The Iron Furrow

ially lively ones, and knew a good many here and there within reach of his motor car, including a number of pretty Mexican

s much interest) as the magpies in the pasture. He fully meant to marry Louise, whose beauty and gracious manner even to the smallest bare-legged Mexican boy on the ranch captivated him and st

im to declare his adoration, which he would have done every moment they were together; when he tried, she walked away. But Charlie counted on his good looks and his father's wealth to win her in the end. One fear alone lurked in his heart, that some young American might come along who would win her intere

sently riding up the lane between the rows of cottonwoods. Young Menocal had persuaded Louise to leave her household duties for the moment to sit on the veranda and talk with him. But now had come this impudent upstart! Charlie's warning of some

re to take the stage for Kennard when it came

e shoulder of the boy who had now dismounted. "Won't you stop for a moment, Mr. Bryant? I'll give you a glass of

th very great pleasure. He was thirsty, he

they become acquainted? It was but one more instance of the engineer's pushing in where he wasn't wanted. And she had

up your sleeve?"-in a way that set the other's blood boiling; and when he carelessly added, "What about that story the stage-driver's telling o

is mind, and ended by choking over the wretched stuff. The situation was intolerable; his pride was smarting; the others talked on with unperturbed counten

ed to her visitor. This was the final stab. With hatred in his heart and a wicked glitter in his eyes, Charlie Menocal went down the steps to his automobile, feeling the need of a victim, preferably the engineer. Bryant had insulted him at the ford; he was atte

the same time he gave the boy a cuff that

t the spot. He caught the stil

that you must vent your spite on someone, you pick on this unoffend

machine! And drop my wris

case," Lee warned, shoving the speaker aw

twice when he sought to mount into his car. Leaning forward from his seat, he shook a finger in Bryant's face, exclaiming, "You'll get what's coming

d went tearing down the lane wit

anding, an indignant observer of the scene. When Menocal had departed, the engineer recalled suddenly what Ruth had said concerning Charlie and Louise Graham being

," he said, contritely. "Especially as I underst

res say

authority, I believe," Lee r

flashed

you a confidence. We've tolerated him because Mr. Menocal senior is a gentleman, and a friend. Now I hope you'll not think me too talkative, but an explanation was necessary; and as far a

dies," Lee remarked, with a grin. "In fact, I

no

th for shame of him when he knew no better than to fling you money after you had filled his radiator; it was pure insolence, to begin with, to ask you to do it when he should have attended t

not detaining her from household affairs; and urged him, on learning of his prospective absence, to leave Dick at Diamond Creek and he himself to proceed to Kennard by stage. She owed Dick a return for the f

Lee asked. "Or do you refuse t

Louise and bl

de your mind up,"

have," Le

of questions and listened with interest to the engineer's brief exposition of the plan to unite the water rights of the Pinas River and of Perro Creek in a common system, though Bryant disclose

attorney it would be well to employ one from Kennard, as those in Bartolo were nearly all Mexicans. The engineer jotted do

rs to be one man in Bartolo

ocal had a disagreement. Menocal controls the votes in this county, you know; that's general knowledge. But things became so lax under the Mexican sheriff who displaced him that he was put back in office. Menocal ordered it; h

fter a look at Winshi

ould not name; and the orchard where apples and pears and plums weighed the branches. She was remarkably beautiful, he thought; and was quite sure the roses in the garden had no petals pinker or softer than her cheeks, and was sure the water rippling in the little, grassy orchard canals was no clearer than h

softened the truth, filled her with anger. She would treat the insufferable wretch differently hereafter. And very likely his gossip of the engineer's feelings for one of the homesteaders was likewise a falsehood, though there was no reason in the world why Mr. Bryant sho

se Lee Bryant had "personality." And presently her thoughts followed him. Lee's mind, however, was ranging back to Sarita Creek; but Dave

thank you-or jel