tem.

To-night Reedy had a list of figures before him again. Cotton had
touched 9.76 to-day. Things were coming to a head. It was time to act.

Reedy had one set of figures in which 8,000 bales were multiplied by
fifty and a fraction. It added $474,000. There was a column of
smaller sums, the largest of which was, Revenue $28,000. These smaller
sums were totalled and subtracted from $474,000, leaving $365,000--a
sum over which Reedy moistened his lips. Then he multiplied 15,000
acres by something and set that sum also under the $365,000 and added
again. The total made him roll his pencil between his two plump hands.

Madrigal, the Mexican Jew, entered with a jaunty gesture, and took a
chair and lighted a cigarette.

"When did you get back from Guaymas?" Reedy leaned back, lighted a
match on the bottom of his chair and touched it to a plump cigar.

"Yesterday, Senor Reedy." There was always a mixture of aggressiveness
and mocking freshness in Madrigal's tone and air.

"See Bondeberg?"

The Mexican nodded.

"Everything all right?"

"_Si, si._" Madrigal sometimes was American and sometimes Mexican.

"I've had a dickens of a time getting trucks," said Reedy, speaking in
a low, casual tone. "But I got 'em--twenty. Be unloaded to-morrow or
the next day. I've arranged to take care of the duty. They are to be
sold, you understand, with an actual bill of sale to each of the twenty
Mexican chauffeurs you have employed."

Madrigal nodded lightly as though all of this was primer work for him.

"Have everything ready by the tenth. I think I can close up this water
deal by that time."

As the Mexican left, Reedy reached for his telephone and called El
Centro.

"Mrs. Barnett?" Soft oiliness oozed from his voice. "This is Reedy.
What are you doing this evening? Nothing? How would you like a little
spin out to the foot of the mountains to get a cool breath and watch
the moon rise?--All right. I'll be along in about thirty minutes. By,
by." The words sounded almost like kisses.

"Mrs. Barnett"--Reedy slowed down the machine as they drove off across
the desert toward the foothills--"I owe everything to you."

The widow, all in white now--very light, cool white--felt a little
shivery thrill of pride go over her. She half simpered and tried to
sound deprecating.

"Oh, you merely flatter me." She was rolling a small dainty
handkerchief in her palms.

"No, indeed!" responded Reedy, roundly. "No