dered to the Army of
Occupation on the Rhine. Therefore, he cannot use Panchito, and forbids
me to express the horse to him. Consequently, Miss Parker, Panchito is
_almost_ yours. Consider him your property while you remain my guest."

"You darling Don Miguel Farrel!"

"Exuberant, my dear," her curious mother remarked, dryly, "but, on the
whole, the point is well taken." She turned to Farrel. "How about some
sort of nag for mother?"

"You may ride my father's horse, if that animal is still on the ranch,
Mrs. Parker. He's a beautiful single-footer." He addressed Parker. "We
used to have a big gray gelding that you'd enjoy riding, sir. I'll look
him up for you after breakfast."

"Thank you, Mr. Farrel," Parker replied, flushing slightly, "I've been
riding him already."

"Fine! He needed exercising. I have a brown mare for Mr. Okada, and you
are all invited out to the corral after luncheon to see me bust
Panchito's wild young brother for my own use."

"Oh, splendid!" Kay cried, enthusiastically.

"The day starts more auspiciously than I had hoped," her mother declared.
"I really believe the Rancho Palomar is going to develop into a regular
place with you around, Mr. Farrel."

XI

"I am convinced," said Miguel Farrel, as he followed his guests out of
the dining-room onto the veranda, "that the Parkers' invasion of my
home is something in the nature of a mixed misfortune. I begin to feel
that my cloud has a silver lining."

"Of all the young men I have ever met, you can say the nicest things,"
Mrs. Parker declared. "I don't think you mean that last remark the
least bit, but still I'm silly enough to like to hear you say it. Do
sit down here awhile, Mr. Farrel, and tell us all about yourself and
family."

"At the risk of appearing discourteous, Mrs. Parker, I shall have to
ask you to excuse me this morning. I have a living to make. It is now
a quarter past nine, and I should have been on the job at seven."

"But you only got home from the army last night," Kay pleaded. "You
owe yourself a little rest, do you not?"

"Not a minute. I must not owe anything I cannot afford. I have
approximately seven months in which to raise approximately a quarter of
a million dollars. Since I am without assets, I have no credit;
consequently, I must work for that money. From to-day I am Little
Mike, the Hustler."

"What's your program, Mr. Farrel?" Parker inquired, with interest.

"I should be grat