“But as the elevator descended you pointed to the mole,” said Jack.

“Did I?  I suppose that was an involuntary, instinctive pleasantry.  The previous evening father and I had had a farewell visit together.  We went into the country.”

“The night after the scene in the drawing-room!” Jack thought.

“I knew that father was worried because he had to make an effort to show that he was not.  Usually he can cover his worries perfectly.  He said that he might have a fight in order to keep you and that he very much wanted you to stay.  But he did not succeed,” concluded Prather, fist driving into palm.  “You came on the express after me.”

“Because, fortunately, you went to the house to have a look at the ancestor!”

“Yes,” said Prather.  “But I did not see you.”

“However, I saw you from the landing and overheard what passed between you and father!”

“No matter!” cried Prather harshly.  “I am prepared for you!” He looked toward the water-hole significantly.  “And the concession is mine!  The dam will be mine!”

“The dam could be built and all the valley might bloom without so much power passing into the hands of one man,” said Jack.

P.D. scenting the pasturage and feeling the pangs of thirst was starting forward at a smarter pace; but Jack held him back to the snail’s crawl of Prather’s pony.

“Who would do it?  Jasper Ewold?  Jim Galway?” Prather demanded.  “What these men need is a leader.  They don’t realize what I am doing for them.  Do they think I want to put in ten years out here for nothing?  For every dollar that they make for me they are going to make one for themselves.  That’s the rule of prosperity.  I am not robbing them.  I am taking only my fair share in return for creative business genius.  The fellows in Little Rivers who sulk and don’t get on will have only themselves to thank.”

“But they lose their independence,” Jack was arguing quietly, as if he would thrash out the subject.  “There are other things than money in this world.”

“There’s nothing much money won’t do!” said Prather.

“It will not give one self-respect or courage or moral fibre; it will not bring the gift of poetry, music, or painting; or turn a lie into truth; or bring back virtue to a woman who has been defiled; or make the courage to face death calmly.”

“It will do all I want!” Prather answered.  “Father not having been true to his agreement by keeping you in New York, why should I keep his secret?  He breaks faith; I break faith.  It seems to me as if there were no escaping the penalty of my birth.  I no sooner arrive than I find the whole town knows of your return; and not only that, but a wire comes from father saying that we had better not meet until he comes.”

“Until he comes!  Yes, go on!”

“Well, as you say, you are here to save Little Rivers and that meant an interview with me, and—­well,” again the palms in their crisp movement, “before I started out I told Pete Leddy that if you came after me I should look to him for protection, and it seems he is on time.”