The defect in the ditch proved to be one of minor character, which Bryant corrected after a few observations and half an hour’s work with a shovel.  While he was thus engaged, Imogene Martin, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, strolled out to watch his operations.  She was in a friendly and talkative mood, and asked questions concerning ditches and irrigation and surveying, and about Dave, and speculated on the ruins of the pueblo whither Ruth and Charlie Menocal had gone, and said she was glad Bryant had bought the ranch just north of their claims and would be their neighbour.  Only, she added, she was sorry to learn that he was having trouble with the people about; Mr. Menocal had stated such to be a fact, though what he had further hinted of Bryant’s endeavour to gain property to which he had no title and of the engineer’s being a trouble-maker, she did not for one instant believe.

“I’ll be a trouble-maker for Charlie and his dad if they continue their present policy,” Lee vouchsafed, tossing aside a shovelful of earth.

Imogene Martin carefully flattened a hill of bean plants for a seat, sat down, and locked her hands over her knees.

“I think you’re to be trusted, so I’ll tell you a secret,” she remarked, smiling.  “Charlie Menocal doesn’t make a ‘hit’ with me, either.  When you referred to the ford, I could scarcely keep my face straight; and my feeling ill this afternoon, though partly true, was also partly manufactured, because I didn’t want to go to those old ruins with him.  I don’t care for men like him especially.  I share the feeling of my uncle in Kennard—­”

“You have an uncle there?  I thought you were from the East.”

“I am; from Ohio.  But I’ve an uncle and aunt living in Kennard, which is the reason Ruth and I came to this section for homesteads.  Ruth was crazy to take up a claim, having read how easily one is acquired, while my health was not very good and the doctor at home thought it would be improved by being in the open in a high altitude.  Uncle said I’d better stay with him and aunt, but I knew how terribly disappointed Ruth would be if I did, because she couldn’t homestead alone.  So uncle declared that if homesteaders we had to be, then we must locate near him where he could have me under his eye, so to speak.  I myself am not taking this claim business very seriously.  And now uncle, who once had some controversy with the elder Menocal, wouldn’t be very well pleased if he knew the son was making calls on us.”

“So others besides myself have trouble with the Menocals,” Bryant stated.

“Apparently.  I don’t know what this particular difficulty was about, but uncle is president of a bank in Kennard and so it may have been some financial matter.  Or it may have been over politics; both of them mix in that.  Anyway, he doesn’t think highly of the elder Menocal, and has no use at all for the younger; so I know he would be vexed at Ruth and me for receiving this Charlie.”