e I tell you
to cross, or keep off the Stone Ranch. Is that English?"

"It certainly is. But in matter of fact we must cross on the survey
agreed on in the contract for a right-of-way deed."

"I don't recognize any contract obtained under false representations."

"Do you accuse me of false representations?"

Lance Dunning flipped the ash from his cigar. "Who are you?"

"I am just a plain, every-day civil engineer, but you must not talk
false representations in any contract drawn under my hand."

"I am talking facts. Whispering Smith may have rigged the joker--I
don't know. Whoever rigged it, it has been rigged all right."

"Any charge against Whispering Smith is a charge against me. He is not
here to defend himself, but he needs no defence. You have charged me
already with misleading surveys. I was telephoned for this morning to
come over to see why you had held up our work, and your men cover me
with rifles while I am riding on a public road."

"You have been warned, or your men have, to keep off this ranch. Your
man Stevens cut our wires this morning----"

"As he had a perfect right to do on our right of way."

"If you think so, stranger, go ahead again!"

"Oh, no! We won't have civil war--not right away, at least. And if you
and your men have threatened and browbeaten me enough for to-day, I
will go."

"Don't set foot on the Stone Ranch again, and don't send any men here
to trespass, mark you!"

"I mark you perfectly. I did not set foot willingly on your ranch
to-day. I was dragged on it. Where the men are grading now, they will
finish their work."

"No, they won't."

"What, would you drive us off land you have already deeded?"

"The first man that cuts our wires or orders them cut where they were
strung yesterday will get into trouble."

"Then don't string any wires on land that belongs to us, for they will
certainly come down if you do."

Lance Dunning turned in a passion. "I'll put a bullet through you if
you touch a barb of Stone Ranch wire!"

Stormy Gorman jumped forward with his hand covering the grip of his
six-shooter. "Yes, damn you, and I'll put another!"

"Cousin Lance!" Dicksie Dunning advanced swiftly into the room. "You
are under our own roof, and you are wrong to talk in that way."

Her cousin stared at her. "Dicksie, this is no place for you!"

"It is when my cousin is in danger of forgetting he is a gentleman."

"You are interfering with what you know nothing about!" excla