oda-water fountain; "I know a little tad that would just about jump out
of her skin for that. Think I'll have to take it with me."

"How's Sidney getting along?" the other asked, while wrapping up the
package.

Dyke's enthusiasm had made of his little girl a celebrity throughout
Bonneville.

The ex-engineer promptly became voluble, assertive, doggedly emphatic.

"Smartest little tad in all Tulare County, and more fun! A regular whole
show in herself."

"And the hops?" inquired the other.

"Bully," declared Dyke, with the good-natured man's readiness to talk of
his private affairs to any one who would listen. "Bully. I'm dead sure
of a bonanza crop by now. The rain came JUST right. I actually don't
know as I can store the crop in those barns I built, it's going to be so
big. That foreman of mine was a daisy. Jim, I'm going to make money in
that deal. After I've paid off the mortgage--you know I had to mortgage,
yes, crop and homestead both, but I can pay it off and all the interest
to boot, lovely,--well, and as I was saying, after all expenses are paid
off I'll clear big money, m' son. Yes, sir. I KNEW there was boodle in
hops. You know the crop is contracted for already. Sure, the foreman
managed that. He's a daisy. Chap in San Francisco will take it all and
at the advanced price. I wanted to hang on, to see if it wouldn't go to
six cents, but the foreman said, 'No, that's good enough.' So I signed.
Ain't it bully, hey?"

"Then what'll you do?"

"Well, I don't know. I'll have a lay-off for a month or so and take the
little tad and mother up and show 'em the city--'Frisco--until it's
time for the schools to open, and then we'll put Sid in the seminary at
Marysville. Catch on?"

"I suppose you'll stay right by hops now?"

"Right you are, m'son. I know a good thing when I see it. There's plenty
others going into hops next season. I set 'em the example. Wouldn't be
surprised if it came to be a regular industry hereabouts. I'm planning
ahead for next year already. I can let the foreman go, now that I've
learned the game myself, and I think I'll buy a piece of land off Quien
Sabe and get a bigger crop, and build a couple more barns, and, by
George, in about five years time I'll have things humming. I'm going to
make MONEY, Jim."

He emerged once more into the street and went up the block leisurely,
planting his feet squarely. He fancied that he could feel he was
considered of more importance nowadays. He was no