Part 18 (1/2)

”That's so!” put in Pocus Pete. ”Quite a bunch of our cattle depend for a drink on what they get from Rolling River, and we've got a lot of cattle below there now,” and he pointed to a section south of that part of the valley in which the work was going on.

”Oh, well, we'll not cross a bridge until we come to it,” said Mr. Carson.

”I'll not a.s.sume that Molick is going to do anything wrong. But when he does,” he added reflectively, ”then he'd better look out.”

”I hope I sha'n't have started a quarrel,” put in Mr. Bellmore.

”Don't worry,” laughed Dave. ”It doesn't take much to start a quarrel with the Molicks. Maybe it'll not amount to anything, anyhow. Say, but he is putting up some fence all right!”

Indeed the operations were on a large scale, and seemed to indicate that the Molick outfit had made good preparations.

Mr. Bellmore seemed very thoughtful. He sat on his horse, looking at the work, for the starting of which he was, in a measure, responsible. Then he remarked:

”I think I'll get out of this while I can. I'm sorry I made any tentative proposition to Molick but there's time enough yet to withdraw. I'll tell him our irrigation company can't go into that water deal with him. Can I depend on you to make some arrangements with me, regarding your water rights?” he asked of Mr. Carson.

”Well, if you give me all the particulars, and I find them to be as you say, I wouldn't have any objections to going in,” replied the ranchman slowly. ”I surely do need more water for my cattle and land, and if irrigation, conservation, or whatever you call it, is going to bring it about, I'll be only too glad to go into it with you. Isn't that what you say, Dave?”

The youth hesitated a moment. He felt a warm glow in his heart that the man he had so long regarded as his father reposed this much faith and confidence in him, when the secret had been disclosed.

”Yes, Dad,” said Dave, slowly, ”I should think it would be a good thing to go in with Mr. Bellmore's company.”

”I thought you'd say so. And now let's hear from Pocus Pete. I always like to let my foreman have a word to say,” he added to the Chicago man.

”And I think you do right,” was the comment.

”What's your idea, Pete?” asked Mr. Carson.

”Why, I say go into it! That is, if we can get away from Molick. I never did like the idea of him controllin' so much of Rollin' River. Now if we can have all the water of our own we want, so much the better. Go into it, I says!”

”Then it's decided,” announced Mr. Carson. ”We'll go in with you, provided you are not so tied up with Molick that you can't unfetter yourself.”

”I think there's no danger of that,” said Mr. Bellmore. ”I only made a tentative arrangement with him. I'll go over at once and tell him I've reconsidered my plans.”

”There he is now,” said Dave, pointing to two figures on horses, riding down toward the Centre O workers.

”Yes, and that bully, Len, is with him,” added Pocus Pete. ”Do you want to turn back, Dave?” he asked with a mischievous glance.

”Indeed I don't!” was the quick reply, and the eyes of the young cowboy flashed.

Mr. Carson's land, at this point, extended down to the edge of Rolling River, where the stream made a sharp turn. On the opposite sh.o.r.e were the Molick workmen. And as Dave, the ranchman and the others rode forward, Jason Molick and his son also approached the stream from their side of it.

Len glanced up and looked at Dave, but gave no other sign. Probably he had not told of the drubbing he had received.

”Can I ride across here?” asked Mr. Bellmore of Mr. Carson, after a few minutes conversation, during which Jason Molick was inspecting the progress of his workmen.

”Yes, the river, is very shallow here. Go ahead! We'll wait for you. I don't want to go on his land.”

The irrigation man left his friends and, crossing the stream on his horse's back, was soon approaching Mr. Molick.

”Well, how do you think we're coming on?” asked Len's father. ”I took your advice, you see--I'm going in with you on this deal. I think it's a good one, I'm ready to sign the papers whenever you say so.”

”Well--er--I don't want to disappoint you, after what has taken place, Mr.