The window looked out upon the skeleton-like tower of the artesian well and the cook-house and dairy-house close beside it.

As he watched, he saw Hilma come out from the cook-house and hurry across toward the kitchen.

Evidently, she was going to see about his dinner.
But as she passed by the artesian well, she met young Delaney, one of Annixter's hands, coming up the trail by the irrigating ditch, leading his horse toward the stables, a great coil of barbed wire in his gloved hands and a pair of nippers thrust into his belt.

No doubt, he had been mending the break in the line fence by the Long Trestle.

Annixter saw him take off his wide-brimmed hat as he met Hilma, and the two stood there for some moments talking together.