"A hundred and fifty dollars a month is more than I can pay, Rogeen," he said. "You'd better take it. Begin at once. I'll get Jim Moody in your place." At one o'clock Bob was back at Jenkins' office and reported ready for work. Reedy reached in his desk for the map on which all the ranches below the line were carefully marked. "The ranches I want to get first are along the Dillenbeck Canal. It is a private water system, and the water costs more; but the land is rich enough to make up the difference. "The first one I want you to tackle is here"--he made a cross with his pencil--"Belongs to a little dried-up old geezer named Chandler. He is ready to sell; talk to the girl. Five hundred is my top price for their lease and equipment." As Bob went down the outside stairway he passed a Mexican going up--a Mexican with features that suggested some one of his immediate forefathers was probably a Hebrew. Rogeen recognized him--his name was Madrigal; and he remembered that someone had told him that the Mexican was in the secret service over the line, or rather that he was an unofficial bearer of official information from some shady Mexican officials to some shady American concerns. When the Mexican entered the office, Reedy got up and closed the door. Then he took the map again from a drawer and opened it out on the desk. "I'll get Benson's lease this week." Reedy put his pencil on the Red Butte Ranch. "And these," he pointed to smaller squares along the Dillenbeck Canal, "are the ones I have marked for early annexation. How many of them have you seen?" "Thes, and thes, and thes." Madrigal pointed off three ranches. "I've sent the new man down to see Chandler," said Reedy. "He's the sort that can win over that girl. I must have that ranch. It is one of the best of the small ranches." "_Si, si._" Madrigal grinned, and smoothed up his black pompadoured hair. "Eet will be easy. I gave them big scare about the duty on cotton next fall." "And then my friend who manages the Dillenbeck system gave them another about the price of water this summer," smiled Reedy. "But"--he frowned--"if the girl should continue obstinate, and they refuse to sell?" "Then I'll attend to the senorita"--the Mexican put his hand on his heart and bowed gallantly--"the ladies are easy for Senor Madrigal." "Yes," said Reedy, shutting his wide mouth determinedly, "and if he fails, I'll 'tend to Rogeen." CHAPTER IV It was a little after sundown when Bob rode up to the Chandler ranch. The girl was out under the cottonwood trees by the irrigation canal gathering up dry sticks for stove wood. He hitched his horse and went to her. "Good evening," he said. "Where is your fiddle?" There was a faint twist of amusement at the corner of her mouth. "How did you know?" "Guessed it," she replied, with a little lift of the eyebrows; and then stooped to pick up the armful of dry sticks she had gathered. "Let me have them." He stepped forward to take the wood.