"But granted that she is finally eliminated, what good will it do us as
long as Tia Juana remains under cover? Do you understand the
situation? We're overcapitalized right now to the limit; we've watered
the stock until it would float a fleet of battle-ships and we're
dangerously near the line----"

"Well, what can I do?" Wiley ran his hands through his hair. "I've
banked everything on this Lost Souls venture, and God knows I've gone
the limit to put it through!"

"Have you?" Chase turned at the window. "Just what did you mean to
do, if you had succeeded in locating Tia Juana?"

"I should think that would be obvious." Wiley laughed shortly. "We've
threshed that all out; I'd get her signature to a bill of sale of the
Trevino hacienda where the Lost Souls' Pool is situated, record the
deed with the Notary Public at Victoria, and then proceed to develop
and advertise the well. What on earth are you driving at, Harrington?"

"Just this!" His partner strode quickly to the desk and bent down,
staring significantly into Wiley's eyes. "That's your program, is it?
Well, go ahead and carry it out!"

"Sounds good!" Wiley chuckled, sneeringly. "Perhaps you'll be good
enough to produce Tia Juana, so that I can start the ball rolling!"

"I will," Harrington Chase responded quietly.

It was Wiley's turn to stare.

"Hope you'll have better luck than I have had, that's all," he said at
last, shrugging. "When you find her----"

Chase interrupted him with a gesture.

"I _have_ found her!"

"What!" Wiley sprang from his chair. "When? Where? Good Lord, why
didn't you tell me before? How did you find her?"

"Wait----!"

Chase straightened and tiptoed to the door leading into the outer
office. The next instant he had flung it wide, but no eavesdropper was
in sight and the whole suite appeared deserted. He closed the door
once more and thereafter ensued an earnest and protracted conference.

As a result, Starr Wiley failed to put in an appearance that night at a
dinner to which he had been invited and his excuse pleaded a sudden
business trip. Days lengthened into weeks, and when he did not return
there was a ripple of surprise and conjecture at his abrupt
evanescence, but the varied festivities of the approaching holiday
season ousted him from his rather negligible place in the thoughts of
his acquaintances.

Christmas came and passed, and the New Year was nearing the end of its
first month when he rea