longed to his son,
who was in the military service, in consequence of which the suit for
foreclosure could not be pressed until after said son's discharge from
the service."

"All praise to the power of the war-time moratoriums," Farrel declared.
"I suppose you re-entered the suit as soon as the report of my death
reached you."

Parker chuckled.

"I did, Mr. Farrel, and secured a judgment. Then I took possession."

"Aren't you the picture of bad luck? Just when everything is shaping
up beautifully for you, I appear in the flesh as exhibit A in the
contention that your second judgment will now have to be set aside,
because, at the time it was entered, it conflicted with the provisions
of that blessed moratorium." Don Miguel smiled mirthlessly.

"There's luck in odd numbers," Parker retorted, dryly. "The next time
I shall make that judgment stick."

"Well, at any rate, all these false starts help me out wonderfully,"
Don Miguel reminded him. "As matters stand this morning, the mortgage
hasn't been foreclosed at all; consequently, you are really and truly
my guests and doubly welcome to my poor house." He rose and stretched
himself, gazing down the while at Parker, who regarded him quizzically.
"Thank you for the interview, Mr. Parker. I imagine we've had our
first and last business discussion. When you are ready to enter your
third suit for foreclosure, I'll drop round to your attorney's office,
accept service of the summons, appear in court, and confess judgment."
Fell a silence. Then, "Do you enjoy the study of people, sir?" Don
Miguel demanded, apropos of nothing.

"Not particularly, Mr. Farrel. Of course, I try to know the man I'm
doing business with, and I study him accordingly, but that is all."

"I have not made myself explicit," his host replied. "The racial
impulses which I observed cropping out in my father--first Irish, then
Spanish--and a similar observance of the raised impulses of the peons
of this country, all of whom are Indian, with a faint admixture of
Spanish blood--always interested me. I agree with Pope that 'the
proper study of mankind is man.' I find it most interesting."

"For instance?" Parker queried. He had a feeling that in any
conversation other than business which he might indulge in with this
young man he would speedily find himself, as it were, in deep water
close to the shore.

"I was thinking of my father. In looking through his effects last
night, I came acros