His next visit was along the irrigation canal to a point where his irrigation engineer was watching the work on a small power station. "Hello, Marlow, how is Murphy doing?" Marlow laughed. "I made him timekeeper. He's assumed the duties of policeman, ward boss and of advertising agent for you." "Where is he?" asked Jim. "Coming right along the road there now." Jim started the machine on to meet the stocky figure that Marlow pointed out. Murphy grinned broadly as Jim invited him into the machine. "I want to talk to you, Murphy? How does the job go?" "Aw, it's no job! It's a joy ride. I thought I knew every farmer in the county but I didn't. A new one turns up every day to tell the Little Boss how to irrigate." "Murphy," said Jim, "how do you size up Fleckenstein?" Murphy looked at Jim curiously. "Just like everyone else does, as a crook." "How much pull has he with the farmers?" Murphy shrugged his shoulders. "How much pull would the devil himself have if he promised repudiation? Tell me that, Boss!" "Is the chap who is running against him any good?" "Who, Ives? Is a bag of jelly an implement of war? What have you got on your mind, Boss?" "Well, to tell the truth, Murphy, I've just come to! The election is just three months off, isn't it? I am going to try to lick Fleckenstein in that time." "Can't be done, Boss, unless you'll take the stump yourself." "Of course, that's out of the question," replied Jim. "But this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to see every farmer in the valley and have a good talk with him. I'm going to make him see this Project as I do. And I'm going to send for half a dozen of the best men in the Department of Agriculture to come out here and get the newcomers interested in scientific farming. I'm not going to mention Fleckenstein's name." Murphy looked at Jim, then out at the irrigating ditch along which the machine was moving slowly. "Boss," he said, "go ahead if it'll ease you up any, but you might as well try to fight a hydrophobia skunk with a perfume atomizer as to try them high-brow methods on Fleckenstein." Jim laughed. "Well, do you know of a better method, Murphy?" "Yes, the good, old-fashioned way of putting up more whisky, more money and more free rides than the other fellow does." Jim turned the machine back toward the power station. "Of course, you know that that is out of the question, Murphy." "Well, what do you want me to do, Boss?" asked Murphy. "Tomorrow is Sunday," said Jim. "I want you to come up to my house and discuss with me the characteristics of every man in the valley. I don't know anyone better qualified to know them." "I'll be there," said Murphy, climbing from the machine. He watched Jim drive away. "There's something about him that gets under my skin," said the ex-saloonkeeper. "I'll be holding his hand, next. Poor snoozer! Think of him trying to fight mud like Fleckenstein. But I'll back him if it'll relieve his mind any."