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Void of any contacts with the better element of the community, they allow their friends to run wild in lawlessness until the affair gets beyond control. That's what happened in Bransford; that's what happened everywhere. Lawless greed flourishes in the atmosphere of negligence.
Sanderson had intended to use the four thousand on the Double A irrigation project. The sum, together with the three thousand he meant to draw from the Okar bank, would have been enough to make a decent start. Sanderson had some bitter thoughts as he sat on the edge of the cot, all of them centering around Dale, Silverthorn, Maison, Owen, Mary Bransford, and himself.
"He ain't Will Bransford," Dale declared. "He signed his name all O.K. an' regular, just the same as it was on the letter. But just the same he ain't a Bransford. There ain't no Bransford ever had an eye in him like he's got. He's a damned iceberg for nerve, an' there's more fight in him than there is in a bunch of wildcats if you get him started!"
"Meanin' that you don't want me to be hangin' around here no longer than is necessary, eh?" said Dale. "You've said a heap," drawled Sanderson. "Well, it won't take a long time," Dale returned. "It's just this. I've got word from Las Vegas that you've swore to an affidavit sayin' that you're Will Bransford. That's all right I ain't got nothin' to say about that. But there's a law about brands.
At that time, however, the emotion Sanderson felt had been merely dislike as Sanderson had always disliked men who attempted to bully others. Sanderson's hatred of Dale was beginning to dominate him; it was overwhelming all other emotions. It dulled his sense of guilt for the part he was playing in deceiving Mary Bransford; it made him feel in a measure justified in continuing to deceive her.
He said nothing. Mary Bransford stood a little distance away, watching silently. "Count it, Miss Bransford," said Sanderson when Dale had disgorged the money. The two men stood silent as the girl fingered the bills. At last she looked at Sanderson and nodded. The latter grinned. "Everything's regular, now," he said. He looked at Mary. "Do you want him killed, ma'am? He'd be a lot better off dead.
He must imitate Will Bransford's signature to prevent Mary Bransford from suspecting the deception for at any time she might decide to go to Las Vegas to look over the records there. More, he must practice writing Bransford's signature until he could imitate it without having to look at the original.
"Look here, Mary," he said, coldly, "I've never cared a heap for the name Bransford. That's why I changed my name to Sanderson. I never liked to be called 'Will. Hereafter I want you to call me Sanderson Deal Sanderson. Then mebbe I'll feel more like myself." She did not answer, but her lips straightened and she sat very rigid.
"An' if you go to gettin' mixed up with the Double A or the Nyland ranch you'll get it plenty!" Dale grinned, hideously. Then he kicked his horse in the ribs and rode away. Mary Bransford had not moved from her position on the porch. Sanderson watched Dale ride away, then he smiled at Mary and entered the house. Mary followed him.
Several of the men of the outfit were astir, and he called to one of them, and told the man to care for his horse. He grinned around at them all, and then went into the house. Mary Bransford was not yet up. The door that Sanderson had gone out of the night before was still unlocked. He opened it and entered, passing through the sitting-room and halting in the kitchen.
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