to git busy in a hurry, Shandon," Ettinger ran on swiftly.
"When old Sure-Thing Leland comes to me to close the deal I want to
laugh at him."

Slowly the light died out of Shandon's eyes. Was this, after all, the
opportunity for which he had yearned? He grew uncertain, a little
troubled. An opportunity for what? For becoming worthy of Wanda, for
being a man, square and just, a man who must make a new name for
himself, a name which would never bring discredit to her when she
became Wanda Shandon? In trying to ruin Sledge Hume for the sordid
motives of hatred and gain, in trying to strike back at Wanda's father
in vengeful bitterness, would he be doing a thing of which later he
would be proud to have her know? Was he proving his manhood by
accepting for his first business partner a man like Ettinger, who
laughed over his feat of tricking another man by a lie? Was he not
seeking to blind himself to the right and the wrong of it? This was
the sort of thing that Sledge Hume would do; should Wayne Shandon do
it? Was his first venture after the priceless gift of Wanda's love to
him, to be a thing like this? Had this been the opportunity he had
yearned for, to grasp gold full handed, to wreak vengeance, to
retaliate against unfair treatment by striking back treacherously?
Martin Leland had been unjust, yes. But had there not been strong
human reasons for that injustice? Had not his own wild living been
cause enough? Was he, from the sharp words of an old man who was
jealous in his love for his daughter, to draw an excuse to strike at
his own cousin and Wanda's father?

"Ettinger," he said quietly. "I can't do it. You had better keep your
promise to Leland."

Ettinger's jaw dropped, his brows puckered in astonishment.

"What's the matter with you?" he demanded sharply. "Can't you see the
play? We got the chance to git the water on the land and make them
fellers pay for it or sell to us at our own figger, ain't we? Why,
it's as good as gold, man! If you don't see enough in it as it stands
you are in a place where you can hold 'em up for a bonus to boot."

Shandon turned away, Ettinger's point of view suddenly disgusting him.
His golden opportunity had crumbled into dust and ashes. And although
the little man by his side waxed voluble in alternating rage and
supplication, Wayne Shandon's final word was a positive,

"No!"

CHAPTER XI

WANDA'S DISCOVERY

A supreme happiness had filled Wanda Lel