pleasant
experience, however. I understand you secured the paper concerning
which I telephoned you, and though I understand it has since been
lost--through no fault of yours--I desire to express my thanks for
your excellent assistance in the matter."

"But it has been found again; we have it with us."

Martinez gave a start, none the less sincere for being dramatic.

"What! Saurez' deposition? Weir thought it burned. Why, this is the
most wonderful luck in the world! It gives us the whip-hand again."

Janet nodded.

"Mary Johnson here found it in a crack in the rocks when she and her
father went up to the cabin to bring Ed Sorenson down. Father has it.
That's one reason we're here. But there's another; Mr. Sorenson has
learned of his son's accident, has seen him, talked with him, been
told lies and now is in a dreadful rage, threatening every one
concerned. He was at our house and made a scene. He's coming here, or
so he said, to kill Mr. Weir and obtain the document. So we hurried to
the dam to give warning."

At this juncture Mr. Pollock stepped forward.

"Mr. Sorenson hasn't yet appeared, and I assure you he will be
prevented from harming any one if he comes. You are Miss Janet Hosmer,
I judge, of whom I've heard so much that is praiseworthy. Will you
allow me to introduce myself? I'm Mr. Pollock, a company director,
and to a degree in Mr. Weir's confidence."

Janet expressed her pleasure at his acquaintance and in turn
introduced her father and the Johnsons.

"Mr. Weir spoke of you to us, but we weren't aware he had informed you
of the paper." Then she added, "But he would wish to, naturally."

Weir's voice, without, in conversation with some one caused them all
to look towards the door. In the panel of light falling on the
darkness before the house they perceived the engineer's tall figure by
a horse, from which the rider was dismounting. Letting the reins drag
and leaving the horse to stand, the latter walked with Weir into the
room.

"Why, this is a delightful surprise!" the engineer exclaimed on
beholding the four who had come while he was out. "And unexpected."
His eyes rapidly interrogated the different faces. "I suppose it's
business, not pleasure, that brings you."

"That's so," said Johnson, the rancher, nodding.

"Well, Madden is here on business, too, it seems." He glanced at Mr.
Pollock. "Mr. Madden is our sheriff and he has a warrant for my
arrest." He turned back to the officer. "You c