for the sake of my own self-respect, that I abandon the pose; with
tears in her eyes she begged me to be a gallant rebel and save her from
the loving solicitude of her parents to see her settled in life. At
that moment I almost loved her, particularly when, having assured her
of my entire willingness and ability to spoil everything, she kissed me
rapturously on both cheeks and confided to me that she was secretly
engaged to an engineer chap who was gophering for potash in Death
Valley. The war interrupted his gophering, but Anita informs me that
he found the potash, and now he can be a sport and bet his potash
against Señora Sepulvida's crude oil. Fortunately, my alleged death
gave Anita an opportunity to advance his claims, and he was in a fair
way of becoming acceptable until my unexpected return rather greased
the skids for him. Anita's mother is trying to give the poor devil the
double-cross now, but I told Anita she needn't worry."

Kay's eyes danced with merriment--and relief. "But," she persisted,
"you told me your problem was settled? And it isn't."

"It is. I'm going to sell about eighteen thousand dollars worth of
cattle off this ranch, and I've leased the valley grazing privilege for
one year for ten thousand dollars. My raid on Loustalot netted me
sixty-seven thousand dollars, so that my total bankroll is now about
ninety-five thousand dollars. At first I thought I'd let Bill Conway
have most of my fortune to help him complete that dam, but I have now
decided to stop work on the dam and use all of my energy and my fortune
to put through such other deals as may occur to me. If I am lucky I
shall emerge with sufficient funds to save the ranch. If I am unlucky,
I shall lose the ranch. Therefore, the issue is decided. 'God's in
his Heaven; all's right with the world.' What have you been doing all
day?"