That something serious had occurred he guessed before Bryant had opened his lips.

He had never seen the engineer so wrought up, so white, so agitated.
"Let me get this right," the old contractor said, at length.

"They're going to cancel your water right." "Yes." "But not at once.

You've ninety days to----" "Ninety days! We can't do a year's work in ninety days, and in winter time at that!" Lee cried.
"Of course not," was the answer.

"But it gives you time to argue with 'em and fight this thing.