"Hello, Marlow, how is Murphy doing?"
Marlow laughed. "I made him timekeeper. He's assumed the duties of policeman, ward boss and of advertising agent for you."
"Where is he?" asked Jim.
"Coming right along the road there now."
Jim started the machine on to meet the stocky figure that Marlow pointed out.
Murphy grinned broadly as Jim invited him into the machine. "I want to talk to you, Murphy? How does the job go?"
"Aw, it's no job! It's a joy ride. I thought I knew every farmer in the county but I didn't. A new one turns up every day to tell the Little Boss how to irrigate."
"Murphy," said Jim, "how do you size up Fleckenstein?"
Murphy looked at Jim curiously. "Just like everyone else does, as a crook."
"How much pull has he with the farmers?"