e," he went on presently. "I never thought I
should be able to pay the obligation I owe him, and I won't fully at
that, but this will help. No, that paper doesn't tell all, for I
reckon Saurez didn't see all." He glanced triumphantly at the doctor
and the girl. "But I did."

"You!" both exclaimed.

But before he could explain, the memory of the cattleman's threat
recurred to Janet to banish thoughts of aught else than Weir's danger
from her mind.

"Mr. Sorenson said he was going up to the dam to shoot Mr. Weir," she
exclaimed. "We must give warning."

"Did he say he was going himself?" Johnson asked.

"To get the paper, yes." Then Janet continued anxiously. "But the
paper isn't all. His son told him what occurred in the mountains and I
believe the man wants to harm Mr. Weir as well as to obtain the paper.
Perhaps he plans on gaining the document first, then killing him. In
any case, we must put Mr. Weir on guard."

"I'll just drive up there and tell the engineer," Johnson stated.
"Shouldn't be surprised if I got a chance yet to use my gun. You girls
can stay here."

Janet gazed at him with a flushing face.

"The man could go to the dam and kill Mr. Weir and get safely home
while you're starting with your team," said she. "No, we must drive
there in a car. Father, you take Mr. Johnson in yours, and I'll carry
Mary in mine. We'll go along of course, for we'll not remain here in
the cottage alone with such terrible things happening in San Mateo."

And to this there was no dissent.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE ALARM

At the dam Weir found Meyers and Atkinson anxiously waiting his
return. The sudden concerted melting away of workmen from camp had
been warning to his subordinates that the danger of a general spree
had taken definite form, which the report of a pair of young engineers
confirmed when they followed a group of laborers to the old adobe
house and beheld the beginning of the debauch.

"Get out all the staff, Meyers, and you, Atkinson, all the foremen and
sober men left, then go down the road and put that joint out of
business, taking axes and whatever is necessary."

"And if they fight?" Meyers asked.

"Try first to placate them. If that fails, some of you draw them off
in order to permit the others to enter the house and destroy the
whiskey. It's a tough job, but you may succeed. If the crowd turns
ugly as it may, being drunk, come back. No need to take the risk of
broken heads or being beaten u