“Perhaps—I haven’t been over for a couple of days. But it makes my blood boil to think that these other homesteaders, who have had plenty of opportunity in years past to build irrigating plants and never did so, should start trouble now that Phil and Ted are taking advantage of the water supply.”
“That’s just it, Andy. So long as none of the others irrigated, no one thought about it. But now that two boys, without experience, take up a claim and, by irrigating, produce crops far and away ahead of any in the region, the others realize their mistake. It isn’t fair, but it’s true. You, as land agent, are the only person who can handle the situation, and you’ve got to hurry!” As though to emphasize the fire lookout’s words, two horsemen drew rein in front of the Land Office, dismounted, and entered.
From their faces Andy and Chester realized they were in no pleasant mood.
“’Lo, Hall. ’Lo, Perkins,” greeted the land agent, affably. “Haven’t seen you for a long time. Sit down and have a cigar. Oh, you needn’t be afraid of them,” he added, as neither man took one from the proffered box; “they are some Si Hopkins sent me.”
“We ain’t come to chin, we come on business,” grunted Hall, still refusing to accept a cigar.
With a snap Andy closed the cigar box, and replaced it in a drawer of his desk, while the newcomers glowered in silence.
“Why don’t you get to it?” he demanded, when several moments had passed without anything being said.
Quickly Hall and Perkins exchanged glances, then the latter snapped:
“We want our rights!”
“But I haven’t got them,” blandly replied Andy.