il enjoyed the joke immensely, but Jim was limp with the excitement
of it and remained so for several courses of that interesting little
dinner, although, towards the finish of it, he made ample amends with
his dry humour and his brilliant sallies. He took possession of
Margery finally, and Margery seemed greatly to enjoy being possessed,
for to her Jim Langford was a type distinctly new, absolutely original
and delightfully amusing.

Jim arranged a motor trip for the ladies for the next morning, and was
reluctant indeed to wish them "Good night," in order to take part in
the long business talk which Phil and Mr. Ralston, Senior, had
arranged.

Right on until the early morning the three men sat in the smoking room
of the Station Hotel discussing the country, the conditions and future
possibilities.

Phil and Jim furnished the local information, until father Ralston
became almost as well posted as they were themselves. He was a keen
business man, one who knew good opportunities when they were presented
and who was never afraid to grasp them.

Next morning early, as soon as he got up, Phil telephoned Eileen the
wonderful news, but that alert little lady already knew, for the news
had travelled quickly over the little town.

Soon thereafter, two cars--one containing the two ladies and Jim, and
the other Phil and his father--ran up to Royce Pederstone's. Eileen
and her father came out, were introduced, and the cheerful little
party set out for a tour of inspection over the neighbourhood. Every
ranch of importance was visited, particular attention being given to
the many possessed by Royce Pederstone, who, although greatly improved
in health, was still far from well; and the visit to the beautiful
places he possessed in name only, the great areas of wonderful
property that would have to pass out of his keeping to satisfy his
bank creditors, seemed to cast fresh gloom over the old man.

They lunched in the open, and they visited the lakes.

While the elderly folks sat and talked together, Phil wandered off
with Eileen down among the trees by the lake side. There in the shade,
sitting on a grassy knoll, he told her of the plans his father and Jim
and he were formulating. He cajoled her, he coaxed her, then he
bullied her; but it was only when he proved to her that everything was
purely in the nature of an investment, that there was no question of
bolstering a tottering edifice, that it was only because of its great
po