it completed. Many things may occur during
those two years--the principal danger to be apprehended being the
sudden collapse of inflated war-time values, with resultant money
panics, forced liquidation and the destruction of public confidence in
land investments. The worry and exasperation I can hand your respected
parent must be as seriously considered as the impending tremendous loss
of profit."

"I believe you are a very shrewd young man, Don Mike," the girl
answered, sadly. "I think your plan will be much more likely to
produce half a million dollars of what you call 'getaway money' than my
suggestion that a friend run up the price on father at the sale. But
how do you know Okada will pay cash?"

"I do not know. But if your father's attorneys are Californians they
will warn him to play safe when dealing with a Jap."

"But is it not possible that Okada may not have sufficient money to
operate on the excessive scale you outline?"

"Not a chance. He is not buying for himself; he is the representative
of the Japanese Association of California."

"Well, Don Miguel Farrel," the girl declared, as he ceased speaking, "I
have only known you twenty-four hours, but in that time I have heard
you do a deal of talking on the Japanese question in California. And
now you have proved a terrible disappointment to me."

"In what way?" he demanded, and pulled his horse up abruptly. He was
vaguely distressed at her blunt statement, apprehensive as to the
reason for her flushed face and flashing eye, the slightly strident
note in her voice.

"I have regarded you as a true blue American--a super-patriot. And now
you calmly plan to betray your state to the enemy for the paltry sum of
half a million dollars!"

He stared at her, a variety of emotions in his glance. "Well," he
replied, presently, "I suppose I shall deserve that, if I succeed with
my plan. However, as a traitor, I'm not even a runner-up with your
father. He's going to get a couple of million dollars as the price of
his shame! And he doesn't even need the money. On the other hand, I
am a desperate, mighty unhappy ex-soldier experiencing all of the
delights of a bankrupt, with the exception of an introduction to the
referee in bankruptcy. I'm whipped. Who cares what becomes of me?
Not a soul on earth except Pablo and Carolina and they, poor creatures,
are dependent upon me. Why should I sacrifice my last chance for
happiness in a vain effort to stem a