"We should like to let you have the money," the Las Vegas banker told
him. "But, unfortunately, a loan to you would conflict with our
interests in Okar. We know the big men in Okar have been considering
the water question in the basin, and we should not like to antagonize
them."

The trip consumed two weeks, and Sanderson returned to the Double A to
discover that during his absence very little work had been done.

"It looks like we're up against it," Williams informed him when pressed
for an explanation. "We can't get a pound of material. I went
personally to Okar and was told by Silverthorn that the railroad would
accept no material consigned to the Double A ranch."

"Pretty raw," was Sanderson's only comment.

"Raw? It's rotten!" declared Williams. "There's plenty of the kind
of material we want in Lazette. To get it here would mean a fifty-mile
haul. I can get teams and wagons in Lazette," he added, an eager note
in his voice.

"Go to it," said Sanderson.

Williams smiled admiringly. "You're game, Mr. Man," he said; "it's a
pleasure to work for you!"

However, it was not courage that impelled Sanderson to accept the
hazard and expense of the fifty-mile haul. In his mind during the days
he had been trying to borrow money had been a picture of the defeat
that was ahead of him if he did not succeed; he could imagine the
malicious satisfaction with which his three enemies would discuss his
failure.

Inwardly, Sanderson was writhing with impatience and consumed with an
eagerness to get into personal contact with his enemies, the passion to
triumph had gripped his soul, and a contempt for the sort of law in
which Okar dealt had grown upon him until the contemplation of it had
aroused in him a savage humor.

Okar's law was not law at all; it was a convenience under which his
three enemies could assail the property rights of others.

Outwardly, Sanderson was a smiling optimist. To Mary Bransford he
confided that all was going well.

Neither had broached the subject of Sanderson's impersonation since the
night of Dale's visit. It was a matter which certain thoughts made
embarrassing for Mary, and Sanderson was satisfied to keep silent.

But on the day that Williams left the Double A for Lazette, Mary's
curiosity could not be denied. She had conquered that constraint which
had resulted from the revelation of Sanderson's identity, and had asked
him to ride to the top of the gorge, telling him she