ollege I have been in newspaper
work and I have lived in an apartment in New York except while I was
abroad. When I came back my paper sent me to San Francisco and from
there I motored down to see for myself if the wonderful things that are
written about Los Angeles County are true."

"That is not much of a compliment to us," said Linda slowly. "How do you
think we would dare write them if they were not true?"

This caused such a laugh that everyone felt much easier. Marian turned
her dark eyes toward Peter Morrison.

"Linda and I are busy people," she said. "We waste little time
in indirections, so I hope it's not out of the way for me to ask
straightforwardly if you are truly in earnest, about wanting a home in
Lilac Valley?"

"Then I'll have to answer you," said Peter, "that I have an attractive
part of the 'makin's' and I am in deadly earnest about wanting a home
somewhere. I am sick in my soul of narrow apartments and wheels and the
rush and roar of the city. There was a time when I ate and drank it.
It was the very breath of life to me. I charged on Broadway like a
caterpillar tank charging in battle; but it is very remarkable how
quickly one changes in this world. I have had some success in my work,
and the higher I go, the better work I feel I can do in a quiet place
and among less enervating surroundings. John and I were in college
together, roommates, and no doubt he has told you that we graduated with
the same class. He has found his location here and I would particularly
enjoy having a home near him. They tell me there are well-trained
servants to look after a house and care for a bachelor, so I truly feel
that if I can find a location I would like, and if Henry can plan me a
house, and I can stretch my purse to cover the investment, that there
is a very large possibility that somewhere within twenty miles of Los
Angeles I may find the home of my dreams."

"One would almost expect," said Marian, "that a writer would say
something more original. This valley is filled with people who came here
saying precisely what you have said; and the lure of the land won them
and here they are, shameless boosters of California."

"Why shameless?" inquired Henry Anderson.

"Because California so verifies the wildest statement that can be made
concerning her that one may go the limit of imagination without shame,"
laughed Marian. "I try in all my dealings to stick to the straight and
narrow path."

"Oh, kid, don't