f what you overheard,
do you, Mr. Dodd?" inquired the judge, turning sharp gaze on the young
man.

"I can't remember any more."

"You think you recognized voices sufficiently well to be sure that
this person named Farr made that novel suggestion in regard to what was
called a 'water district'?"

"There was no mistaking his voice," said Dodd, with the malevolence of
bitter recollection.

Another prolonged silence. Then the judge asked, his eyes again on the
ceiling, "Just who is this Walker Farr?"

Richard Dodd, keeping jealous espionage on all the girl's emotions and
movements saw a flush suffuse her cheeks; her hands trembled. She raised
her eyes in a quick glance and he detected eager inquiry.

"I don't know who he is," growled the colonel.

"You'd better find out," advised the corporation counsel.

"Why?"

"Of course this thing has been put up to me very suddenly. I can give
you only a snap judgment. But that scheme has possibilities."

"As a lawyer you don't mean to tell me that a crazy idea like that can
be put through in this state against the combination we control?"

"It will not be a case of combination and money and politics, Colonel,
when it gets to the high court. It will be _law_. And I'm sorry you
can't tell me any more about the man who has devised the plan. I'd like
to know how he dug it out."

"But a gang of pirates can't organize like that and confiscate our
property! We're going to tap the lakes. We're going ahead right away.
But can that fool's scheme scoop in the Consolidated Water Company?"

"That's to be found out. I am going to tell you now that I believe an
organization of citizens into an independent water district can be
made legally and be independent of other debts. Colonel Dodd, if that
opposition gets control of the next legislature you can depend upon it
that the necessary legislation will be passed. We may as well look facts
in the face: they're getting mighty restive in this state; the people
have been penned in by the Machine very effectually to date--but show
'em a place now where they can jump the fence and they're going to do
it."

"But what's the good of paying you twenty-five thousand dollars a
year for law if you can't keep the bars up?" The tone was that of the
impatient tyrant.

"You'll please remember that this thing is likely to go to the United
States court. When you go in there you've got to leave your side-arms
of politics--pull and pocket-book--at the