In Kennard next morning Lee Bryant betook himself to a civil
engineering firm, which he engaged to print a number of sets of
blue-prints from his tracings, one set to be ready for delivery early
that afternoon. Then while his suit of gray clothes, from out of his
suit-case, was being pressed, he and Dave visited a florist, purchased
a wreath of lilies-of-the-valley that Dave chose, and went to the
cemetery to place it on the grave of the lad's mother. After that they
proceeded to a clothier's, where the boy was fitted out with a new
suit, a hat, shirts, underwear, and a tie. All of this caused Dave to
swallow hard--but he swallowed hardest of all when Lee led him to a
horse dealer's and helped him pick out a pony for trial, a gift from
Bryant. He hadn't expected all this. He was too overcome to speak. "By
golly, Lee, I--I----" he stammered; and stopped, and furtively wiped
the moisture from his eyes. Finally they visited a savings-bank, where
the engineer deposited a check to Dave's credit, his wages for a month
and a half, forty-five dollars, to start an account, and the boy
received a small yellow book whose one entry he thereafter studied at
frequent intervals, for it was earning according to Bryant's statement
four per cent a year, though Dave had not the remotest idea of how it
did the earning. Then with all this business transacted they returned
to the hotel, bathed, dressed in their fresh clothes, and went into
luncheon.
"Luncheon, what do they call dinner that for?" Dave whispered to Lee
across the table.
Along in the afternoon Bryant, having obtained a set of blue-prints
and sent his young companion to a "movie" show, called upon the man
that he all the while had had in view, Imogene Martin's uncle. A
large, strong-bodied man, with a deeply lined, determined face, the
latter swept his visitor with a quick, appraising look, invited him to
take a seat, and to state his business.
"In five minutes you can tell," said Lee, "whether or not you wish to
listen longer to my proposition."
"Yes."
"I now own the Perro Creek ranch, of five thousand acres. It was
originally owned by Mr. Menocal, of Bartolo, but recently by a man
named Stevenson, from whom I bought it."
"I know the place, Mr. Bryant. Proceed."
"It's worth possibly three dollars an acre as it stands, or a total of
fifteen thousand dollars," Lee continued. "But it has an unused water
right of one hundred and twenty-five second feet from the Pinas River,
sufficient to water the whole tract. How much will the ranch be worth
when water is actually delivered?"
"A good deal more than fifteen thousand dollars."
"Rather," said the engineer, smiling. "The appropriation was secured
from the state by Mr. Menocal thirty years ago; it's never been
cancelled, and is good to-day. He, however, has been using the water
on ranches he owns down the river. A canal from the Pinas along the
mountain sides to Perro Creek would be expensive to construct,
possibly prohibitive; it appears the natural line; and I suppose this
deterred him. I've located a new and practical course for a ditch on
the mesa, have surveyed and mapped it in detail, calculated the cost,
and compiled a statement of estimates, and can build the project for
sixty thousand dollars. The tract of five thousand acres can then be
sold for fifty dollars an acre, or two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. Shall I stop, or do you wish to hear more?"
Now it was the banker's turn to smile. This visitor knew how to make a
point.
"Go ahead," he said.
"All right. A Mexican dam across the Pinas, a mile and a half of
hillside canal, some concrete drops, twelve miles of curving mesa
ditch, and the ranch is reached. In addition, the flood water of Perro
Creek can be utilized; I've worked this out, as well as the entire
system of laterals for the land. As stated, the cost of the whole
project will be about sixty thousand dollars, present price of
material and labour. I'm on my way now to the capital to file
application for a change in the present canal line, which, since it
involves only government land, will naturally be allowed. Of course
Mr. Menocal isn't taking kindly to my proposed use of this water." And
Lee paused.
"What has he done? Anything yet?"
"Not much so far, except a little futile skirmishing," the engineer
remarked, with twinkling eyes. "When I paid off his mortgage on the
land, I advised him that I should use the water: and he threatened to
have the water right cancelled. But he backed up on that line when I
promised to lodge him in jail for making false affidavits if he tried
those tactics. Thought I'd head him off in that direction at the
start. I got the jump on him there. Well, now, he's using indirect
means to keep control of the water, sending half a dozen Mexicans to
file claims at the base of the mountains where he imagines the canal
will have to go. He thinks these have blocked me; and I didn't
undeceive him. He knows nothing about my actual line of survey on the
mesa. Of course, the loss of this water that he fancied he had hits
him where it hurts, but from what I can gather Mr. Menocal isn't a man
to resort to illegal methods. He's wily, that's about all. So that's
the situation."
The banker regarded Bryant for a time with a noncommittal face.
"State your proposition now," said he.
"This is it," Bryant went on. "I propose to bond the ranch and water
right for enough to build the project, then construct it, then market
the land in farms at fifty dollars an acre. The canal system can be
completed easily next year, and sales and colonization proceed
immediately when done. Naturally, as a sale is made, the mortgage and
notes will be put up behind the bonds to secure the latter. The
purchasers will pay down some cash, say, ten dollars an acre; that
makes fifty thousand cash and two hundred thousand dollars in notes
against sixty thousand dollars in bonds. A visible profit of one
hundred and ninety thousand. That amount will be covered by a stock
issue. I shall set aside sixty thousand of it as a bonus to whoever
purchases the bonds. Thirty thousand more shall go to whoever markets
the bonds, as a commission. The remaining hundred thousand of
stock----"
"Goes to you, I presume."
"Yes; I keep that. It's payment for the ranch and water right, for my
developing the scheme and building the project. What I need is someone
to sell the bonds; I'll take care of everything else. And because you,
Mr. McDonnell, know the character of the land hereabouts and know
water rights, the fertility of the soil when watered, and the
soundness of a proper irrigation project as an investment, I've come
first to you. Millions aren't involved; it's a small project; the cost
is uncommonly cheap and the security therefore exceptional; you know
the property personally; I, as builder, and having everything at
stake, would see that the construction is right. So small an issue of
bonds should be quickly placed in the East. And the commission isn't
to be sneezed at."
Mr. McDonnell's features relaxed into a smile.
"I never saw an irrigation scheme yet that didn't look a money-maker
on paper," he stated, "nevertheless, seventy-five per cent. of them
wind up in the hands of a receiver."
"Because of faulty estimates and wasteful construction, yes. Because
they're generally too big, and the interest eats them up before the
land is sold. Because some start building on a shoestring. Or because
of changes in the projects that are costly, or rows in the management,
or insufficient water, or bad land titles--I know, I know. I've
studied and analyzed their troubles. And I propose that this Perro
Creek scheme of mine shall be one irrigation project that shall
succeed."
"And you think you've taken all precautions?"
"Yes."
"With Mr. Menocal, even?"
"Even with Mr. Menocal, yes. Once my application for changes has been
approved and I have the money to build, what can he do?"
"You seem quite sure of yourself."
"I'm sure of this irrigation project, anyway. I'm going to build it."
Conviction absolutely dominated his lean brown face; and the banker
looking at the speaker's chin, his firm mouth, curving nose, and gray
eyes full of purpose, wondered if Menocal had met his match.
"Well, suppose you leave your maps and estimates for me to look over,"
he said. "When do you go to the capital?"
"This evening."
"See me again on your return. My attorney will examine your title to
the land and the water right. How are the young ladies on Perro Creek
getting along?"
"They have plenty of fresh air and scenery," Lee responded, relaxing
from the tension under which he had been.
"It was rather a wild notion, their taking claims, but they wanted the
experience. I hope my niece is benefited in respect to her health. My
wife and I run up once in a while to see if they're comfortable." Then
he added, "Perhaps I had best confess that Imogene had told me of what
you were at up there, and of your involvement with Mr. Menocal. So
this thing isn't wholly new to me."
Bryant returned to the hotel, well satisfied with the progress he had
made. In the lobby of the hotel he ran across Charlie Menocal, who
gave him a venomous look and passed into the bar without speaking.
What the young fellow might feel or think gave Lee no concern, though
he might have taken warning from that hostile regard. For it was by
Charlie's instructions that a short, stout, swart Mexican went from a
native saloon to the depot that evening, where he presently identified
Bryant and lounged nearer the spot. Dave at length noticed him and
called Lee's attention to the fellow, whose face had a particularly
sinister cast and whose eyes were fixed upon the engineer in a stony,
unblinking stare. That look gave one the sensation of being gazed at
by something poisonous in a clump of sagebrush. But the feeling was
forgotten when the train came in on which they were departing and
Bryant and Dave mounted the steps of a coach.
The Mexican, on his part, returned to the saloon, where eventually he
was joined by Charlie Menocal. Charlie's face was flushed and his
breath alcoholic; he was a little drunk. At a corner table they
conferred, drinking whisky.
"You will know him now, the snake!" Charlie asked.
"I would know him in the dark, señor," was the reply.
They spoke in Spanish, since young Menocal's companion knew no other
tongue. The latter was a newcomer to Kennard, of the name of Alvarez.
He had come up from across the line, where he had been first with
Carranza, and then with Zapata in his black troop, and then with
Pancho Villa. He already had considerable reputation in the low
Mexican quarter of the town: he had participated in many fights and
raids "down there"; he was fearless; he could use a gun; he had many
killings to his credit. When earlier in the day Charlie had made
private inquiry of the saloon-keeper, an old friend, concerning a man
of nerve that he could engage who would ask no questions, Alvarez was
pointed out to him.
Presently an agreement was reached between them and Charlie produced
his check-book and a fountain-pen.
"Here's a check for one hundred dollars," he said, writing. "Come to
Bartolo, get you some blankets and food, and camp somewhere near. From
time to time we'll meet and I'll tell you what's to be done. There's a
saloon at Bartolo, if you get thirsty. Another hundred dollars will be
yours when the job is finished, perhaps more. Meantime, you will act
before others as if you did not know me. Here's the check."
Alvarez rose and walked to the bar.
"Is this money; a hundred dollars?" he inquired of the Mexican
proprietor of the saloon.
"One hundred dollars, yes," said the latter, with an assuring smile.
"Made payable to you, Alvarez. Good? Good at any bank, good here at my
saloon, good as gold. Better than gold, Alvarez, because easier to
carry. Do you wish the money for it?"
The Mexican ex-bandit jingled some dollars in his trousers' pockets.
"I have enough to eat and drink," said he. "If the paper is good, if
you will give me gold for it, then I will wait until I return. As you
say, it's not so heavy to carry."
"Bring it to me when you return. Mr. Menocal is very wealthy, very
rich. He has much land and many sheep. Besides, he owns a bank full of
gold and silver. The paper is good."
Alvarez was impressed. He stood in thought.
"Those sheep and that bank full of money! In Mexico we would form a
company of revolutionists and help ourselves," he said.
"That isn't the custom here," was the reply.
Alvarez again stared at the check, then folded it, bit the edge with
his teeth, placed it in a small leather bag suspended under his shirt
by a cord about his neck, and returned to the table where Charlie
Menocal waited.
"I will go up yonder in a few days, señor," he stated. "There are
girls there, are there not?"
* * * * *
One day a week later, after Bryant and Dave had returned to Kennard,
and after numerous conferences with Mr. McDonnell, his attorney and an
engineer called in for consultation, Lee exclaimed to his companion,
"We win. McDonnell will take hold of it. Bully for him!" And he went
about clearing up the odds and ends of business at a great rate.
Moreover, McDonnell believed he could dispose of the bonds within a
fortnight, by the middle of September. That would enable Bryant to
make good headway with the dam on the Pinas River while the water was
low and before cold weather set in. The attorney would look after the
incorporation of the company and the stock and bond issues. Lee could
at once engage a staff of assistant engineers and arrange to let the
building contract. In the matter of the canal line, he had received
ample assurance from members of the Land and Water Board at Santa Fé
that the changes he asked would be granted. Everything was propitious,
everything exactly as he would wish.
"Out of those town duds, Dave," he exclaimed. "You can't be a sport
any longer. Back to Perro Creek for us and your new spotted pony. And
it's high time, too, for I saw you making eyes at that girl with
yellow hair and angel blue eyes, whose mamma----"
"You never did!" Dave yelled, crimson with ire.