"Oh, I thought you meant you were going to warn me to move on," and Dave fancied his friend laughed with an air of relief.
"Nothing like that yet," said Mr. Carson, smiling. "But about the fences, concerning which Pocus Pete spoke to me?"
"Well, I suggested to Mr. Molick that he'd better put them up," said Mr.
Bellmore.
"You did!" There was great surprise manifested in the exclamation of Mr.
Carson.
"Why, yes, I did."
"What for?" asked Mr. Carson.
"Of course you know that if land is allowed to go unfenced for twenty years—or for a longer or shorter period according to different states—that the land becomes public property, or at least the public has a right-of-way over it and it can not be closed off. I did not want, in case our irrigation company took up Mr. Molick's land, to have a public right-of-way over it, especially so near the water. It might spoil our legal title. So I told him to fence it in before we did any business."
"Then you haven't done any business yet?"
"Not actually closed it, no. I am about to, and then I hope to do some business with you."
Mr. Bellmore smiled frankly, but Mr. Carson's face was grave as he answered: