ap who was gophering for potash in Death
Valley. The war interrupted his gophering, but Anita informs me that
he found the potash, and now he can be a sport and bet his potash
against Senora Sepulvida's crude oil. Fortunately, my alleged death
gave Anita an opportunity to advance his claims, and he was in a fair
way of becoming acceptable until my unexpected return rather greased
the skids for him. Anita's mother is trying to give the poor devil the
double-cross now, but I told Anita she needn't worry."

Kay's eyes danced with merriment--and relief. "But," she persisted,
"you told me your problem was settled? And it isn't."

"It is. I'm going to sell about eighteen thousand dollars worth of
cattle off this ranch, and I've leased the valley grazing privilege for
one year for ten thousand dollars. My raid on Loustalot netted me
sixty-seven thousand dollars, so that my total bankroll is now about
ninety-five thousand dollars. At first I thought I'd let Bill Conway
have most of my fortune to help him complete that dam, but I have now
decided to stop work on the dam and use all of my energy and my fortune
to put through such other deals as may occur to me. If I am lucky I
shall emerge with sufficient funds to save the ranch. If I am unlucky,
I shall lose the ranch. Therefore, the issue is decided. 'God's in
his Heaven; all's right with the world.' What have you been doing all
day?"

"Painting and sketching. I'll never be a worth-while artist, but I
like to paint things for myself. I've been trying to depict on canvas
the San Gregorio in her new spring gown, as you phrase it. The arrival
of the Sepulvida family interrupted me, and I've been sitting here
since they departed. We had tea."

"Getting a trifle bored with the country, Kay? I fancy you find it
lonely out here."

"It was a trifle quiet while you were in hospital. Now that you're
back I suppose we can ride occasionally and visit some of the places of
local interest."

"By all means. As soon as I get rid of that little bunch of cattle I'm
going to give a barbecue and festival to the countryside in honor of my
guests. We'll eat a half dozen fat two-year-old steers and about a
thousand loaves of bread and a couple of barrels of claret and a huge
mess of chilli sauce. When I announce in the El Toro _Sentinel_ that
I'm going to give a _fiesta_ and that everybody is welcome, all my
friends and their friends and relatives will come and I'll be sp