The Iron Furrow

be pursued, the proper diplomacy in such a case is to foster the delusion circulating in their craniums as long as possible and thus divert their attenti

med, to whom the state

eed to run a line along the mountain side whe

ee men busy on the hillside, so Bryant swung up to a point a quarter of a mile off and began surveying. When he approached the workm

tools and confronted

exclaimed, with waving arms, while the

ere if you won't let me go

gh, no canal

et me run a l

ep off," was the

the homesteader must not prevent the construction of the canal. But he received only shakes of the head, short repli

ion, controversy, and retreat. He thereupon led Dave back to the ranch house, where he prepared and ate dinner with satisfaction. Very

w of the plain, he determined to work in the open only for two or three hours at daybreak before the Mexicans were about. For Menocal, or any one el

en measures to keep him under

th a bunch of sheep hanging around here, when he sh

m. And he hasn't a

ed. "When we went north, he and his sheep drifted in that direction; when we w

then proceeded, "Somebody was around here yesterday while we were away, for I saw a brown paper cigarette stub on t

Lee stated, "before we go down to Sarita Creek. And I'll leave Mike here also.

ch would be an extremely serious loss. Menocal probably would not instigate open lawlessness, but his hirelings might break into the house on their own initiati

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 n

g 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 goo

th 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 ex

r flow," he remarked, when the fair homesteaders

no better than before. Her next words, however, left him with an impression that he and not Charlie

indly taking Imo and me in his car to see the old ruins of a pueblo somewhere over west. We'll be gone prob

ed. "You've a spade or shovel, I suppose? Go right ahead with your exploring expedi

u don't real

least," was

admitted to himself that he presented no attractions. He wore laced boots, soiled khaki trousers and flannel shirt, with his hat pulled over one eye against the sun; Menocal was dressed in light gray clothes, thin and cool, low white shoes, a pale pink silk shirt (trust a Mexican for colou

Martin n

en feeling well the last day or two, as y

l do you good," her friend repl

he proposed the expedition th

arked, without enthusiasm. Clearly his interest in

id. And then, "Oh, dear! I overlooked alt

ity was one he could not let p

rd." And receiving no response but a scowl, he spoke at l

ere already turning yellow for lack of water. He chuckled as he went, for the disappearance of Charlie Menoc

s tripod and stationed Dave with his rod some distance off, did not see the hand

at you,"

ho

l with th

what

silence. He pretended that he had not heard. Even his em