py to have you remain here
until I go away. After that, of course, you can continue to stay on
without any invitation from me."

Parker spoke up.

"My dear Mr. Farrel, that is charming of you! Indeed, from all that we
have heard of you, it is exactly the course we might expect you to take.
Nevertheless, we shall not accept of your kindness. Now that you are
here, I see no reason why I should impose the presence of my family and
myself upon your hospitality, even if the court has given me the right to
enter upon this property. I am confident you are competent to manage the
ranch until I am eliminated or come into final possession."

"John, don't be a nut," his wife implored him. "We'll stay here. Yes,
we shall, John. Mr. Farrel has asked us in good faith. You weren't
trying to be polite just to put us at our ease, were you?" she demanded,
turning to Farrel.

"Certainly not, Mrs. Parker. Of course, I shall do my level best to
acquire the legal right to dispossess you before Mr. Parker acquires a
similar right to dispossess me, but, in the interim, I announce an
armistice. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying
'Aye.'"

"Aye!" cried Kay, and "Aye!" shrilled her mother.

"No!" roared her husband.

"Excess of sound has no weight with me, Mr. Parker," their host
announced. "The 'Ayes' have it, and it is so ordered. I will now submit
a platform for the approval of the delegates. Having established myself
as host and won recognition as such, the following rules and regulations
will govern the convention."

"Hear! Hear!" cried Mrs. Parker, and tapped the table with her spoon.

"The rapid ringing of a bell will be the signal for meals."

"Approved!" cried Kay.

"Second the motion!" shrilled her mother.

"My cook, Carolina, is queen of the kitchen, and Spanish cuisine will
prevail. When you weary of it, serve notice, and your Japanese cook will
be permitted to vary the monotony."

"Great!" Mrs. Parker almost yelled. "Right as a fox!"

"Murray shall serve meals, and--"

Pablo appeared in the door leading to the kitchen and spoke to Farrel in
Spanish.

"Pardon, folks. Pablo has a telegram for me. Bring it here, Pablo."

The master of Palomar excused himself to his guests long enough to read
the telegram, and then continued the announcement of his platform.

"My old battery commander, to whom I had promised Panchito, wires me
that, for his sins, he has been made a major and or