A WARNING
Dave, who had heard what was said between Mr. Bellmore and the ranch owner
listened with interest and expectation to what would come next. There was
an odd manner about the proprietor of Bar U--a sort of constraint, and
Dave fancied there was a little feeling, almost of hostility toward the
man he had rescued from such a perilous position.
Up to now Mr. Bellmore had enjoyed to the utmost the hospitality of Bar U
ranch. Mr. Bellmore had been made very welcome, and he had had every care
and attention while unable to use his injured foot. Now it seemed that a
spirit of hostility had cropped out.
"Before I go on to say what I intend to-to give you a warning in other
words," said Mr. Carson, "let me ask you, Mr. Bellmore if you know why
Molick is putting up new fences along the water course? I'd like to know
the reason for that before I give you my warning."
"A warning!" exclaimed the irrigation man, and there was evident surprise
manifested in his tone.
"Yes, a warning," repeated the ranch owner. "But please do not mistake my
meaning. I'm not warning you of any threatened danger, but only of being
careful what business dealings you have with Jason Molick, or any of his
men."
"Oh, I thought you meant you were going to warn me to move on," and Dave
fancied his friend laughed with an air of relief.
"Nothing like that yet," said Mr. Carson, smiling. "But about the fences,
concerning which Pocus Pete spoke to me?"
"Well, I suggested to Mr. Molick that he'd better put them up," said Mr.
Bellmore.
"You did!" There was great surprise manifested in the exclamation of Mr.
Carson.
"Why, yes, I did."
"What for?" asked Mr. Carson.
"Of course you know that if land is allowed to go unfenced for twenty
years--or for a longer or shorter period according to different
states--that the land becomes public property, or at least the public
has a right-of-way over it and it can not be closed off. I did not
want, in case our irrigation company took up Mr. Molick's land, to have
a public right-of-way over it, especially so near the water. It might
spoil our legal title. So I told him to fence it in before we did any
business."
"Then you haven't done any business yet?"
"Not actually closed it, no. I am about to, and then I hope to do some
business with you."
Mr. Bellmore smiled frankly, but Mr. Carson's face was grave as he
answered:
"Well, I don't know. I'm afraid you can't do business with both of us, Mr.
Bellmore."
"Why not?" asked the Chicago man, somewhat surprised.
"Because Mr. Molick and I--to be frank about it--don't pull together any
too well. I'm not saying whose fault it is, but he and I have been on the
outs for some time, and his men are continually seeking to pick quarrels
with my men. He has taken more than his share of the water that is
supposed to be for our joint use, and when I objected he was very ugly
about it."
"I feel it my duty to warn you that if you have any business dealings with
him to look well to your own interests. He will take every legal
advantage, and some that, in my opinion, are not legal."
"You surprise me!" exclaimed Mr. Bellmore. "I did not know that he was
that kind of man."
"Well, he is," put in Dave. "You mustn't think we cowpunchers are in the
habit of giving our neighbors black eyes, Mr. Bellmore," went on the young
cowboy, "but it is for your own interests that my father is speaking."
Dave did not hesitate at the word of relationship now. Mr. Bellmore did
not know the secret.
"Oh, I think I understand," the water-man said. "I'm sorry I began
negotiations with Molick, but I don't very well see how I can get out of
them. I need his water rights."
"Perhaps he hasn't as many rights as you think he has," suggested Mr.
Carson.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean there's a dispute about the river boundary lines. I claim more
water than I'm getting, but I'm not in a position to enforce my claims
just at present. That is why I wanted to know about the fences. It may be
that Molick is encroaching."
"I'd be sorry to hear that," Mr. Bellmore said. "When I told him to go
ahead and fence in certain open tracts, so we would know just where the
water boundaries extended, I had no idea I would cause you trouble, Mr.
Carson."
"You haven't--yet," was the dry answer.
"And I don't intend to!" went on the Chicago man.
"Oh, if there's any trouble, I'll not lay it at your door," went on the
ranch owner, smiling grimly. "It will be Molick who causes it, if anybody
does. But I want, for your own good, to warn you against this man. He has
done a lot of mean things in this section, and he is capable of doing
more. He's as mean as they make 'em, and I truly hate to say that about a
neighbor."
"Oh, I accept it in confidence," replied Mr. Bellmore.
"I know you do, and that's why I didn't hesitate. I thought it my duty,"
resumed the owner of Bar U ranch. "I've come to like you a heap since Dave
brought you here. Seems almost as though you were kin to us. That's why
I'd hate to see you wronged. And you surely will be outwitted if you don't
watch Molick. He'd take the eye teeth out of a stuffed alligator if he
wasn't watched, and sell 'em for watch charms. Dave knows him!"
"Oh, yes. He's made a lot of trouble for us," Dave assented.
"Well, I don't know exactly what to do," said Mr. Bellmore, slowly. "I
have asked Molick to go ahead, and have practically promised to do
business with him. I can hardly back out now. If I did he might begin suit
against my company, claiming a breach of contract."
"He'd do that if he had half a chance," answered Mr. Carson. "But perhaps
matters are not so bad as they seem. He's just begun to build the fences,
so Pocus Pete says. It may not be too late to stop him. We'll take a run
out that way to-morrow and see what's going on. Meanwhile, consider
yourself warned against Jason Molick, Mr. Bellmore."
"I shall, and I thank you for telling me. I hope to do business with you,
also, in this water matter."
"Well, if Molick has his way I won't have any water to negotiate about,"
said the ranch owner grimly. "However, we'll go and take a look at the
fences to-morrow."