? If you want to set that boy's mind at
ease, loan him three hundred thousand dollars to take up the mortgage
your father holds on his ranch; then take a new mortgage in your own
name to secure the loan. If you're bound to save him in the long run,
why keep the poor devil in suspense?"

She made a little moue of distaste. "I loathe business. The loaning
of money on security--the taking advantage of another's distress. Mr.
Bill, it never made a hit with me. I'm doing this merely because I
realize that my father's course, while strictly legal, is not kind. I
refuse to permit him to do that sort of thing to a Medal of Honor man."
He noticed a pretty flush mount to her lovely cheeks. "It isn't
sporty, Mr. Bill Conway. However, it isn't nice to tell one's
otherwise lovable father that he's a poor sport and a Shylock, is it?
I cannot deliberately pick a fight with my father by interfering in his
business affairs, can I? Also, it seems to me that Don Mike Farrel's
pride is too high to permit of his acceptance of a woman's pity. I do
not wish him to be under obligation to me. He might misconstrue my
motive--oh, you understand, don't you? I'm sure I'm in an extremely
delicate position."

He nodded sagely. "Nevertheless," he pursued, "he _will_ be under
obligation to you."

"He will never know it. I depend upon you to keep my secret. He will
think himself under obligation to you--and you're such an old and dear
friend. Men accept obligations from each other and think nothing of
it. By the way, I hold you responsible for the return of that fifty
thousand dollars, not Don Mike Farrel. You are underwriting his battle
with my father, are you not?"

"Yes, I am," he retorted briskly, "and I've got more conceit than a
barber's cat for daring to do it. Wait a minute and I'll give you my
promissory note. I'm paying seven per cent for bank accommodations
lately. That rate of interest suit you?"

She nodded and followed him to his office, where he laboriously wrote
and signed a promissory note in her favor. Pablo, remaining politely
out of sound of their conversation, wondered vaguely what they were up
to.

"Don Mike has told us something of the indolent, easy-going natures of
his people," Kay continued, as she tucked the note in her coat pocket.
"I have wondered if, should, he succeed in saving his ranch without too
great an expenditure of effort, he would continue to cast off the spell
of 'the splendid, idle