kes on Dick's saddle he
and Dave set out for Sarita Creek, leading the horse. Bryant had
postponed, under pressure of work, the business of fixing the feminine
homesteaders' garden ditch, until his conscience began to prick him on
the subject. He had neither seen nor had news of them since the chance
meeting at the ford; but now, as he could survey his canal line on the
mesa only during the early hours, he planned to make frequent visits
to the girls.

That they already had a caller this afternoon he discovered on
arriving at the two little cabins built of boards, peeping forth from
among the trees in the mouth of the canon. The place was indeed
charming, with its grass and shade, with its brook flowing close by
the dwellings, with walls of rock rising behind. Just now an
automobile rested before the trees; and the engineer saw a man sitting
on the grass with Ruth Gardner and Imogene Martin, the three chatting
and laughing gaily. When Bryant got a good look at the other visitor
he gave vent to an ejaculation in which was blended surprise and
contempt. "That magpie! Of all damn impudence!" For the cavalier so
debonairly entertaining the young ladies was none other than the
olive-skinned Charlie Menocal.

A sense of pique was Bryant's succeeding feeling. He would have
disdainfully denied that he was moved by a pang of jealousy. But he
had anticipated finding the girls alone and having a pleasant chat
with them, enjoying their companionship, relaxing from the strain of
arduous work, harkening to their badinage. Indeed, if the interloper
had been someone else, some other man, at least, he would have
experienced a turn of disappointment--but that the individual should
be this tricky, coddled, egotistical Charlie Menocal! Well, he should
align the girls' irrigating ditch and then go about his business.

"I've been delayed in coming to correct your water flow," he remarked,
when the fair homesteaders had given him greeting, "but I'm on hand at
last."

Ruth Gardner, looking prettier and fuller of spirits than ever,
assured him the ditch was behaving no better than before. Her next
words, however, left him with an impression that he and not Charlie
Menocal was the intruder, which hardened his annoyance into a desire
to have done with the matter.

"I wish you had come some other day, for we're just about to depart,"
she exclaimed. "Mr. Menocal is very kindly taking Imo and me in his
car to see the old ruins of a pueblo som