imogene sitting beside her sheet-iron stove, wrapped in aquilt and coughing. 

"I heard your car come after his; I knew it was you, " she greeted him. 

Lee regarded her closely. 

"You're sick, " he said. "You ought to be in bed. Ruth stated that youhad a headache and now I discover you in a coughing fit bad enough totake off your head. Is your throat sore?"

"A little. "

"Why in the name of all that's sensible haven't you gone to youruncle's? I begin to think you're unbalanced. "

"I explained my reasons once, Lee. " She coughed again, then continued, "Ruth and I quarrelled Christmas because of actions of hers and auntsaid she must leave the house. That's why you were not asked then. Butshe made it up afterward and so I came when she did, for she wasdetermined to live here where she could be free. I just had to come. "

"And now she's leaving you in the face of the worst storm this winter, the ingrate!" Bryant exclaimed. "To-night's work finishes her with me. She may go to eternal damnation so far as I'm concerned. I'm done! Sherefused, she would have left you here to freeze, she set your lifeagainst her convenience! And after you had sacrificed your comfort andundergone hardships to save her good name! There's no limit to herselfishness and miserable hypocrisy. Our efforts and considerationhaven't restrained her a particle, and she will tread the road shechooses irrespective of our desires or feelings. What fools we'vebeen! You and I, Imogene Martin, aren't going to chase awill-o'-the-wisp any longer. We've wasted enough time on this delusionof saving Ruth Gardner; if she's to be saved, she must saveherself--and if she will not do that, then the whole world together isof no avail. You're never going to come here again, or have anythingto do with her, or let her have a part in your life. Nor am I. Shewalks out of our book, and we draw a pen across the bottom of thepage. "

Imogene had covered her face with her hands during his terribledenunciation and was weeping softly. She knew it was true. She knewthat Ruth had gone out of her life, for such baseness as her one-timefriend had shown was not to be forgiven. 

"You're right--I can't go on here longer, " she sobbed. "I'm sick, I'mreally sick. I've been barely crawling about for the last two days. And she knew it and left me! Oh, Ruth, Ruth!"

"And would have left you, storm or no storm, and whether I came ornot! In order to be alone with Gretzinger!" Her heart-breaking sobswent on. "Don't weep, Imogene. Put her out of your mind. " He gentlyplaced an arm about her shoulders. "Come, I will take you to Louise. "

That she had been "crawling about the last two days" was apparent whenshe attempted to rise. Her strength suddenly vanished, her knees gaveway. Bryant secured her coat and cap, wrapped her in blankets from thebed, and carried her out to the car. Then he put out her lamp andlocked the door. 

And that turning of the lock, Lee felt, terminated a painful chapterof his life. 

CHAPTER XXVII

As by the girls' cabins, so before the Graham house, Lee perceived amotor car. He brought his own machine to a stop near it and cut offhis engine. At the same instant the door opened in the house, where bythe light shining through the portal he saw Louise's and CharlieMenocal's figures. Menocal stepped forth. 

"You will please go now, " Louise was saying. "When you telephoned Itold you then that I shouldn't go with you, or go to the dance atall. "

Bryant had alighted and was arranging the blankets about Imogene. Charlie's voice spoke, rather truculently:

"I told you I was coming for you, didn't I? Now see what a positionthat leaves me in! People think you're coming. I promised to bringyou. "

"Then you were too presumptuous, " Louise said. "Now go. You're onlymaking a bad matter worse. "

"See here, Louise----"

"You had my refusal and I've repeated it a dozen times, " sheinterrupted, indignantly. "Must I shut the door in your face tosilence you? And here's another car. Have some regard for my personalfeelings, sir. "

Lee by now had lifted Imogene into his arms and started toward thespeakers. 

"Be a good sport, Louise, " Menocal pursued, in a tone intended to bewheedling. "Run upstairs and put on a party dress while I wait foryou. You don't understand how much I want you to come along to thisdance. " His words were a little thick and stumbling. 

"Hush! Don't you see someone has come? You've been drinking; andyou're sickening to me. "

"I don't care if someone is there! Let 'em hear, Louise. Let all theworld hear, let your father hear, let anybody hear! Because I loveyou, and so you must come to the dance. " Suddenly his tone changed toan angry hiss. "You've been treating me like a cur, refusing to see meor go with me, and not letting me come here. I came to-night! I'vestood for enough from you; you can't play me for a fool any longer. And you're going to marry me, too. "

Bryant perceived by the lamplight of the doorway that the fellow hadsnatched her hand, that the two were struggling. Burdened with Imogeneas he was, Lee was helpless to enterfere. But he went hastily up thesteps toward them. Louise tugged herself free. 

"Oh, you contemptible creature!" she cried, in a voice of quiveringpassion. "It's only because you know father is out caring for stockthat you dare stay here to insult me. " Then looking past Menocal, sheexclaimed, "Who is that?"

"I, Bryant, " said Lee. "With Imogene. She's ill, she needs to be putto bed. There was no time to ask your permission to bring her, but Iknew----"

"Of course! If this beast will stop making a scene and go!"

Charlie Menocal was pulling on his fur cap. 

"So here's our swell-headed crook of an engineer butting in again, "he sneered. "You better be hunting up your own chicken, or Gretzingerwill have her. Who y' say you got there?"

"Stand aside!"

Bryant's voice struck the other like the lash of a whip, and thehalf-drunken youth instinctively fell back a pace, so that Lee couldpass with his charge into the house. But as Louise was about to followMenocal seized her arm. 

"Girlie, you're not going to throw me down? You'll be good to me andcome----"

Louise shook off his hand, darted through the doorway, and quicklyclosing the door turned the key in the lock. Then still grasping thedoor-knob she leaned with her head against the panels, face white, lips trembling, and her breast rising and falling stormily. 

"Oh, Lee! For you to be forced to see and hear that!" she said, in atone of anguish. 

"I think nothing of it; you could not avoid him. "

After a moment she recovered herself and said, "Wait until I callRosita. "

When she returned with the Mexican girl, she conducted Bryant to anupper chamber where he placed Imogene upon a bed, pressed the latter'shand assuringly, and then left her in charge of the other two while hewent below to telephone to her uncle. McDonnell had already set outfor Sarita Creek, his wife informed Lee. He had started about half anhour before. Bryant went out of the house and entering his car drovedown the lane to the main road, where he stopped. 

Soon far away in the south there was a flash of light, repeated atintervals, until at length it grew into a steady, powerful glare thatthrew his own machine into strong relief, that dazzled and blindedhim. Finally the other car stopped near by. 

"What's the trouble, Jack?" McDonnell's voice came, addressed to hischauffeur. 

Bryant went forward to the banker, who was leaning out of thelimousine. He gave the information that neither of the girls was atSarita Creek and explained that Imogene was at the Graham house, comfortable though ill. 

"She's too sick to be removed and will probably need a nurse for atime, " he concluded. "I brought her here as soon as I learned hercondition. Miss Graham put her to bed. "

"All right; I'll run in and see her. Much obliged to you, Bryant, " wasthe answer. Then in a vexed strain he went on, "What I expected tohappen has happened. Advice, pleadings, commands haven't prevented herfrom following out this crazy affair. You may not believe it, butshe's as stubborn as a mule when she wants to be. My wife has beenalmost distracted all winter. Well, I'll send up a doctor and a nurseboth as soon as I return to Kennard, if there's time before thisstorm. Still at work?"

"Still digging. Will keep at it till the last minute. "

"Supposed you would. That's the lane there, isn't it?"

Next minute the big car had passed Lee's and was moving up the roadwaybetween the rows of cottonwoods toward the house. But Bryant did notat once start for camp. His mind was busy with pictures--pictures ofthe two girls as he first had seen them at Perro Creek, and at theircabins afterward, and finally to-night: Imogene, weak and racked by acough and huddling in a quilt beside her sheet-iron stove, and Ruth inher own cabin, standing in the lamplight in her pink party dress withround arms and throat showing through its filmy gauze, unconcerned andintent upon her own ends. 

At last he glanced up at the impenetrable sky. Something soft and wethad floated against his cheek. Then he saw here and there in thefunnel of light projected by his car lamps what looked like solitarybits of white down sinking through the radiance. Snow!

CHAPTER XXVIII

The first flakes were but the precursors of a heavy fall of snow thatalmost immediately began, soundless, without wind, filling the air andwhitening the earth, and that was still continuing unabated two hourslater. It mantled the shoulders of the workmen and the withers of thehorses; it clogged the wheels of the fresnos so that dirt was movedwith ever-increasing difficulty; it veiled the flaring gasolenetorches and choked the night. Where a plow ran or a scraper scoopedearth, snow speedily obliterated the mark, and with the passing oftime both men and animals found it necessary to struggle more and moredesperately in the dirt cut against mud and snow and gloom. 

Carrigan contracted his working line, placing the torches at shorterintervals and keeping the scrapers in close succession. The foremeninformed him frequently that the men were growing exhausted andrebellious, but he ordered them to hold the crews at the task. He andBryant moved to and fro constantly, giving encouragement or lending ahand to help start a stalled fresno. By sheer power of their willsthey were combatting the snow, forcing the work ahead, deepening thestretch of excavation that had been opened that afternoon; by irondetermination they were wrenching out the last spadeful of earthpossible and exacting the final ounce of man power before the snow hadits way. 

The strange warmth continued. The temperature was not even down tofreezing and the men, muddied and wet to the knees, dripped withperspiration, while the horses' flanks were soaked with both sweat andmelted snow. It was difficult to breathe, what with the heavy, oppressive air and what with the fall of suffocating snow, constantlygrowing thicker. Horses slipped and went down, but were raised again;fresnos were mired, but freed once more; men gave out and were sent totheir camp. And the fight kept on. 

But about eleven o'clock Bryant felt a cool puff of air on his cheeks, light and of brief duration. It was followed by a second, this timequicker and stronger, blowing from the northwest and sending the snowa-scurry in a slanting fog of flakes past the flames of the torches. He studied this change for a moment, then sought out Carrigan. 

"Time to make a break for cover, " he announced. "Wind is coming andthe devil will be to pay when once it picks up all this loose snow. "

"Well, we're about at a standstill, anyway, " was the reply. "I'll havethe crews draw the scrapers and plows off at one side where we can getat them. I had a spare horse tent put at the disposal of the Mexicans, and have had men in both camps piling baled hay all evening around thebig tents for windbreaks. We'll issue extra blankets and crowd thecrews into the shacks and mess quarters where there are stoves. "

"What about water if our pipe freezes?"

"Then the horses will eat snow like the range ponies, I guess--and therest of us, too. "

At that he went off to order the work stopped, as did Bryant. For sometime the wind blew only in those fitful puffs Lee had noted or dieddown entirely for short periods; and of this fact the night shift tookadvantage to assemble the fresnos and plows beside the canal and todrive their horses to shelter. The crews of the north camp, beingfewer, got away first; and thither Bryant plowed through the snow withthem to see all made safe. When he returned, Carrigan was just herdingthe last man and team toward the main camp. Together the contractorand the engineer extinguished the torches, then made their way, carrying a flare with them, toward the glow showing at the edge of thecamp, where an oil-soaked bale of hay burned as a guide. At theirbacks the wind and snow blew with gradually increasing strength. 

They made the rounds of the horse tents packed with animals, the messtents packed with workmen--with those men only come and those newlyaroused from sleep and gathered here--of the shacks, the hospital, theengineers' headquarters and the big commissary tent, all crowded withwhite men and Mexicans, steaming with moisture, smoking cigarettes andpipes, giving off a rank smell of clay and human bodies and wetclothes and horses, who talked and laughed and waited restlessly. Thepair waded around examining guy-ropes, stakes, the protective wallsraised of hay bales. They took advantage of a sudden dropping of thewind to go among the small tents, thrusting their flares within eachand having a look, to make certain no sleeper of the day shift hadbeen overlooked. Then at last they stumbled up the street to Bryant'sshack. 

The wind now had utterly died away. The snow had resumed its thick, silent fall straight to earth. Carrigan was kicking his boots cleanagainst the door-sill when Lee exclaimed, "Listen to that, Pat!"

Carrigan wiped the moisture from his ears and harkened. 

"That's the Limited coming, and making no stops, " he remarked. "Getin!"

They entered the little building. The office contained the engineeringstaff and several others. Tobacco smoke lay thick in the room. 

Outside, the faint whining sound was growing steadily in volume untilat last it deepened into a roar very like that of an approachingexpress train, as Pat had suggested. Followed a smart blow on theshack. Then it reeled and the night was filled with a howling tumultthat deafened the men inside; the blizzard had burst upon the mesa. Through the windows one could see nothing, for the air had become ablack maelstrom of whirling snow and darkness where a choked roarpersisted as steadily as the bass thunder of Niagara. The warmth hadvanished; a cutting cold, as if striking direct from arctic ice, minute by minute drove the mercury in the thermometer on Bryant's walldownward with unbelievable swiftness. If anything, the fury of thestorm seemed to increase as time passed, swelling to such terribleviolence that one imagined nothing could withstand its force, its madblasts, its deadliness. 

"Those mess tents and horse tents, " Lee said to Carrigan, anxiously. 

"They're safer under their lee of hay than is this little paper boxwe're sitting in, " the contractor replied. "I've been throughblizzards before, and know how to meet them. "

From by the stove one of the engineers spoke. 

"But we'll never see some of those little tents any more. There areseveral travelling toward Mexico by now. "

"And my new flannel shirt!" cried another, suddenly. "Washed it thisnoon and hung it out on a line and forgot all about it. Oh, Lord, where is it now?"

"Good-bye, little shirt, we'll never see you more!" said the first, sentimentally. "You'll be hanging on the Equator by morning. "

"While we're left here in the drifts, " said a third. "Oh, the lovely, big, white drifts there'll be to-morrow!"

Toward one o'clock the first furious rush of the storm had passed andit had settled into a fifty-mile-an-hour wind, bitterly cold, withsnow that drove against the building in fine particles. Freezing airnever ceased to enter the thin walls of boards and tar paper. It wasnecessary to keep the cast-iron stove red-hot to secure anything likecomfort. 

And to this dreadful cold and snow, thought Lee, Imogene would havebeen left deliberately by Ruth Gardner and Gretzinger!

Carrigan bade the others roll up in their blankets and get what sleepthey could while he and Bryant tended the fire. Lee saw that Dave waswarm and well-wrapped. The men, worn out by prolonged exertions, madethemselves beds on the floor or stretched themselves out on theirseats, drew their coverings closer, closed their eyes, slept. 

The contractor and the engineer, together before the fire, continuedto talk in low tones. 

"Haven't told you yet, " said Pat, presently, "but we picked up thatMexican this evening who was trying to start a drunk Christmas Eve. Itwas while you were at Sarita Creek. Saurez told me he had sneaked intocamp and meant mischief. Some of us caught him behind the commissarytent with a can of oil, just ready to fire the camp. "

"A fine night for us all to have been left without shelter, " Leeremarked. "Where is he?"

"In the hospital tied up, with a trusty man to watch him. Here's whatI found on him. Look inside. " And Pat handed over a dirty leather bagwith a long string. "Found this around his neck. "

Lee extracted four pieces of paper from the sack--all checks drawn tothe order of F. Alvarez. Besides these there were two twenty-dollargold pieces, three rings, and several unset turquoises. 

"Well, we can make use of these checks, " he said, after thought. "I'lltalk to the fellow to-morrow. " He restored the miscellaneouscollection of property to the sack. 

On the panes of the small windows the snow beat and the wind hammered. Carrigan stuffed the stove with pine knots. Afterward he refilled hispipe, cast a sharp glance about at the sleeping occupants of the room, and said:

"You've got what you need now to mix medicine with the banker. " Heconfirmed his words with several satisfied nods. 

"Yes, " said Bryant. 

Carrigan proceeded to meditate. 

"Awhile back I sent for some more dynamite, " he stated, breaking thesilence. "Didn't say anything to you about it at the time. It wasthere in the commissary tent under a stack of cases of peaches andbags of coffee. If this Alvarez had got his oil on that canvas and afire going, there sure would have been some fire-works. You would havehad a reservoir blown right in the middle of your project, I'mthinking. "

"What in the name of heaven do you want with dynamite!"

"Well, my boy, there's a lot of ground that can't be dug, but I neversaw any that nitro wouldn't move. What I got is dirt-blowing dynamite, the kind powder companies sell for making drainage ditches and blowingstumps and so on. I didn't know whether I should have to use it, but Ialways like to have a trick up my sleeve. Powder is ordinarily tooexpensive to employ when fresnos can work, yet it's just the thing ina pinch. We're in an emergency now. If it should set in and snow rightalong, with one storm on top of another, as may happen after so long amild season, powder even may not help us out. These last eight hundredyards are going to make us weep before we're through, I'm guessing. But just the same, I'm counting on this dynamite. It can't blow likethis forever, and the minute it quits we'll grab hold. "

Lee twisted about to look at a window. The particles of snow werebiting at the glass relentlessly, while the howl of the gale told onlytoo plainly how the drifts were being heaped on the dark mesa. 

"We'll finish this ditch on time even if hell freezes over, " he said, slowly. "I'm not going to be beaten at this late day. "

He continued to sit gazing at the frosted panes and harkening to theroaring blasts. On the floor and in the chairs the blanketed men sleptheavily. Pat fed the fire anew. But through the cracks of the wallsthe cold sifted more and more intense, while along the edges of theboards there formed thick fringes of glistening frost. 

CHAPTER XXIX

For four days the bitter cold and fierce wind held the camps inthrall, then the latter blew itself out. The cold, however, stillendured though the sun shone. When one looked forth from camp, allthat could be seen was a snowbound earth; mesa and mountains were aswhite and silent as some polar region; nothing moved; nothing seemedto live out yonder. It was like a dazzling, frigid, extinct world. 

The main mesa road was blocked and telephone wires were down. Whatwent on outside the limits of the camp's snow-drifted horizon itsdwellers knew not--nor for the moment cared. Work was the onlythought. With hastily constructed snow-plows roads had been brokenamong the tents and shacks as soon as the weather allowed, andafterward broad paths made to the working ground. The section of undugcanal was now scraped bare. There, sheltered by tents and warmed bysagebrush fires, men bored in the iron-like earth powder-holes in rowsthat exactly aligned the canal. On the morning of the fifth day afirst stretch of fifty yards was blown out, whereupon teams andscrapers were rushed into the ragged cavity to deepen and clear theditch before the soil froze anew. This was at the north end. In theafternoon one hundred yards at the south end went up in a blast andcrews from the main camp fell upon this area. 

That night the sky clouded over again. All the next day snow came downsteadily. The workmen played cards in the mess tents and waited. Carrigan busied himself at accounts and waited. Bryant waited, withimpatience and anxiety gnawing at his heart. There were six hundredyards and more unexcavated, and but three days of his time remained. 

The snow ceased at nightfall and work was instantly resumed by aid ofthe torches; again the desperate scraping of snow, bundled men atfires and sheltered by windbreaks, the drilling of holes in the frozenground, the reliefs every two hours, the thawing of nipped fingers andtoes and noses. All night hot food and boiling coffee were served atintervals to the cold and hungry labourers. At nine o'clock nextmorning two hundred yards of dirt went spraying into the air, with thesubsequent struggle in the long hole: fresnos bearing forth what earthwas loose and what the plows broke out; the horses, blinded by theglare of snow, staggering forward under curse and lash; the mentoiling in a sort of grim fury. A maximum of effort finished onehundred and fifty yards more by eleven o'clock. Carrigan ordered allwork to stop until nine next morning. 

"The men are 'all in', " he told Lee. "We'll crack this last nutto-morrow. "

"But what if it sets in to snow? More than two hundred and fifty yardsleft to do, and only to-morrow and the day after to work. "

"We'll have to risk it. "

"Will your powder hold out?"

"Yes. " He regarded Bryant keenly. "Say, what you need isn'tinformation but sleep. You worked all day yesterday, and all lastnight, and to-day again, and here it is going on midnight. I'm goingto tell you the schedule for to-morrow to calm your mind, then youroll into your blankets. At nine o'clock in the morning all handsexcept the cooks go at the drills and stay by them till the stretch isholed. Whenever that's done, which should be about evening, we shootthe chunk. And after that we hit the bottom with every scraper andfresno and horse and man, with the cooks fighting the coffee-boilers, and never come out of the ditch till the last lump of dirt is moved. That's the programme. I figure it will be about midnight when the lastcard's turned, maybe an hour or so after. I promised the men doublewages and a box of cigars apiece out of the store and a few otherthings perhaps--I don't remember. So you get your sleep, for there's abig day ahead to-morrow. That dirt all goes out before you'll haveanother chance to hit the hay. "

Bryant arose next morning at seven. The sky was overcast and thethermometer was sixteen below zero when he examined it. Across thesnow he could see the north camp stirring to life, awakening in thefrosty, pallid light of dawn. Stretching thither ran uneven snowyridges, save at one place where they lay bare and brown--the banks ofthe canal. When the small interval still undug was moved, the ditchwould be finished from river to ranch, from the Pinas down to Perro. And this was to be the last day of toil! To-day the camps were to hurlthemselves at that short remaining strip of earth and tear it out; thefurrow so long pressed ahead through the iron ground was to be broughtto an end; the enemy, frost, was to be conquered at last. When hethought of the inexorable labour done under heart-breaking conditions, in spite of cold and wind and snow, and with sufferings anddeprivations little considered. Bryant felt for the workmen, roughthough they were, a strong affection. They had done the bitter work. 

"Out goes the chunk to-day, " was Pat's greeting that morning. 

A spirit of eagerness, almost of enthusiasm, pervaded the crews thatfirst went forth in the cold to work at the drills. It was the finalattack, and they went from their steaming breakfast with jests andlaughter that rang back over the snow. Sixteen below zero, and theylaughed! Bryant had a sudden conviction that nothing could stop suchmen--neither weather, nor elements, nor fate itself. They were heroesnot to be daunted. They swung the hammer of Thor against the earth andwere worthy of an epic. 

Toward the middle of the afternoon of that day Carrigan said to theengineer:

"We're making better time than I calculated. The holes will all bedrilled by five o'clock; we're loading them as they're done and we'llshoot at five-thirty. "

"What about supper?"

"Supper at five. Then the men will be back and ready to jump in theditch when the shot's fired. "

"And be done twenty-four hours before the hour set by the Land andWater Board, " said Lee. 

"That's cutting it fine enough as it is. Who's that waving yondertoward camp?" And Carrigan pointed a mittened hand at a figureswinging an arm and shouting Bryant's name. 

The engineer stared for a time. 

"Charlie Menocal, " he said, finally. "Morgan--Morgan, come here!" hecalled. And as Morgan came to join him, Lee addressed Pat, "I'll justrun over to Bartolo with this young scoundrel. The road's open andI'll be back by dark. Want Morgan to come along to look after him andAlvarez, the man you caught. "

"Better start back in plenty of time. The sky's thickening again. Moresnow in sight, Lee. "

"I shall. "

"You might invite old man Menocal to return with you, " Pat remarked, with a grin, "and see us put the kibosh on his dream of owning thePinas River. What are you going to do with this boy of his? Send himover the road?"

"I haven't decided yet. "

"That's where he ought to go, after trying to burn us out the night ofthe blizzard. " He turned away to the work. 

"You're not to let this fellow over there waiting for us get away, Morgan, " Lee stated. 

"I'll freeze on to him. "

They went along the snowy path toward camp, coming up with Menocal, who waited until they arrived and then accompanied them towardBryant's office. 

"Have a letter for you from Ruth, " he said. "Had a terrible timegetting up from Kennard. Road isn't half opened, but I found a man todrive me home. Promised Ruth to deliver this to you. "

He drew the letter from an inner pocket and handed it to theengineer, who glanced at the writing on the envelope, his own name, and shoved the epistle into his glove. When they gained camp, Leesaid:

"Morgan and I are going to Bartolo with you, and also a friend ofyours called Alvarez. We nabbed him as he was trying to burn our campabout two hours before the blizzard. Take this man to headquarters, Morgan, and keep him till I come over. "

Menocal's face became livid with anger and alarm. 

"Let me go, damn you!" he shouted, shrilly. 

Bryant waved a hand towards the engineers' shack and thither Charliewas propelled, cursing and struggling, in Morgan's firm grasp. Entering his office, Lee closed the door, walked to the stove, andstanding there produced the letter. It was the first and only missivehe had ever received from Ruth. He gazed at the envelope and thescrawled writing on it with an impression of strangeness, but thisgave way to a curiosity as to the contents. He had a strong suspicionof the letter's purport. Ruth would have reviewed her conduct thatnight at Sarita Creek, and, with her instinctive cunning, perceived itwould alienate Lee. The message doubtless carried an adroitexplanation and excuse, ending up with numerous declarations of heraffection and hypocritical assertions of her anxiety on his account. Disgust overwhelmed him. He was minded to cast the thing into thestove unread. At last, however, muttering to himself, he thrust aforefinger under the flap and ripped the envelope open. A newspaperclipping that had been enclosed in the letter dropped to the floor. Heread:

 DEAR LEE:

 After thinking the matter over very carefully, I've decided to release you from our engagement. If this pains you, as I fear it will, I'm extremely sorry, but I've discovered that we're not temperamentally suited to each other. You've failed, besides, so I understand, which further convinces me of that. And in addition, I've learned of late that I love another, who loves me. Therefore it's much better that I take this step, much better and much wiser--don't you think so? However, Lee, I shall always be your friend. 

 It may interest you to know that this evening Mr. Gretzinger and I are to be married. Privately, with only a few close friends. We depart immediately after the ceremony for New York. Mr. Menocal is to pack my things at Sarita Creek, so you need not bother about them. I understand Imogene is visiting at the Graham ranch; I'm dropping her a note there telling her the news. 

 With best wishes, RUTH. 

Bryant lifted from the floor and read the clipping. It was a shortannouncement, evidently from a Kennard paper, of the prospectivewedding that night of Miss Ruth Gardner, of Sarita Creek, and Mr. J. Senton Gretzinger, of New York. 

When he had read this, Lee gently tilted and shook the envelope. Butno diamond solitaire dropped out. 

CHAPTER XXX

They were waiting in the sheriff's office in the court house inBartolo. They were waiting for Mr. Menocal. Winship had sent amessenger for him. At one place in the room, handcuffed and tied, satthe evil-eyed Alvarez; at another sat Charlie Menocal, silent andapprehensive and with a sickly pallor showing under his dusky skin;and between them lounged Morgan. The sheriff and Bryant stood acrossthe room conversing of the storm. 

"I thought your goose was cooked when that blizzard hit us, " Winshipwas saying. 

"Froze, you mean, " was Lee's smiling reply. "I thought so myself for awhile. We've hammered along, however. To-night the last dirt goesout. "

"That was an idea now--powder. "

"It was Carrigan's, not mine. It saved us. The old man has forgottenmore than I ever knew. Here's the banker now. "

The door swung open, admitting Menocal, blinking from the snow'ssheen. He bade the sheriff and the engineer good day, glanced sharplyat them and then at the others. When his look encountered his son, hiseyebrows went up. 

"So you're home finally, " he addressed him. "After two weeks' time!"His regard moved about from one to another of the trio. "What doesthis mean, Charlie? Who is that fellow wearing handcuffs?" He paused, staring steadily at his son. "What have you been doing to bring youinto Winship's office?" As Charlie continued to sit silent, he turnedto the sheriff. 

"I'll explain, Mr. Menocal, but what I have to say won't be pleasanthearing for you, " Lee stated, at a nod from Winship. "Take this chair, if you please. "

The banker sat down, heavily. He sighed, while his fat cheeks shookwith a slight tremble. 

"What has he done?" he asked, with his eyes fixed on an ink-well onthe sheriff's desk. 

Briefly and without temper Bryant related the circumstance of seeingAlvarez in Kennard one day during the previous summer, when the manappeared to be watching him. Charlie was also in town on that day. Alvarez was the man who had attempted to make the workmen drunk incamp on Christmas Eve, but he had escaped on that occasion. He hadstolen into camp again on the afternoon preceding the blizzard and twohours after sundown had been captured seeking to fire the commissarytent. When made a prisoner, he had been searched. On his person werefound several checks for sums ranging from fifty to one hundreddollars. Bryant drew the leather sack from his pocket, extracted thechecks, and handed them to the banker. 

"You see they are given by your son, " said he. "I've questioned thisAlvarez and he has finally admitted that he was employed by Charlieand instructed by him what to do. Your son, therefore, is theinstigator of the attempted crime, and Alvarez, an ignorant and brutaloutlaw from Mexico, was merely his tool. I pass over the matter of thewhisky and the petty inconveniences earlier caused me and my men. Buthere is an act of a different character, Mr. Menocal. The man'sendeavour to fire our camp, had it been successful, would perhaps haveresulted in the death of scores of men, as the storm broke shortlyafter and they would have been without shelter. "

Charlie Menocal sprang to his feet. 

"Before God, I didn't know he would choose that night!" he cried, passionately. "I meant only to stop their work!"

His father shook his head sadly. 

"That makes no difference, my son; you planned a wicked deed, " hesaid, in a barely audible voice. 

Morgan pushed the young man back upon his chair and Bryant went on. Ashe proceeded, he had found it harder and harder to address the parent;and his task was no easier now. The eyes of the father had gone to theslender, sagging figure of his son and seemed to be the eyes of anexpiring man; his plump cheeks were working under an excess ofemotion; then his head went down suddenly as under the blow of a club. 

"Because of the character of the act, " Lee said, "it wasn't only astroke at me but at every animal and man in the entire south camp. Iwant to make this clear in order to show how black and dastardly thething was. Whether Charlie understood or intended the destruction ofall the lives and property there is no excuse; it was a deed thatwould have carried terrible results in its train. I don't even let mymind conceive them. All this has followed, Mr. Menocal, from thesingle fact that your son disliked me in the beginning. To that maybe added an idea that I was depriving you of something to which I hadno right, namely, the title to the Perro Creek canal appropriation. And there, I think, responsibility for his course touches you. "

He paused to gaze at the Mexican, whose face had become drained ofcolour. 

"Mr. Menocal, the water is mine, " he continued, "and to-night sometime it will be mine beyond all dispute, for then the ditch will befinished. So much for that. Some days ago we had a talk that, Ibelieve, led us each to a better opinion of the other. I think that asa leader here in Bartolo and around about you're a force for good; youbelieve in law, order, and education; and I know, from what I'velearned, that you carry many of the people on store accounts for longperiods when crops are bad or when they are distressed by sickness. I'm confident you're endeavouring to elevate them so far as possible;and I admit frankly that I've modified very greatly my firstestimation of you. That weighs in the scale against Charlie's actions. 

"Then there's one kindness Charlie himself has done me, though he maynot be aware of the fact. I'll not say what it is; let it suffice thatit is the case. A very great kindness it was, indeed! I count thatlikewise in the opposite scale. And then there are other things toconsider, one among them that after all no harm has come to me. Theenmity he's held for me has simply recoiled upon his own head. All hehas to show for it after months of hating and contriving is hisposition here in this room to-day--and a dead dog. Surely it must makeplain to him that his course has been not only futile but foolish. "

The engineer glanced at the young fellow. He sat in an attitude ofdespair that almost equalled his father's. 

"Well, that brings me to the point, " Bryant said. "You've been tooindulgent with Charlie, Mr. Menocal, as you once acknowledged to me. You've given him too much money, too much admiration, too much head, and it has led him up against the bars of the state prison. Thequestion is whether or not I shall open the gate and push him in, asat first I determined to do on securing the proof in this leathersack. If I thought he would keep on along his present line, I shouldsay yes, merely as a matter of public policy, but I've had severaldays to think the thing over and have come to the conclusion he'llsoon realize his folly, if he doesn't now. And another restraintshould be the good name and the happiness of his father. I'm notvindictive, Mr. Menocal, and less on this day than I've ever been. Idon't believe in causing people misery merely for the pleasure ofinflicting it or because I happen to have the power. We all haveenough to contend with, as it is. I don't propose to ruin yourposition here, and end your influence, and blast your life, by sendingyour son to the penitentiary. That would make me no happier, and wouldmake a number of people infinitely wretched, while perhaps startingCharlie on the road to hell. Very likely so. I much prefer to seeeveryone cheerful and at work. Suppose we ship this fellow yonder backto Mexico--Winship can arrange that--and destroy the checks, and tearup this sheet of Charlie's record, so to speak. Only one or twopersons besides ourselves know of the matter and I'll ask them toforget it. "

Lee struck a match and ignited the checks, holding them while theyburned until at last he dropped them on the floor, where they blazed, curled up in strips of black ash, and were no more. He glanced aboutat the others. Winship was picking his teeth with a quill toothpick, with his mind apparently far away on other matters. Morgan stolidlychewed tobacco and kept a wary eye on the bandit, Alvarez. Charlie satpale, limp, gazing at nothing. The elder Menocal had lifted his eyesto Bryant, at whom he looked mistily; he appeared to have agedastonishingly, his cheeks having gone flabby, slack, and gray, while aslight tremour shook his head. 

"That's all, I guess, " Bryant said, briskly. "We'll just consider ourrelations established on the same footing they were before thisoccurrence. "

He put out a hand, smiling. The banker struggled to his feet andclasped it in both of his. 

"They shall not be on the same footing, but on a better one, Mr. Bryant, if it's in my power to make them so, " he exclaimed, in achoked voice. 

"That suits me right down to the ground, Mr. Menocal. "

The Mexican was silent. His lips parted, quivered, and shut again. Hishold on the engineer's hand tightened. 

"I--I can't talk now, can't say what I wish to say, " he said, masteredby feeling. "When I'm more myself, when I can talk--another time----"He ceased, but presently finished, "Another time I'll tell thegratitude in my heart. Now my shame for my son and for myself----Come, Charlie, take me home. "

They went out. Winship came to life and crossing the room dragged theoutlaw Mexican to his feet, then pushed him over the floor and intothe hall on his way to the cells in the basement. Morgan pulled on hishat. Bryant glanced at the paper ashes on the floor, then didlikewise. It was time to get back to camp. 

CHAPTER XXXI

The first snowflakes of another storm were beginning to flutter downby the time the two men reached camp, and dusk had set in. On thedrifted road from Bartolo, over which but few wagons had passed, travel was slow and they had consumed an hour and a half on theirreturn. The torches were burning along the canal, appearing at adistance like winter fireflies, but the crews of workmen had gone tosupper. Bryant and Morgan, when they drove down the street in camp, could hear them at their meal in the glowing mess tents--a subduedhubbub of plates and knives and voices. 

Half an hour later they were pouring forth toward the horse tents, while the engineers were making their way along the torch-lit path tothe stretch of undug canal. 

"We'll allow fifteen minutes for them to get the teams out, thenshoot, " Carrigan said to Lee, as they moved along. "All the shots arein and double-fused. Doesn't appear to be any wind behind this snow. "

The air, though cold, was still. The flakes were not yet fallingheavily and they lay on the hard crust of snow as light as silk fluff. What might be coming down in another hour from the darkness overhead, however, could not be foretold, while if both a gale and a great fallof snow occurred the labour of the night would be increased ahundred-fold. 

Bryant's anxiety was no longer on account of the time limit fixed bythe Land and Water Board. He knew that since the revelations made inthe sheriff's office the claimant Rodriguez would never press hiscase, even were the canal never completed. But he had the keen desireof a tired man to clean up the job and be done, and a pride in keepingfaith with himself in accomplishing what he had sworn he should do, build the project in ninety days. He would never have it said by anyone that he had failed in that. By Gretzinger, for example. Ruth inparticular! She believed that he had already failed when she wrote herletter. 

By the end of the quarter of an hour prescribed by Carrigan teams andworkmen were coming along the snowy road in a long line. From thenorth camp also a string of animals in pairs was advancing by light ofthe torches. A warning shout sounded from the ditch section. Menretreated. Then a roaring boom burst upon the night, with otherthunderous reports following in rapid succession, until it seemed thatthe mined earth cascading upward in the darkness was the bombardmentof scores of cannon. The flames of the torches and the falling snowtossed and whirled at the percussion of air. Showers of clay rainedupon the earth. Vibrations jarred the ground. 

Then the companies of horses and men, fastening upon scrapers, hastened into the trench. The remaining strip that joined the twosections of canal had been blown out and now this was the final, culminating assault. When this two hundred and fifty yards of ditchline had been widened and deepened to correspond to the rest, waterwould flow of summers in a small river from the dam down to the broadacres of Perro Creek ranch. 

Hour after hour the steady labour proceeded--plows ran; flat scrapersand wheeled fresnos followed, scooped up the earth, bore it to thebanks above; horses tugged and strained; men toiled, pausing only tothaw their feet and hands at fires burning by the ditch or to draingreat tin-cups of the scalding coffee that the cooks dipped from cans. And steadily the excavation widened and deepened hour by hour, theslope of the sides becoming apparent, the banks rising higher and theditch assuming its desired shape and size. At eleven o'clock the cookswheeled immense canisters of sliced beef and bread among the workmen, who seized the food and ate it as they worked. At midnight the plowswere cutting near the bottom, and the work was going faster, as thefrost did not strike this deep into the soil. At one o'clock in themorning, amid thickening snow, the last scraperfuls of dirt were goingout, while the engineers, with their long rules, were checking depthsand slopes. 

"By golly, she's about done!" exclaimed Dave, who had been permittedto remain up on this eventful night and who had been moving about, here, there, and everywhere, in a great state of excitement. "Bygolly, she is, Lee!"

"Yes, by golly; the ditch you helped me survey, too. "

"By golly, yes!" He had forgotten that. 

The last dirt moved with a rush. Then, even as the teams were draggingthe loads from the excavation, Carrigan passed to a foreman the wordthat announced the end of work. It ran along the canal from mouth tomouth, at first in a call but finally in a shout that swelled to aroar of exultation. That roar rang over the snow and through thenight like the cry of an army which has gained a walled city. 

"Done!" said Bryant, to himself. 

Back to the camps trooped the teams and men by the flare of thetorches they carried in jubilation. Not a soul in all that company butfelt the triumph beating in Lee's heart. Finished, built! Despitefrost and snow they had driven the iron furrow through to the end, andon time. Toil-weary though they were, their spirits were light. Theyknew themselves fellow-workers in a redoubtable achievement. 

Carrigan and Bryant were among the last to go. To the latter there wasin the fact of completion a sense of unreality. As he took a finalview of the ditch before setting out for camp, events raced throughhis mind--his coming, his first labours, the confused interplay of hislife with those of the Menocals, McDonnell, Gretzinger, Carrigan, Imogene, Ruth, and Louise; the months of incessant toil; ofbrain-racking and body-wearing endeavour to force the canal forward;of unresting strife with frost and snow and earth, of being under apitiless hammer. He could not easily realize that he was now free ofall this. 

"I have an empty feeling, " he remarked to Carrigan. 

"One always has a 'let-down' after a hard job, " was Pat's sagerejoinder. "You'll feel restless for maybe a week now. "

They went from the spot up the snowy road and turned in at Pat's shackfor a smoke. Late as it was, neither felt the need of sleep as yet. 

"Well, it's a comfort to know that we don't have to plug again at thatground in the morning, " Lee remarked, with a sigh of satisfaction. Hehad his feet on the table, his body relaxed, and his pipe going. 

"Yeah. The only disappointment I have, " Pat said, "is not havinglifted the bonds and stocks out of Gretzinger. If we hadn't been sopressed for time, we might have played him a little till he took thehook. I don't like his kind at all. "

Bryant laughed. 

"Why, he's the best friend I have, " he exclaimed. "What do you thinkhe did for me?"

"Well, what? Besides trying to shake you down?"

"Pat, he carried off and married my girl. "

The contractor lowered his feet, placed his hands upon his knees, andgazed at Bryant, with brows down-drawn and under lip up-thrust. 

"That good-for-nothing Ruth what's-her-name?" he demanded. In all themonths of their association it was the first time he had ever spokenof her to Bryant. 

"Ruth Gardner, yes. "

Carrigan rose, gave Lee a long and solemn look, then went to a trunkin the corner of the room. This he unlocked and opened. From itsinterior he produced a black bottle. 

"I don't take a drink very often, " he announced, coming forward andsetting the bottle on the table, "but this is one of the times. We'lltake one to celebrate your luck. "

CHAPTER XXXII

About the middle of the next afternoon Lee Bryant was riding southwardfrom camp on the main mesa trail. The road was difficult and his horseDick made slow time along the snowy path broken by wagons through thedrifts, but the rider let the animal choose his own gait, as he haddone that hot July day when coming up from the south to buy the PerroCreek ranch. On reaching the ford Lee pulled rein. How different nowthe creek from on that burning afternoon of his encounter with RuthGardner and Imogene Martin! Snow covered its bed; the sands where hehad knelt, the little pool, the foot-prints, lay hidden from sight. How much had happened since! And how different was his life! He hadsuffered much and learned much since that hour of meeting; and heshould never henceforth view this spot without a little feeling ofmelancholy. The youth and two girls who drank there at the rill wereno more: they had become other persons. 

Presently he dismissed thoughts of this and set Dick wading across theford. Yonder he now could see the three bare cottonwoods, with the lowadobe house near by where he and Dave had lived and laboured at thesurveys for the project. The bones of his dog Mike, too, rested thereunder the ground. This brought to mind the meeting with Louise uponthe road--and it was Louise to whom at this moment he was going. Hebegan to urge Dick to greater efforts. Once on a stretch of road, bareand wind-swept, he pushed him into a gallop. It seemed interminable, this snow-bound trail. But at last he crossed Sarita Creek (with but asingle glance at the cañon's mouth where the two cabins stooduntenanted and abandoned among the naked trees) and then covered thelong miles to Diamond Creek, and rode up the lane between the rows ofcottonwoods to the house, where Louise, who had perceived his approachfrom a window, appeared at the door to greet him. 

"We were terribly alarmed for your safety the night of the blizzard, "she said, "but the mail-man finally made his trip to Bartolo and back, and said you were still there and not blown away. And he also statedthat you were working night and day. "

"Not any more, " said Lee, swinging from the saddle. 

"You have finished! I can read it on your face!" she cried, joyfully. 

"Yes; we threw out the last clod at one o'clock this morning. "

"I needn't tell you that I'm proud and happy; you know that, Lee. Evenhappier than when I learned you were able to continue, at the time yousupposed you were unable. Put up your horse and come in. You're halffrozen. "

Bryant endeavoured to discover from her face what he wished to know, but did not succeed. So he asked:

"Have you had your mail lately?"

"Not for three days. The mail-man made one trip and then the next snowclosed the road again to Kennard. "

Lee went off to stable Dick. On his return he found Louise at the doorstill waiting, and she helped him to remove his overcoat and scarfwhen they passed in to the fire. Then they pushed a divan forward andshe bade him spread out his hands before the blaze. 

"It wasn't so long ago that we agreed we mustn't see each other again, and here we are together, " he stated, with a pretense of solemnity. Heextended his hands to the heat and moved his fingers about to expeltheir numbness. "I don't know what your father would say if he knewall the circumstances. "

"I--I don't know, either, " Louise stammered, in dismay at the thought. 

"How's Imogene?" he inquired. 

"Improving slowly. All she needed was to get away from that horridcabin and horrid--well, surroundings. "

"And your father's here?"

"At one of the feed corrals, I think. He had all the cattle rounded upbefore the blizzard and held here and fed. A big task, with severalthousand head. "

"Then we're safe, " said Lee. 

Louise looked at him doubtfully. She knew not what to make of thistalk and his portentous air, and felt a new apprehension rising in hermind. 

"What is it? What has happened now, Lee?" she whispered. 

But all at once he began to laugh. He caught her hand and holding itgazed, smiling, into her eyes. Then he drew from his pocket anenvelope, which (still keeping prisoner the hand he had captured) hewaved to and fro before her eyes. 

"If I didn't know you well, I'd think you had lost your wits, " shecried. 

"I have--wits and heart both. With joy! Wait, I'll take the letter outso that you can read it. The only blessed thing I ever knew her to do!I bless her for it, at any rate. " He pulled the letter and theclipping from their cover and laid them in Louise's hand. "Read, readthe tidings!"

The girl's fingers began to tremble as her eyes flitted along thelines. But she read no more than the first part of the letter. Sheturned to him with her eyes misty, her face radiant. 

"I could weep for happiness--but I'm not going to. " She made a littledab with her handkerchief at her lashes. "Oh, Lee, to think you'refree! And that now we may love each other!"

"I thought we did. "

"Of course we did--but you know what I mean. "

"You didn't read it all, " said he. "You don't know yet the pooropinion she has of me. "

Louise crumpled the letter in her hand and cast it into the flames. 

"Nor do I want to know it, " she exclaimed. "All I care about is my ownopinion of you, and our love. That's enough. Perhaps we shall be allthe happier for the little misery she caused us. "

Her eyes dwelt proudly upon him, upon his face that showed new linesof strength, that was clear and calm, that revealed a spirit come tofull manhood, that was luminous with the love she inspired. He hadtaken her hands and was regarding her tenderly. 

"Ruth rendered me one service, " said he. "She taught me that there'san appearance which may be mistaken for the substance. That shall beto her credit. " He sat silent, smiling thoughtfully for a moment. Thenhe raised his eyes and drew Louise toward him. "But you, Louise, awokereal love. "

His arms enclosed her fast and their lips met in a first kiss. 

"We shall walk among the flowers and in the orchard again, Lee dear, "she murmured, "as we did once before. And I shall bring you buttermilkas I did that morning--but there will be no Charlie Menocal. "

"No. Charlie won't annoy us in the future. "

"And when the snow is gone we'll ride along your canal----"

"Our canal now, sweetheart. "

"Along our canal and see where you worked so hard and struggled andwon, and I'll listen while you point here and there and tell of theobstacles overcome, and of all you did. We shall be gay and happy. "

"As I'm happy now, " he said, softly. "Do you know what I see there inthe firelight? A building, a house--our home. "

Louise's face lifted to his, all sweetness and trust. 

"I see it, too, " she murmured. 

"On Perro Creek ranch, " Lee continued, "with the sagebrush gone and inits place fields of grain and alfalfa spreading out to the horizon, with water rippling along in little canals and fat cows standingabout, and contented farmers at work, and perhaps a railroad somewherein the background, and ourselves in the foreground by our new home, where flowers are growing, too, and--and----"

Louise's arms slipped up and about his neck, until her cheek restedagainst his. 

"You dream and then you build--you dream and make your dreams cometrue, " she said. "You're my dreamer-builder. "

Lee was smiling. The caress in her words, the warm touch of her cheek, her heart beating against his, all made his happiness complete. 

"And your lover, " he whispered. 

THE END

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