with as much consideration as if the fellow were your sainted
father. I do not understand such people. This Japanese visitor was
given this room, but this honor I denied him."

"My father's business affairs are greatly tangled, Pablo. I shall have
quite a task to place them in order," Don Miguel informed him, sadly.

"If it is permitted an old servant to appear curious, Don Miguel, how
long must we submit to the presence of these strangers?"

"For the present, Pablo, I am the master here; therefore, these people
are my guests. It has never been the custom with my people to be
discourteous to guests."

"I shall try to remember that," Pablo replied, bitterly. "Forgive me,
Don Miguel, for forgetting it. Perhaps I have not played well my part
as the representative of my master during his absence."

"Do not distress yourself further in the matter, Pablo. What food have
we at the ranch? Is there sufficient with which to enable Carolina to
serve breakfast?"

"To serve it where, Don Miguel?"

"Where but in my home?"

"Blood of the devil!" Pablo slapped his thigh and grinned in the
knowledge that the last of the Farrels, having come home, had decided
to waste no time in assuming his natural position as the master of the
Rancho Palomar. "We have oranges," he began, enumerating each course
of the forthcoming meal on his tobacco-stained fingers. "Then there is
flour in my possession for biscuits, and, two weeks ago, I robbed a
bee-tree; so we have honey. Our coffee is not of the best, but it is
coffee. And we have eggs."

"Any butter, sugar, and cream?"

"Alas, no, Don Miguel!"

"Saddle a horse at once, go down to the mission, and borrow some from
Father Dominic. If he has none, ride over to the Gonzales rancho and
get it. Bacon, also, if they have it. Tell Carolina I will have
breakfast for five at half after eight."

"But this Japanese cook of _Senor_ Parker's, Don Miguel?"

"I am not in a mood to be troubled by trifles tonight, Pablo."

"I understand, Don Miguel. The matter may safely be entrusted to me."
He picked up the tray. "Sweet rest to you, sir, and may our Saviour
grant a quick healing to your bruised heart. Good-night."

"Good-night, Pablo." Farrel rose and laid his hand on the old
retainer's shoulder. "I never bothered to tell you this before, Pablo,
but I want you to know that I do appreciate you and Carolina
tremendously. You've stuck to me and mine, and you'll always have a