CHAPTER XIV
A DESCENT
When the party arrived at the ranch, the girl hostess took Mrs. Blaketo rest in the clean, simply furnished room provided for the visitors.Blake, after carrying in their trunk single-handed, went to lookaround at the ranch buildings in company with Ashton.
On returning to the house, the two found Knowles and Gowan in theparlor with the ladies. Isobel had already introduced them to Mrs.Blake and also to her son. That young man was sprawled, face up, inthe cowman's big hands, crowing and valiantly clutching at his bristlymustache.
Gowan sat across from him, perfectly at ease in the presence of thecity lady. But, with his characteristic lack of humor, he was unmovedby the laughable spectacle presented by his employer and the baby, andhis manner was both reserved and watchful.
At sight of Blake, Isobel called to her father in feigned alarm: "Lookout, Daddy! Better stop hazing that yearling. Here comes his sire."
Knowles gave the baby back to its half-fearful mother, and rose togreet his guest with hospitable warmth: "Howdy, Mr. Blake! I'mdownright glad to meet you. Hope you've found things comfortable andhomelike."
"Too much so," asserted Blake, his eyes twinkling. "We came outexpecting to rough-it."
"Well, your lady won't know the difference," remarked Knowles.
"You're quite mistaken, Daddy, really," interposed his daughter. "Sheand Mr. Blake were wrecked in Africa and lived on roast leopards.We'll have to feed them on mountain lions and bobcats."
"If you mean that, Miss Chuckie," put in Gowan, "I can get a bobcat intime for dinner tomorrow."
The girl led the general outburst of laughter over this seriousproposal. "Oh! oh! Kid! You'll be the death of me!--Yet I sent you ajoke-book last Christmas!"
"Couldn't see anything funny in it," replied the puncher. "I haven'tlost it, though. It came from you."
To cover the girl's blush at this blunt disclosure of sentiment, Mrs.Blake somewhat formally introduced her husband to the puncher. Heshook Blake's hand with like formality and politeness. But as theirglances met, his gray eyes shone with the same cold suspicion withwhich he had regarded Ashton at their first meeting. Before that lookthe engineer's friendly eyes hardened to disks of burnished steel,and his big fist released its cordial grip of the other's small, bonyhand. He gave back hostility for hostility with the readiness of aborn fighter. Gowan was the first to look away.
The incident passed so swiftly that only Knowles observed the outflashof enmity. His words indicated that he had anticipated the puncher'sattitude. He addressed Blake seriously: "Kid has been with us eversince he was a youngster and has always made my interests his own.Chuckie has been telling us what you said about putting through anyproject you once started."
Blake nodded. "Yes. That is why I suggested to Miss Knowles that shecall off the agreement under which I came on this visit. We shallgladly pay board, and I'll merely knock around; or, if you prefer,we'll leave you and go back tomorrow morning."
"No, Daddy, no! we can't allow our guests to leave, when they've onlyjust come!" protested Isobel.
"As for any talk about board," added her father, "you ought to knowbetter, Mr. Blake."
"My apology!" admitted Blake. "I've been living in the East."
"That explains," agreed the cowman. "Even as far east as Denver--I'vegot a sister there; lives up beyond the Capitol. But I've talked withother men there from over this way. They all agree you might as welllook for good cow pasture behind a sheep drive as for hospitality in acity. Sometimes you can get what you want, and all times you're sureto get a lot of attention you don't want--if you have money tospend."
"That's true. But about my going ahead here?" inquired Blake. "Say theword, and I put irrigation on the shelf throughout our visit."
Knowles shook his head thoughtfully. "No, I reckon Chuckie is right.We'd best learn just how we stand."
"What if I work out a practical project? There's any amount of goodland on your mesa. The lay of it and the altitude ought to make itideal for fruit. If I see that the proposition is feasible, I shall bebound to put water on all of your range that I can. I am anengineer,--I cannot let good land and water go to waste."
"The land isn't going to waste," replied Knowles. "It's the bestcattle range in this section, and it's being used for the purposeNature intended. As for the water, Chuckie has figured out there isn'tmore than three thousand acre feet of flood waters that can beimpounded off the watershed above us. That wouldn't pay for buildingany kind of a dam."
"And the devil himself couldn't pump the water up out of Deep Canyon,"put in Gowan.
"The devil hasn't much use for science," said Blake. "It has almostput him out of business. So he is not apt to be well up on modernengineering."
"Then you think you can do what the devil can't?" demanded Knowles.
"I can try. Unless you wish to call off the deal, I shall ride aroundtomorrow and look over the country. Maybe that will be sufficient toshow me there is no chance for irrigation, or, on the contrary, I mayhave to run levels and do some figuring."
"Then perhaps you will know by tomorrow night?" exclaimed Isobel.
"Yes."
"Well, that's something," said the cowman. "I'll take you out firstthing in the morning.--Lafe, show Mr. Blake the wash bench. There goesthe first gong."
When, a little later, all came together again at the supper table,nothing more was said about the vexed question of irrigation. Isobelhad made no changes in her table arrangements other than to have aplate laid for Mrs. Blake beside her father's and another for Blakebeside her own.
The employes were too accustomed to Miss Chuckie to be embarrassed bythe presence of another lady, and Blake put himself on familiar termswith them by his first remarks. If his wealthy high-bred wife wassurprised to find herself seated at the same table with commonworkmen, she betrayed no resentment over the situation. Her perfectbreeding was shown in the unaffected simplicity of her manner, whichwas precisely the same to the roughest man present as to her hostess.
Even had there been any indications of uncongeniality, they must havebeen overcome by the presence of Thomas Herbert Vincent Leslie Blake.The most unkempt, hard-bitten bachelor present gazed upon the majestyof babyhood with awed reverence and delight. The silent Japinterrupted his serving to fetch a queer rattle of ivory balls carvedout one within the other. This he cleansed with soap, peroxide and hotwater, in the presence of the honorable lady mother, before presentingit to her infant with much smiling and hissing insuckings of breath.
After supper all retired at an early hour, out of regard for theweariness of Mrs. Blake.
When she reappeared, late the next morning, she learned that Knowles,Gowan and her husband had ridden off together hours before. But Isobeland Ashton seemed to have nothing else to do than to entertain themother and child. Mrs. Blake donned one of the girl's divided skirtsand took her first lesson in riding astride. There was no sidesaddleat the ranch, but there was a surefooted old cow pony too wise andspiritless for tricks, and therefore safe even for a less experiencedhorsewoman than was Mrs. Blake.
Knowles and Gowan and the engineer returned so late that they foundall the others at the supper table. Blake's freshly sunburnt face wascheerful. Gowan's expression was as noncommittal as usual. But thecowman's forehead was furrowed with unrelieved suspense.
"Oh, Mr. Blake!" exclaimed Isobel. "Don't tell us your report isunfavorable."
"Afraid I can't say, as yet," he replied. "We've covered the groundpretty thoroughly for miles along High Mesa and Deep Canyon. If theannual precipitation here is what I estimate it from what your fathertells me, it would be possible to put in a drainage and reservoirsystem that would store four thousand acre feet. Except as anauxiliary system, however, it would cost too much to be practicable.As for Deep Canyon--" He turned to his wife. "Jenny, whatever elsehappens, I must get you up to see that canyon. It's almost as grand andin some ways even more wonderful than the Canyon of the Colorado."
"Then I must see it,
by all means," responded Mrs. Blake. "I shallsoon be able to ride up to it, Isobel assures me."
"Within a few days," said the girl. "But, Mr. Blake, pardon me--Howabout the water in the canyon? You surely see no way to lift it outover the top of High Mesa?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't even guess what can be done until I have run aline of levels and found the depth of the canyon. I tried to estimateit by dropping in rocks and timing them, but we couldn't see themstrike bottom."
"A line of levels? Will it take you long?"
"Maybe a week; possibly more. If I had a transit as well as my level,it would save time. However, I can make out with the chain and compassI brought."
"Mr. Blake is to start running his levels in the morning," saidKnowles. "Lafe, I'd like you to help him as his rodman, if you have noobjections. As you've been an engineer, you can help him along fasterthan Kid.--You said one would do, Mr. Blake; but if you need more,take all the men you want. The sooner this thing is settled, thebetter it will suit me."
"The sooner the better, Daddy!" agreed Isobel, "that is, if our guestspromise to not hurry away."
"We shall stay at least a month, if you wish us to," said Mrs. Blake.
"Two months would be too short!--And the sooner we are over with thisuncertainty--Lafe, you'll do your utmost to help Mr. Blake, won'tyou?"
"Yes, indeed; anything I can," eagerly responded Ashton.
Gowan's face darkened at sight of the smile with which the girlrewarded the tenderfoot. Yet instead of sulking, he joined in theevening's entertainment of the guests with a zeal that agreeablysurprised everyone. His guitar playing won genuine praise from theBlakes, though both were sophisticated and critical music lovers.
Somewhat earlier than usual he rose to go, with the excuse that hewished to consult Knowles about some business with the owner of theadjoining range. The cowman went out with him, and did not return. Anhour later Ashton took reluctant leave of Isobel, and started for thebunkhouse. Half way across he was met by his employer, who stoppedbefore him.
"Everybody turning in, Lafe?"
"Not at my suggestion, though," replied Ashton.
"Reckon not. Mr. Blake and his lady are old friends of yours, I takeit."
"Mrs. Blake is," stated Ashton, with a touch of his former arrogance."We made mud-pies together, in a hundred thousand dollar dooryard."
"Humph!" grunted Knowles. "And her husband?"
The darkness hid Ashton's face, but his voice betrayed the suddenupwelling of his bitterness: "I never heard of him until he--until alittle over three years ago. I wish to Heaven he hadn't taken part inthat bridge contest!"
"How's that?" asked Knowles in a casual tone.
"Nothing--nothing!" Ashton hastened to disclaim. "You haven't beentalking with Miss Chuckie about me, have you, Mr. Knowles?"
"No. Why?"
"It was only that I explained to her how I came to be ruined--to losemy fortune. You see, the circumstances are such that I cannot verywell say anything against Blake; yet he was the cause--it was owing tosomething he did that I lost all--everything--millions! Curse him!"
"You've appeared friendly enough towards him," remarked Knowles.
"Yes, I--I promised Miss Chuckie to try to forget the past. But when Ithink of what I lost, all because of him--"
"So-o!" considered the cowman. "Maybe there's more in what Kid saysthan I thought. He's been cross-questioning Blake all day. You knowhow little Kid is given to gab. But from the time we started off hekept after Blake like he was cutting out steers at the round-up."
"Blake isn't the kind you could get to tell anything against himself,"asserted Ashton.
"Well, that may be. All his talk today struck me as being straightforwardand outspoken. But Kid has been drawing inferences. He keeps hammeringat it that Blake must be in thick with his father-in-law, and that allmillionaires round-up their money in ways that would make a rustler gooff and shoot himself."
"Business is business," replied Ashton with all his old cynicism."I'll not say that H. V. Leslie is crooked, but I never knew of hiscoming out of a deal second best."
"Well, at any rate, it's white of Blake to tell us beforehand what heintends to do if he sees a chance of a practical project."
"Has he told you everything?" scoffed Ashton.
"How about his offer to drop the whole matter and not go into it atall?" rejoined Knowles.
Ashton hesitated to reply. For one thing, he was momentarilynonplused, and, for another, the Blakes had treated him as agentleman. But a fresh upwelling of bitterness dulled his conscienceand sharpened his wits.
"It may have been to throw you off your guard," he said. "Blake isdeep, and he has had old Leslie to coach him ever since he marriedGenevieve. He could have laid his plans,--looked over the ground, andfound out just what are your rights here,--all without your suspectinghim."
"Well, I'm not so sure--"
"Have you told him what lands you have deeds to?"
"No, but if he knows as much about the West as I figure he does, hecan guess it. Fence every swallow of get-at-able water to be found onmy range this time of year, and you won't have to dig a posthole offof land I hold in fee simple. Plum Creek sinks just below where DryFork junctions."
"But you can't have _all_ the water?" exclaimed Ashton incredulously.
"Yes, every drop to be found outside Deep Canyon this time of year.There's my seven and a half mile string of quarter-sections blanketingPlum Creek from the springs to down below Dry Fork, and fivequarter-sections covering all the waterholes. That makes up fivesections. A bunch of tenderfeet came in here, years ago, and preemptedall the quarter-sections with water on them. Got their patents fromthe government. Then the Utes stampeded them clean out of the country,and I bought up their titles at a fair figure."
"And you own even that splendid pool up where I had my camp?"
"Everything wet on this range that a cow or hawss can get to, thistime of year."
Ashton considered, and advised craftily: "Don't tell him this. DoesMiss Chuckie know it?"
"She knows I have five sections, and that most of it is on Plum Creek.I don't think anything has ever been said to her about the waterholes.But why not tell Blake?"
"Don't you see? Even if he finds a way to get at the water in DeepCanyon, he will first have to bore his tunnel. He and his constructiongang must have water to drink and for their engines while they arecarrying out his plans. You can lie low, and, when the right timecomes, get out an injunction against their trespassing on your land."
"Say, that's not a bad idea. The best I could figure was that theymight need one of my waterholes for a reservoir site. But why not callhim when he first takes a hand?" asked Knowles.
"No, you should not show your cards until you have to," repliedAshton. "With all Leslie's money against you, it might be hard to getyour injunction if they knew of your plans. But if you wait until theyhave their men, machinery and materials on the ground, you will havethem where they must buy you out at your own terms."
"By--James!" commented Knowles. "Talk about business sharps!"
"I was in Leslie's office for a time," explained Ashton. "Yourinterests are Miss Chuckie's interests. I'm for her--first, last, andall the time."
"Um-m-m. Then I guess I can count on you as sure as on Gowan."
"You can. I am going to try my best to win your daughter, Mr. Knowles.She's a lady--the loveliest girl I ever met."
"No doubt about that. What's more, she's got grit and brains. That'swhy I tell you now, as I've told Kid, it's for her to decide on theman she's going to make happy. If he's square and white, that's all Iask."
"About my helping Blake with his levels," Ashton rather hastilychanged the subject. "I am in your employ--and so is he, for thatmatter. Don't you think I have a right to keep you posted on all hisplans?"
"Well--yes. But he as much as says he will tell them himself."
"Perhaps he will, and perhaps he won't, Mr. Knowles. I've told youwhat Leslie is like; and Blake is his son-in-law.
"
"Well, I'm not so sure. You and Kid, between you, have shaken myjudgment of the man. It can't do any harm to watch him, and I'll beobliged to you for doing it. If it comes to a fight against him andthe millions of backing he has, I want a fair deal and--But, Lord!what if we're making all this fuss over nothing? It doesn't stand toreason that there's any way to get the water out of Deep Canyon."
"Wait a week or so," cautioned Ashton. "In my opinion, Blake alreadysees a possibility."