ld have saved me--for old sake's sake, but--I would have
been expected to secure her investment with collateral in the shape of
a six-dollar wedding ring."

"So the old lady wanted you for a son-in-law, eh? Smart woman. She
has a long, sagacious nose. So she proceeded, unknown to you, to
finance old Conway, eh?"

"No, she did not. Another lady did."

"What a devil you are with the women! Marvelous--for one who doesn't
pay the slightest attention to any of them. May I ask if you are going
to--ah--marry the other lady?

"Well, it would never have occurred to me to propose to her before
Panchito reached the wire first, but now that I am my own man again and
able to match her, dollar for dollar, it may be that I shall consider
an alliance, provided the lady is gracious enough to regard me with
favor."

"I wish you luck," John Parker replied, coldly. "Let us join the
ladies."

Three days later, in El Toro, Don Mike and his attorney met in
conference with John Parker and his associates in the office of the
latter's attorney and completed the sale of the Agua Caliente property
to a corporation formed by a merger of the Central California Power
Company and the South Coast Power Corporation. A release of mortgage
was handed Miguel Farrel as part payment, the remainder being in bonds
of the South Coast Power Corporation, to the extent of two million
dollars. In return, Farrel delivered a deed to the Agua Caliente
property and right of way and a dismissal, by Bill Conway, of his suit
for damages against John Parker, in return for which John Parker
presented Farrel an agreement to reimburse Bill Conway of all moneys
expended by him and permit him to complete the original contract for
the dam.

"Well, that straightens out our muchly involved affairs," John Parker
declared. "Farrel, you've gotten back your ranch, with the exception
of the Agua Caliente Basin, which wasn't worth a hoot to you anyway,
you have two million dollars in good sound bonds and all the money you
won on Panchito. By the way, if I may be pardoned for my curiosity,
how much money did you actually win that day?"

Don Mike smiled, reread his release of mortgage, gathered up his bundle
of bonds, backed to the door, opened it and stood there, paused for
night.

"Gentlemen," he declared, "I give you my word of honor--no, I'll give
you a Spaniard's oath--I swear, by the virtue of my dead mother and the
honor of my dead father, I did not bet one