d.

The awakened sleeper slid off his perch, rubbed his eyes, yawned,
stretched himself, and then shook his head with great gravity.

"Mr. Menocal takes his siesta till three o'clock; you can see him at
that time," he said, in English.

"I'll see him now."

"Impossible! He is very angry when awakened for a small matter."

Bryant went a step nearer to the speaker.

"Where do you get the authority to decide that my business is a small
matter?" he demanded, with a menace of manner that caused the other to
retreat in haste. "Go bring him and make me no more trouble."

The man went. Bryant lighted a cigarette and fell to surveying the
store's merchandise. Several minutes passed before a murmur of voices
apprised him of the coming of the men. Menocal entered the side door
first, approaching heavily and sleepily the spot where the engineer
waited. He had not put on coat or collar; his short figure appeared
more than ever obese; his sweeping white moustache divided his plump,
shiny brown face; and his air was that of one who must put up with
vexatious interruptions because of the important position he filled.

"You wish to speak with me?" he asked, shortly.

"That's why I'm here," Bryant returned.

Menocal gazed at him owlishly for a time.

"You're the man who threw my son's money back at the ford day before
yesterday, aren't you?" he questioned.

"The same."

"Why did you throw it back?"

"Why did he throw it at me in the first place? You should train him to
use better judgment. You yourself wouldn't have done it."

"No," Menocal said. Then, as if the subject were dismissed, he asked,
"What do you wish to see me about?"

"About the mortgage on the Stevenson place: I've bought the ranch.
Stevenson moves off in a few days."

Menocal's brows lifted and remained so, as if fixed in their new
elevation. He slowly rubbed the end of his nose with his forefinger.
The sleepiness had wholly vanished from his countenance.

"Come into the bank," he said, finally; and moved toward the front
door.

The engineer accompanied him. In a space railed off from the cashier's
grille in the little building next door they sat down. The teller was
visible in the cage, where now he appeared very busy though he had
undoubtedly been drowsing when they entered.

"So you've bought the Stevenson ranch," Menocal said.

"Yes. I've just had the deed recorded."

"The mortgage is due in a few days; I told him it wouldn't be renewed
by