‘If Carr had only been satisfied with the ten thousand,’ he muttered.  ’Or if he had given me warning ahead that he wanted the extra twenty-five hundred.  Now what?’

None of these issues were clouded, and in due time he decided upon all points.  He gave up all thought of bed, made himself a pot of coffee and sat up all night, devoting himself to details.  The cheque he had given Carr must be honoured; hence he must ride to-morrow to San Juan to see Engle, the banker.  He was only a few hundred dollars short there and Engle would help him to balance the account.  The fifteen hundred he owed the bank on his personal note could no doubt be extended if necessary.  There remained the money for the calves, the thousand due Pony Lee and another thousand to pay his men and for such necessities as would arise.  All of this he would talk over with Engle.  It might be that the bank would take a mortgage on his equity in Desert Valley and advance a considerable sum on it.

But he must not forget that the present crisis was not all to be considered.  Another year would bring the time of another payment to Carr.  In the meantime the ranch must be operated, it must be made to pay.  He had already planned on asking extensions from Engle; but it did not enter his thought now to ask John Carr to wait.

‘I’ve got my work cut out for me,’ said Howard grimly.  ’I’ve got to work like hell, that’s all.  I’ve got to carve down expenses, fire men I can manage without, be on the job all the time to buy in stock cheap wherever it can be got and unload for a quick turnover and some ready cash.  I’ve got to go in for more hay and wheat another season; the price is up and going higher.  And real soon, the chances are, I’ve got to sell some more cows.’

Before dawn he was at the men’s bunk-house.  He woke Chuck Evans and told him to hurry into his clothes and come up to the house.  When Chuck came the two men sat down at the table, pencil and paper in Howard’s hand, Chuck’s eyes keen upon his employer’s set face.

‘I’m right down to cases, Chuck,’ said Howard bluntly.  ’I am in up to my neck, and that’s all there is to it.  As soon as I get through with you I am off to San Juan to see if there is any real money left in the world.  I’ll be back as soon as I can.  But you get busy while I’m gone.  First thing, here are five men you will have to give their time.  Tell them why; tell them there’s always a job open for them here when I’ve got the cash for pay-day.  Then you and what’s left will get your necks into your collars and go to it, long hours and hard work until we pull out.  Get the boys out this morning for another round-up.  Bring in every hoof and tail that will size up for a decent sale.  If you can get time, ride down to San Ramon and see if there’s a chance to sell a string of mules to the road gang.  That’s about all this time; look for me back in two or three days.’

‘All right, Al,’ said Evans.  ‘So long.’  He went to the door and paused.  He wanted to say something and didn’t know just what to say or how to say it.  So he coughed and said again, ‘Well, so long, Al,’ and went out.