son went up. A sign on a glass door bore Silverthorn's name.
Sanderson entered without knocking.

Silverthorn was seated at a desk in a far corner of the room. He
looked up as Sanderson opened the door, and said shortly:

"Well--what is it?"

Sanderson crossed the room and halted beside the desk. For an instant
neither man spoke. Sanderson saw a man of medium height with a rather
well-rounded stomach, sloping shoulders, and a sleek, well-fed
appearance. His cheeks were full and florid, his lips large and loose;
his eyes cold, calculating, and hard.

Silverthorn saw a lean-faced, broad-shouldered young man with a strong
chin, a firm mouth, and an eye that fixed him with a steady, unwavering
interest.

By the gleam in Sanderson's eyes Silverthorn divined that he was in the
presence of a strong, opposing force, and he drew a slow, deep breath.

"Well?" he said, again.

"You're Dave Silverthorn?"

The other nodded. "What can I do for you?" he questioned.

"You can listen while I talk," said Sanderson.

"I'm Will Bransford, of the Double A. I have heard from several
sources that you an' Alva Dale are after the title to the Double A.
You want the water-rights. You can't have them. An' the title to the
Double A stays with me. Understand that? I am goin' to hold on to the
property.

"I've heard you can juggle the law--that's your business. But you
can't juggle the law enough to horn in on the Double A. If you do, I'm
comin' for you with a law of my own!" He tapped his gun bolster
significantly.

"That's all," he concluded. "Are you sure you understand?"

"Perfectly," answered Silverthorn. He was smiling mirthlessly, his
face blotched and bloated with mingled fear and rage. "But I'll have
you understand this: I am not afraid of your threats. You can't bully
me. The S. and M. Railroad has dealt with your kind on more than one
occasion. There is an opportunity here to develop a large section of
land, and my company means to do it. We mean to be fair, however.
We'll buy your title to the Double A. How much do you want for it?"

Sanderson grinned. "The Double A is not for sale. I wouldn't sell it
to you for a million! You cheap crooks think that all you have to do
is to take anything you want. I just stopped in to tell you that I'm
wise to your game, an' that the kind of law I represent ain't cluttered
up with angles an' technical processes. She runs straight to a square
deal all around.