r face
was no longer inscrutable; it shone with a kind of inner illumination. But
when she saw the slender column of spray and the sparkling basin, with a
few semi-tropical plants grouped on the curb, a cactus, a feathery palm in
a quaint stone pot, she turned, and her eyes sought Elizabeth's. "It is
all like the old hacienda where grandfather was born, and mother, and"--
her voice broke--"Only that had adobe walls," she finished. "It is like--
coming home."

"It is simply marvelous," replied Elizabeth, and she added abruptly,
looking at the prospector: "Mr. Banks, you are a problem beyond me."

"It looks all right, doesn't it?" the little man beamed. "Likely it would
about suit Dave. And I was able to stand the investment. My, yes, now your
brother has bought out the Annabel, what I spent wouldn't cut any figure.
But," and his glance moved to the woman who had profited by the venture,
"I'll likely get my money back."

Afterwards, when the party had inspected the reservoirs and upper flumes,
Beatriz found herself returning to the bench with Lucky Banks. It was
almost sunset, and the far Chelan peaks were touched with Alpine fire;
below them an amethyst mist filtered over the transformed vale. They had
been discussing the architecture of the building.

"I had often gone over the map of the project with David," she said, "but
he must have drawn the plans of the house later, in Alaska. It was a
complete surprise. I wonder he remembered the old hacienda so accurately;
he was there only once--when we were on our wedding journey."

"There were a few measurements that had to be looked up," admitted Banks;
"but I took a little run around into lower California last winter, on my
way home from Washington, D.C."

"You were there? You troubled to go all the way to the old rancheria for
details?"

"Yes, ma'am. It was a mighty good grazing country down there, but the
people who bought the place were making their money out of one of those
fine hotels; it was put up alongside a bunch of hot springs. Nobody but a
couple of Mexicans was living in the old house. It was in bad shape."

"I know. I know. If I had been a man, it would have been different. I
should have restored it; I should have worked, fought to buy back every
acre. But you saw old Jacinta and Carlos? It was recorded in the title
they should be allowed to stay there and have the use of the old home
garden as long as they lived. My mother insisted on that."

They ha