After that, the bondholders will have to come forward to save their investment." Gretzinger unbuttoned his overcoat and sought his cigarette case.

His scowl as he struck a match was lighted by vicious gleams from his eyes.
"Why didn't you stop work when you received notification from the state engineer of the Land and Water Board's action ?" he demanded.
"When you yet had the bulk of the money ?" "I preferred to continue." "And now you're sinking it all." "It costs money to move frozen dirt," said Bryant.
"Well, I tell you the bondholders won't put up another penny unless----" The Easterner paused, growing thoughtful.

Some minutes passed before he resumed: "There's one condition on which they'll do it, and I'll guarantee their support." "And the condition ?" "That you surrender your stock to them." "For the twenty or twenty-five thousand dollars more that will be needed?
My shares representing a hundred thousand?
And I presume I should have to withdraw altogether." "Naturally," Gretzinger responded.

"I should then take charge." Bryant's expression exhibited a certain amount of curiosity.
"Do you really think you could finish the ditch on time ?" he inquired.
A slight sneer was the answer.

Gretzinger was one not given to wasting time with men of Bryant's type.
"How about it?
Am I to take back to New York with me your agreement to this ?" he asked, curtly.
The other spread his feet apart and hooked his thumbs in his coat pockets and directed his full regard at the speaker.
"You think you have me in a hole, Gretzinger," he said.