n from some shady Mexican
officials to some shady American concerns.

When the Mexican entered the office, Reedy got up and closed the door.
Then he took the map again from a drawer and opened it out on the desk.

"I'll get Benson's lease this week." Reedy put his pencil on the Red
Butte Ranch. "And these," he pointed to smaller squares along the
Dillenbeck Canal, "are the ones I have marked for early annexation.
How many of them have you seen?"

"Thes, and thes, and thes." Madrigal pointed off three ranches.

"I've sent the new man down to see Chandler," said Reedy. "He's the
sort that can win over that girl. I must have that ranch. It is one
of the best of the small ranches."

"_Si, si._" Madrigal grinned, and smoothed up his black pompadoured
hair. "Eet will be easy. I gave them big scare about the duty on
cotton next fall."

"And then my friend who manages the Dillenbeck system gave them another
about the price of water this summer," smiled Reedy. "But"--he
frowned--"if the girl should continue obstinate, and they refuse to
sell?"

"Then I'll attend to the senorita"--the Mexican put his hand on his
heart and bowed gallantly--"the ladies are easy for Senor Madrigal."

"Yes," said Reedy, shutting his wide mouth determinedly, "and if he
fails, I'll 'tend to Rogeen."

CHAPTER IV

It was a little after sundown when Bob rode up to the Chandler ranch.
The girl was out under the cottonwood trees by the irrigation canal
gathering up dry sticks for stove wood. He hitched his horse and went
to her.

"Good evening," he said.

"Where is your fiddle?" There was a faint twist of amusement at the
corner of her mouth.

"How did you know?"

"Guessed it," she replied, with a little lift of the eyebrows; and then
stooped to pick up the armful of dry sticks she had gathered.

"Let me have them." He stepped forward to take the wood.

"Why should you?" she said, without offering to relinquish them. "I
prefer to carry my own sticks--then I don't have to build fires for
other people." He laughed, and followed her up the path toward the
shack.

"Let us sit down here." She led the way to a homemade bench in the
open. "Daddy has had a hard day and has gone to bed, and I don't want
to disturb him. He's very tired and has been upset over this lease
business."

That was an opening, but before he could take advantage of it she
abruptly changed the conversation:

"But you haven't told me why you d