man, with a
weather-beaten face, paused on the threshold. "I am Lucky Banks," he said
simply, taking off his hat. "Mr. Tisdale asked me to see you got this
bundle."

Involuntarily her glance rested on the hand that held the package in the
curve of his arm, and she suppressed a shiver; the dread that the young
and physically perfect always betray at the sight of deformity sprang to
her eyes. "Thank you for troubling," she said, then, having taken the
bundle, she waited to close the door.

But Banks was in no hurry. "It wasn't any trouble, my, no," he replied. "I
was glad of the chance. It's a little bunch of stuff that was Dave's. And
likely I'd have come up, anyhow," he added, "to inquire about a tract of
land you own east of the mountains. I heard you talked of selling."

Instantly her face brightened. "Yes. But come in, will you not?" She
turned and placed the package on the table, and took one of two chairs
near the alcove. The azalea was so near that its vivid flowers seemed to
cast a reflection on her cheeks. "I presume you mean my tract in the
Wenatchee Mountains?" she went on engagingly. "A few miles above
Hesperides Vale."

"Well, yes." Banks seated himself on the edge of the other chair and held
his hat so as to conceal the maimed hand. "I didn't know you had but one
piece. It's up among the benches and takes in a kind of pocket. It's off
the line of irrigation, but if the springs turn out what I expect, it
ought to be worth sixty dollars an acre. And I want an option on the whole
tract for ten thousand."

"Ten thousand dollars?" Her voice fluted incredulously. "But I am afraid I
don't understand exactly what an option is. Please explain, Mr. Banks."

"Why, it's this way. I pay something down, say about three thousand, and
you agree to let the sale rest for well, say six months, while I prospect
the ground and see how it is likely to pan out. Afterwards, if I fail to
buy, I naturally forfeit the bonus and all improvements."

"I see," she said slowly. "I see. But--you know it is wild land; you have
been over the ground?"

"Not exactly, but I know the country, and I've talked with a man I can
bank on, my, yes."

"How soon"--she began, then, covering her eagerness, said: "I agree to
your option, Mr. Banks."

He laid his hat on the floor and took out his billbook, in which he found
two printed blanks, filled according to his terms and ready for her
signature. "I thought likely we could close the deal ri