All morning he prowled over the table-land, paying a great deal of attention to the depth of the gorge, estimating its capacity for holding water, scanning the far reaches of the big basin carefully, and noting the location of the buildings dotting it.

Shortly after noon he rode back to the house and came upon Mary in the kitchen.

“I’ve put off askin’ until now,” he said while eating the food that Mary placed before him.  “How much money did dad leave?”

“Not much,” she said.  “He was never very prosperous.  It took a great deal to send me to school, and the thousand I sent you I saved myself out of the allowance he gave me.  I think there are three thousand dollars to father’s credit at the bank in Okar.”

“Where’s Okar?”

She looked quickly at him.  “Don’t you remember Okar?  That little town just beyond the mouth of the basin?  Why, you’ve been there a good many times, Will, on errands for father.  There wasn’t much to Okar when you were here—­just a few shanties and a store.  Surely you remember!”

Sanderson flushed.  “I reckon I do remember, now that you speak of it,” he lied.  “But I don’t think Okar has grown much.”

“Okar has grown to be an important town—­for this locality,” Mary smiled.  “You see, the railroad has made it grow.  It is now quite large, and has a bank and a dozen or more stores.  It is a depot for supplies for a big section, and the railroad company has built large corrals there.  A man named Silverthorn—­and Alva Dale—­are the rulers of Okar, now.”

“Who is Silverthorn?”

“He is connected with the railroad company—­a promoter, or something of that character.  He is trying to make a boom town of Okar.  He has bought a great deal of land in the basin.”

“You know what he wants the land for?” Sanderson smiled at her.

“For speculation purposes, I suppose.  If he could get water——­”

“You’ve figured it out,” said Sanderson.  “But he won’t get water.  The water belongs to the Double A—­to me an’ to you.  An’ we’re goin’ to sell it ourselves.”

“You mean—­” began Mary.

“That we’re going to build an irrigation dam—­with all the fixin’s.  You and me.”

The girl sat erect, her eyes luminous and eager.  “Do you think we can do it?” she whispered.

“Do you think you could trust me with the three thousand you said dad left?  An’ would you be willin’ to mortgage the Double A—­if we needed more money?”

“Why,” she declared, breathlessly, “the Double A is yours—­to do with as you see fit.  If you want to try—­and you think there is a chance to win—­why, why—­go to it!”

“You’re a brick!” grinned Sanderson.  “We’ll start the ball to rollin’ right away.”

Sanderson could not escape the vigorous hug she gave him, but he did manage to evade her lips, and he went out of the house blushing and grinning.