ineer. The air was cutting. Steam in sharp
jets came from the nostrils of his pair of bays, as from those of the
horses straining at the plows and scrapers in the stretch of partially
excavated canal near by.

Lee went forward to the buggy, slapping his gloved hands together to
quicken their circulation.

"What do you want of me, Mr. Menocal?" he asked. "You're picking a
frosty day to look at the scenery."

"Well, there's a matter that's been troubling my mind for some time
and I decided to let it go no longer. We have our differences, Mr.
Bryant, but I wouldn't wish you to believe me responsible for a number
of annoyances to which you've been put. I am a gentleman; I fight
fair. For instance, I was quite within my rights in suggesting those
men take homesteads down yonder along the base of the mountains,
though I was wrong in my guess. Also, in taking advantage of the law
under which you were limited by the Land and Water Board, I wasn't
stepping out of bounds. But I've learned that some time ago a man
introduced whisky into camp against your rules, and I wish to tell
you that I knew nothing of it at the time and would countenance no
sort of disgraceful act like that."

"I judged that you wouldn't," said Lee.

"Then again last summer someone killed your dog, I understand. That
was a bad deed. I am fond of dogs, and had I been able to learn who
did it I should have informed you so that you could have had Winship
arrest him. Since that time, too, there have been other things, many
of them--men cutting your telephone wire, removing your survey stakes,
and the like. All making you angry. Well, I was angry when I heard
that those things were being done. Resorting to questionable and
criminal tactics against any man is the worst possible course a person
can follow. I do not do it in your case; I will prevent any one else
from doing it if I can. You have the right to work undisturbed."

"I never connected you with these underhanded acts," the engineer
stated.

"Thank you, Mr. Bryant. It pleases me to hear you say that. I should
like to see you lose your water right, of course; it would mean much
money in my pocket; but I'll not do contemptible things or crooked
things to get possession of it."

Lee glanced at the speaker's face. It was sincere, earnest, and now
relieved. He felt an increase of respect for the man, opponent though
he was. Menocal appeared, to be sure, unable to comprehend the ethics
involved in seek