pular with women if you do not mend your ways,"
she informed him, with a little grimace of disapproval. "Do you not
know that women loathe non-observing men?"

"So do I. Stodgy devils! Sooner or later, the fool-killer gets them
all. Please do not judge me to-day, Miss Parker. Perhaps, after a
while, I may be more discerning. By Jupiter, those very becoming
riding-togs will create no end of comment among the natives!"

"You said Panchito was to be mine while I am your guest, Don Mike."

"I meant it."

"I do not relish the easy manner in which you risk parting with him.
The idea of betting that wonder-horse against a box of filthy cigars!"

"Oh, I wasn't risking him," he retorted, dryly. "However, before you
ride Panchito, I'll put him through his paces. He hasn't been ridden
for three or four months, I dare say, and when he feels particularly
good, he carries on just a little."

"If he's sober-minded, may I ride him to-day?"

"We shall quarrel if you insist upon treating yourself as company. My
home and all I possess are here for your happiness. If your mother and
father do not object--"

"My father doesn't bother himself opposing my wishes, and mother--by
the way, you've made a perfectly tremendous hit with mother. She told
me I could go riding with you."

He blushed boyishly at this vote of confidence. Kay noted the blush,
and liked him all the better for it.

"Very well," he answered. "We'll ride down to the mission first. I
must pay my respects to my friends there--didn't bother to look in on
them last night, you know. Then we will ride over to the Sepulvida
ranch for luncheon. I want you to know Anita Sepulvida. She's a very
lovely girl and a good pal of mine. You'll like her."

"Let's go," she suggested, "while mother is still convoying Mr. Okada.
He is still interested in that sweet-lime tree. By the way," she
continued, as they rose and walked down the porch together, "I have
never heard of a sweet-lime before."

"It's the only one of its kind in this country, Miss Parker, and it is
very old. Just before it came into bearing for the first time, my
grandmother, while walking along the porch with a pan of sugar in her
hands, stubbed her toe and fell off the porch, spilling her pan of
sugar at the base of the tree. The result of this accident is
noticeable in the fruit to this very day."

She glanced up at him suspiciously, but not even the shadow of a smile
hovered on his grave