The Iron Furrow

lo slumbered in t

length of the beaten street down to Gomez's blacksmith shop and Martinez's saloon across from each other at the lower end; nothing, not even the pair of burros drowsing in the shade of the wall, or the dogs lying before doors, or the goats a-kneel by the saloon, or the fowls nested down in the dust. Only the Pinas River, issuing from the black ca?on a mile or so above, was in motion; and, indeed, it appeared to partake of the general somno

ed his affairs. He dismounted before the courthouse and entered the building, whose corridor and chambers appeared as silent, as lifeless, as forsaken as the street itself. Coming into the Recorder's office, he halted for a look about, then pushed through

by this time," the engineer stated

ted his feet into a mor

Just leave your deed, and the fee, and

e too bus

ood many papers to

s the R

dinner yet,"

lock sounded with lulling effect, while the grassy yard beyond the window, shaded by t

and fee on the desk

e out, too,

h a faint insolence in his voice, the insolence of a s

ought him up standing the clerk was jerked from his seat, and before his star

nt ordered, with his fingers tightening their grasp on the youth's collar. "You're receiving your pay from

go my

e, boy; right here and now you're going to give me an exhibition of rapid penmanship. Savey? Ta

scratched industriously to and fro across the page, over which the youth humped himself as if enamoured of the tome, only at intervals risking a glance at

erk said, with an e

owing the deed in a pocket, as if expecting Bryant to init

hall return soon, so keep awake and ready. When you see me entering, advance pronto. If an

plied, unconsciously laps

ocuments you've allowed to accumulate; it's half-past two and you've had

ts beds of poppies, its trees, its fence massed with sweet peas, and its vine-covered veranda, where the engineer had a glimpse of a cor

man in sight, a Mexican who slept on the count

s a man here to see him

ubbed his eyes, yawned, stretched himself,

l three o'clock; you can see him

see hi

ry angry when awakene

step nearer

ll matter?" he demanded, with a menace of manner that caused the ot

l entered the side door first, approaching heavily and sleepily the spot where the engineer waited. He had not put on coat or collar; his short figure appeared more than ever obese;

eak with me?" h

'm here," Bry

at him owlis

money back at the ford day before y

e s

you throw

ace? You should train him to use better ju

subject were dismissed, he asked,

on place: I've bought the ranch. S

w elevation. He slowly rubbed the end of his nose with his fore

said, finally; and move

little building next door they sat down. The teller was visible in the cage, where

the Stevenson ra

st had the de

few days; I told him it

that I have

h. If it isn't paid when due, I'll sta

nt n

Here's a Denver draft for six thousand dollars-I figure principal and interest at five thousand four hundred and you can have the balance placed to my credit in the b

t the draft, turned it over, examined the b

e Stevenson place. Copy the description from the mortgage in my file i

Bry

ature." Again facing his visitor, he said, "Do you know that that ranch has n

ropriation from th

sed," Menocal exclaime

ose to

ha

es fixed on the am

twenty-five second feet of water in this river and it's my int

nocal's face, leaving it altere

e remarked. "You're certainly not going into this thing on your o

is smile and his silence provoked an

nued. "But you're going to discover that

kes you

nly a little ditch that doesn't exist now. The right will be cancel

ch you're now usi

t sayin

nd tapped the banker's

rt any trouble with me," he sa

are talk tha

all about your sworn affidavit filed thirty years ago, with an accompanying map, certifying that a canal was built and water delivered to the land. It's a matter of record. N

ew up tight under his thick nose

reaten

. Or if you wish a still milder word,

flash at the engineer, as if alive in t

n't know why I should pay attention to your charg

e, then. No trac

uilt, one

le to Stevenson with the water right as a reality when you sold him the ranch; your son is water inspector for this district, or was until

routine," the other stated

the property I shall make it such in fact. You've been using the water for other land, which possibly will suffer afterward, but that doesn't affect the case in the least. That water is a valuable property; when it's delivered on my ranch, th

cross his stomach and remained thus, pondering, occasi

r the place as it stands and hand y

ank you," the e

s your

a quarter of a million when it's watered

s; he blinked slowly several times befor

money to build a dam and a canal. If they saw a reasonable profit witho

to deal with; there are no capitalists running this sh

went up. "Ah, so?

and Bryant realized that he had bee

ll to name a pri

engineer answered, curtly. "Is the relea

o bad," Menocal said, with a

ignature and gave him a check book. Then he laid the mortgage rel

an stated. "Isidro is a notary and

are to read the paper and compar

," said he, "and I'll take no more of your tim

nd. Good day, Mr. Bryant. And remember that you have an account with us

e across the street and once more disappear within the courthouse. Then for some minut

im in half an hour in my garden. Look for him at home and in the saloon

answere

Americans, Isidro-and his eyes, the

red, who had not not