Suddenly the thought of the surveyors she and Tavia had seen, flashed into Dorothy’s mind.
Eagerly the girl told the cowpuncher of what she and Tavia had observed behind the green mountain. He listened closely and nodded at the end.
“Shore as you air a foot high, them surveyors was runnin’ a line to Lost River for the mining corporation. Once they git the water—— Well! good-night! They’ve got plenty of money to fight you folks in the courts. Possession, in this case, I reckon, would be nine p’ints of the law.
“Now, tell your a’nt tuh go slow. Don’t let her sign a paper that Philo brings her. There’ll be some quirk about it that’ll tie her hands. Or else, he is seeking to delay matters until the mining folks can put in dynamite and blow out a channel for the river.”
CHAPTER XXIII
“WHERE IS AUNT WINNIE?”
Tavia declared Dorothy’s insisting upon going back to the ranch so early “spoiled all her fun.”
“You can miss that fun, Miss,” said her chum, somewhat sharply. “Teasing Mr. Petterby is a good deal like a cat playing with a mouse. It’s fun for the cat, but tragic for the mouse.”
“Tragedy! Fancy!” responded Tavia, tossing her head. “As though my innocent little conversations with Lance were tragic in any way.”
“He thinks you are in earnest when you show interest in his affairs,” declared Dorothy.