r relief they observed an older man
and two young men approaching. They were obviously gentlemen, and one of
them Gerry thought the most attractive fellow she had ever seen in her
life. Yet he did not look like an American, but what her imagination had
pictured as a Spaniard. He must have been about twenty-two or three and
possessed unusually dark hair and eyes and skin.

When Gerry had explained their difficulty and apologized for their
intrusion, their host led the way through the outer court into the
enclosed one.

[Illustration: Their Host Led the Way Through the Outer Court into the
Enclosed One]

Sally continued to be borne aloft like a foreign princess upon the
shoulders of her faithful Caryatids.

The inside court was a miniature fairyland.

Like all really old Spanish ranch houses, this house was built in the
form of a square with the garden in the center. It was of one story with
the veranda also on the inside and running the entire length of the
house.

In days long past this veranda would have been filled with people, for
when the Spanish ranch houses were the center of California's social
life all the play and work of the Spanish families, their friends and
servants took place outdoors.

Now the two Camp Fire girls saw no one save their hosts and the one man
servant; there was no faintest suggestion of the presence of a woman.

The place looked old and ramshackle, as if its owners had preferred to
enjoy life rather than to improve their estate. Even the enclosed
garden, notwithstanding it was a sheer glory of flowers, showed neglect.
A bougainvillea vine had been allowed to grow so large that it covered
one-third of the veranda, hanging like a flowery canopy above one
portion of the garden. Along the paths oleanders were set out in
unpainted wooden tubs and the rose bushes had gone so long untrimmed
that they were now of great size and covered with tiny white and yellow
flowers.

Once this garden had been carefully planned and cared for, yet, perhaps,
at present it held an even deeper charm.

Naturally, soon after their arrival their host, Mr. Philip Morris, had
introduced himself and his younger companions, and Gerry Williams had
given her own and Sally's name. Gerry also had explained the
circumstances of Sally's accident and the fact that they were members of
a camping party who were spending the summer on the California coast.

The young man who had originally attracted her attention prove