“Wonder if he works for the same outfit Tavia’s new beau works for?” queried Ned. “You know, the Double Chain Outfit is the only sizable one left in this part of the country. Its ranges adjoin Colonel Hardin’s on the north. On the south of this land we are going to see, lies the farming country and Desert City.”
“I should think we would have gone right to Desert City by train,” said Dorothy, “if that is where these people want the water.”
“But you can’t get to Desert City by rail,” her cousin explained. “North of the Hardin place are the Double Chain ranges, and the mining properties in the hills belonging to the Consolidated Ackron Company—a big concern. South of Desert City, the map shows nothing but desert for hundreds of miles.”
“There’s that Marsh man,” said Tavia, suddenly, to Dorothy. “I don’t want to see him again.”
“He doesn’t remember that he met us in the road near home——”
“But I haven’t forgotten it,” finished Tavia.
“Neither have I,” sighed Dorothy. “And I am really afraid for Aunt Winnie to have anything to do with him.”
Mrs. White kept them waiting while she conferred with Mr. Philo Marsh, for whom she had telephoned when she knew the stagecoach was in waiting. The gentleman was not pleased by the brevity of the conference, as his face very plainly showed when he came out. His piratical mustache seemed to droop more than ever and he had completely lost his suave manner.
“I shall ride out to see you very soon, Mrs. White,” he said—rather, he threatened! “And I shall bring the committee with me. We’ve got to have this thing settled up.”
“Not until I am quite ready to settle it, Mr. Marsh,” said Aunt Winnie, firmly. “I think you must forget that it is within the power of Major Dale and myself to refuse to lease the water-rights entirely.”