“Oh, Andy knows that without our telling him,” declared Ted. “What I want to know is whether he thinks we should go over to Waterville and file our claims or wait awhile.”
“You must do that very soon,” responded the agent, “but if I were you, I would clear some of the other land and seed it down first.” Then, noting the disappointment that appeared in the boys’ faces, he added, in explanation: “Knowing the land agent, I should not be surprised if you had some trouble in getting him to file your entry. Therefore, if you can say that you have not only built an irrigation system but have seeded down several plots of ground, you can the better prove your good faith.”
At the suggestion of difficulty in filing their claim, the young homesteaders looked at each other in dismay.
“But why should the land agent refuse to accept our entry?” demanded Phil. “I think you should have told us before we laid out so much money and work.”
“Now don’t get excited,” soothed Andy. “I just wanted to warn you that you might be the better prepared to meet any objections Simmons, the registrar, might raise.”
“But why should he raise any?” persisted the elder boy, repeating his question.
“Well, for one reason, he has had an eye on E 1 himself. Only the law forbidding a land agent from taking up homesteads has prevented his doing so.”
“Couldn’t he get some one to take it up for him?” asked Ted.
“He has tried to, but it didn’t work because Si exposed the fraud.”
“You don’t seem to like Simmons,” mused Phil.