ck Water Co.

"Now"--Reedy moistened his lips and nodded his head--"we are all set."

CHAPTER XXIII

Bob tore the letter open with one rip, and read it with his back to the
desk:

DEAR SIR:

We regret to say that dredging and other immediate repairs on our canal
make a rather heavy assessment imperative. The work must be done at
once, and the company's funds are entirely exhausted. Your assessment
is $10 an acre; and this must be paid before we can serve you with any
more water.

Very truly,
DILLENBECK WATER Co.,
Per R. Jenkins, Pres. & Mgr.

Ten dollars an acre! Fifty thousand dollars! Bob walked slowly out of
the hotel. There was no use to go up to his room. No sleep to-night.

Jenkins' plot was clear now. He had merely been waiting for the most
critical time. The next two waterings were the most vital of the whole
season. The little squares that form the boll were taking shape. If
the cotton did not get water at this time the bolls would fall off
instead of setting.

Bob walked down the street, on through to the Mexican section of town,
thinking. He must do something, but what?

It was a sweltering night and people were mostly outdoors. Under the
vines in front of a small Mexican house a man played a guitar and a
woman hummed an accompaniment. Across the street a little Holiness
Mission was holding prayer meeting, and through the open windows an
organ and twenty voices wailed out a religious tune.

Bob turned and walked back rapidly, and crossed the Mexican line. At
the Red Owl he might hear something.

It was so hot that even the gamblers were listless to-night. The only
stir of excitement was round one roulette wheel. Bob started toward
the group, and saw the centre of it was Reedy Jenkins with his hat
tipped back, shirt open at the throat, sleeves rolled to elbows,
playing stacks of silver dollars on the "thirty."

Bob leaned against one of the idle tables and talked with the game
keeper, a pleasant, friendly young chap.

"Wonder what the Mexicans are going to do with so many motor trucks?"
the gamester asked casually.

"Motor trucks?" Bob repeated.

"Yes, they unloaded a whole string of them over here to-day. One of
the boys said he counted twenty."

As Bob left the gambling hall Reedy was still playing the roulette
wheel at twenty dollars a throw.

Rogeen got his car and started south. He would see for himself if
there was any basis for Jenkins' claim t