"Well, of course I'll be glad to have you see Mr. Carson--my father," and
again Dave rather hesitated and stumbled over the word. "But, as a matter
of fact, some of the rights he has in Rolling River are subject to some
agreement with Mr. Molick. I know my father doesn't like it, for it makes
him too dependent on this man, but he could do nothing else. He had to
have water for his stock."

"Of course," agreed Mr. Bellmore. "Well, perhaps we can get together and
form a company so he can have more water and will not have to worry about
it."

"I hope so," Dave said.

A little later they came within sight of the ranch buildings, which were
glowing in the rays of the setting sun.

"What a fine place!" exclaimed Mr. Bellmore.

"Yes, I like it," Dave made answer. Then a pang seemed to shoot through
him. What if he had to leave the place? He could not count on always
staying there, as he might have done had he been Mr. Carson's son. Even
though the ranchman might love Dave as one of his own blood, when Mr.
Carson died there would be other heirs very likely, who would step in and
claim the place. Dave was not legally adopted. He might inherit nothing.

He had always counted on taking up as his life work, the cattle business.
But now, since the disclosure had been made, this was, perhaps,
impossible. And He sighed again as he looked at the group of buildings set
down in a little valley, with Rolling River in the distance glistening in