"Can I ride across here?" asked Mr. Bellmore of Mr. Carson, after a few minutes conversation, during which Jason Molick was inspecting the progress of his workmen. "Yes, the river, is very shallow here. Go ahead! We'll wait for you. I don't want to go on his land." The irrigation man left his friends and, crossing the stream on his horse's back, was soon approaching Mr. Molick. "Well, how do you think we're coming on?" asked Len's father. "I took your advice, you see--I'm going in with you on this deal. I think it's a good one, I'm ready to sign the papers whenever you say so." "Well--er--I don't want to disappoint you, after what has taken place, Mr. Molick," began the Chicago man in rather an embarrassed fashion, "but the truth of the matter is that I guess there won't be any papers to sign." "No papers to sign! What do you mean?" "I mean that the deal is off!" "The deal off? You mean the irrigation scheme you agreed to go into with me?" and Mr. Molick's voice rose. "Yes, that deal is off," went on the engineer. "You remember I only broached it to you. I did not clinch it. I pointed out its advantages to you, and you were eager to go in. I said I would talk to you later about it." "And now you come and say you don't want to go into it with me?" asked Molick in sneering tones. "Yes, that is a right I reserved, you remember." "Huh! I know what has made him back out!" exclaimed Len. "What?" asked his father. "He's been talking to them!" and Len pointed to Dave and the others from Bar U ranch across the stream. "Ha! So that's the game!" exclaimed Mr. Molick. "Well, I'll show you that two can play at it, Mr. Bellmore!" he sneered. "If you don't want to go into this scheme with me, after promising--" "I never promised!" interrupted the other. "Well, it was the same thing. But if you don't want to go in I can get along without you. I guess you'll find you're not the only one around here who knows about dams and irrigation ditches. I and my son have some brains. We'll show you a thing or two!" "That's what we will!" boasted Len. "I'm sure I don't wish to curtail your activities in any way," replied the Chicago man. "I hope you have all sorts of success. But I do not feel like going on with the scheme I outlined." "Because, I suppose, you're going in with the Bar U folks?" suggested Len. "I haven't said so," was the quiet retort. "No, but I can read signs. Well, there's one thing I want to tell you!" Len went on in threatening tones. "I warn you off our land--you and the Carson bunch. And as for that Dave, if I catch him I'll give him the worst licking he ever had." "Seems to me it was the other way around," retorted Mr. Bellmore, with a grim smile. "At least it was the last time you met." "Huh!" snorted Len. "Well, tell him to look out, that's all!" "I don't think there is any need of that," said Mr. Bellmore. "I think Dave can look after himself. But now I'll bid you good day."