won't go far wrong. I am not in Victoria with both eyes
shut. The upgrade is absolutely good for three more years and the big
prices will be next year. Get in when you can and make what you can.
It is a great life!

"However, this doesn't interest Eileen a bit."

"Oh, yes it does!" she put in quickly.

"Well,--it is business, and we fellows oughtn't to talk shop in a
lady's company.

"Phil,--you won't rob me of my little girl for a while yet? I require
her badly when the House is sitting at Victoria. I'd like to have her
with me next session at any rate."

"We had thought of eighteen months from now, daddy dear. Will that
do?" inquired Eileen.

The old man's eyes brightened up and his ruddy cheeks curved in a
smile.

"That will be just fine! I'll have eighteen months of you in which to
get used to doing without you. And, who knows, maybe that is all the
time I shall want."

"Now, daddy, don't say that. Besides, you won't be losing me; you'll
just be finding Phil."

John Royce Pederstone put one arm on Phil's shoulder and the other
round his daughter's slight waist, as he turned with them toward the
house.

"Well, we'll have dinner and a glass of wine over it, anyway."

CHAPTER XXIV

The Landslide

The apple blossoms fell like flakes of snow; the sunflowers faded and
were no more; the sun blazed on in all its radiant glory; the lakes
stood in a glassy calm;--and still the rush and scramble went
on--buying at a price and selling for more--still came the cry for
more money on mortgage to cover up and extend, pulling conservative
men into the gamble--their money providing the stake with no chance
for them to win more than their seven or eight per cent. Prices
soared; everyone lived within a multi-coloured bubble of prosperity.

The Langford-Ralston Financial Corporation became a corporation
indeed. To do business with them was the rage of the Valley, for their
work from end to end was business-like and honest. And even the thief
and the crook like to do business with honest men.

Then came the Valley's harvest; the greatest harvest it had ever
known; but, alas for the rancher, there was no market in which to
place his produce. He was at the mercy of the jobber, the kerb-stone
broker, the pedlar in fruit. He could not sell--he had to forward his
merchandise on consignment to the nearest large centre and, in
consequence, he often lost his entire shipment. Not only that, but at
times was saddled w