udes and see through the cranky exterior
to the worthy idealist and true woman beneath. I was interrupted in my
thoughts by Miss Francis speaking again.

"North American landtitles have no value right now, but a man with money
who knew ahead of time the Grass could be destroyed ..."

How clumsy, I thought, trying to appeal to a cupidity I don't possess;
as if I would cheat people by buying up their very homes for sordid
speculation. "Miss Francis," I said, "purely out of generosity and in
remembrance of old times I am inclined to consider helping you. I
suppose you have the details of the equipment you will need, the
qualifications of your assistants, and a rough idea of what mountain you
might prefer as a location?"

"Of course," and she began rattling off a catalogue of items, stabbing
the air with her toothpick as a sort of running punctuation.

I stopped her with a raised hand. "Please. Reduce your list to writing
and leave it with my secretary. I will see what can be done."

As soon as she had gone I picked up the phone and cabled Tony Preblesham
to report to me immediately. The decision to send him with Miss Francis
had been instantaneous, but had I thought about it for hours no happier
design could have been conceived. Outside of General Thario there was
not another man in my organization I could trust so implicitly. The
expedition required double, no, triple secrecy and Preblesham could not
only guard against any ulterior and selfish aims Miss Francis might
entertain--to say nothing of the erratic or purely feminine impulses
which could possibly operate to the disadvantage of all concerned--but
take the opportunity to give the continent a general survey, both to
keep in view the utilization of the weed, whether or not it could be
conquered; and whatever possibilities a lay observer might see as to the
Grass perishing of itself.

_70._

"Mr. Albert Weener,
Queen Elizabeth Hotel,
Perth, Western Australia, A.C.

"Dear Sir:--
According to yr. instructions our party left Paramaribo on the 9th
inst. for Medellin, giving out that we were going to see possible
tin deposits near there. At Medellin I checked with our men & was
told that work gangs with the stuff needed to make landing fields
together with caches of gas & oil, enough for 3 times the flying
required had been dropped both at Mt. Whitney & on Banks Island. A.
W., I tell you the boys down there are