which we irrigate the farms down at Rosita. It will leave them dry;
the alfalfa will die; no more grain or peas or beans will be raised on
them; they won't have even good pasturage; they will go back to
sagebrush and cactus--all those farms, all those beautiful ranches!
Altogether four or five thousand acres! They are worth two hundred
thousand dollars now--to-morrow worth nothing! Half my winter hay
comes from them; half my peas for fattening lambs. I shall have to
sell part of my sheep. I'm a millionaire now, but I'll be reduced,
I'll be less than a millionaire, and so almost poor again. It's very
bad; it mustn't be; I must stop him using the water."

Even Charlie became solemn at the prospect of losing two hundred
thousand dollars and being less than a millionaire.

"The right hasn't been used; we'll have it cancelled," he said, with
sudden confidence.

"He refused to sell the place to me for ten thousand dollars cash,"
the father stated. "He's no fool--and he's a bad customer, Charlie; he
said he would send me to prison for perjury if I tried to cancel the
right."

"Perjury, pouf!" Charlie sneered.

"He couldn't send me to prison, of course, for I have too much money,
but he might make it unpleasant for me, very unpleasant. Politics are
to be considered; I mustn't get a bad name in the party and in the
state. I must be careful. The records show that the ranch has had the
water, and while in my possession. As he says, that would be difficult
for me to explain if I entered court against him. The matter mustn't