That's all, Mr. Silverthorn."

He turned and went out, closing the door behind him.

He had not intended to have his talk with Tom Maison, Okar's banker,
until the following morning. But upon returning to Okar's street he
saw Maison ahead of him on the sidewalk. He followed the banker, saw
him enter the front door of the bank building, and a few minutes later
he was sitting opposite Maison at a table in the banker's private room.

Maison was short and pudgy, short of breath, with a pasty complexion.

"Will Bransford, eh?" he said, looking sharply at Sanderson over the
table. "H'm. You don't look much like your father."

"Nor I don't act like him, either," smiled Sanderson. "For instance,"
he went on at the banker's quick look, "dad was slow; he wasn't alive
to his opportunities. How long has it been since the railroad came to
Okar?"

"Five years."

"Then dad was five years slower than he ought to have been. He ought
to have seen what water would do to the basin. He didn't--left that
for me."

"Meaning what?" asked Maison, as Sanderson paused.

"Meanin' that I want to turn the Double A water into the basin. That's
what I came here to see you for. I want to mortgage the Double A to
the limit; I want to build a dam, irrigation canals, locks, an'
everything that goes with it. It will take a heap of money."

Maison reflected. "And you want me to supply it," he said. "Yes, that
project will require a large sum. H'm! It is--er--do you purpose to
try to handle the project yourself, Mr. Bransford?"

"Me an' Mary Bransford. I'll hire an engineer."

Maison's cheeks reddened a trifle. He seemed to lose interest slightly.

"Don't you think it is rather too big a thing for one man to
handle--aided by a woman?" He smiled blandly at Sanderson. "I have
thought of the water situation in the basin. It is my opinion that it
might be worked out successfully.

"Why not organize a company--say a company composed of influential and
powerful men like Silverthorn and Dale and--er--myself. We could issue
stock, you know. Each would take a certain number of shares--paying
you for them, of course, and leaving you in possession of a large block
of it--say--forty per cent. We could organize, elect officers----"

"An' freeze me out," smiled Sanderson.

Maison sat erect and gazed haughtily at his visitor.

"No one has ever questioned my honesty," he declared.

Sanderson smiled at him. "Nor I don't. But I w