power company."

"I cannot answer that question, Bill."

"Nor can I. But there's a reason--perhaps two reasons. Territorially,
this power site is the natural property of but two power
corporations--the Central California and the South Coast. The South
Coast is the second largest corporation of its kind in the state; the
Central California is the fifth. Why go gunning for a dickey bird when
you can tie up to an eagle?"

They were both silent, pondering the question. Then said Bill Conway,
"Well, son, if I had as much curiosity regarding the reason for this
situation as you have, I'd most certainly spend some money to find out."

"I have the money and I am prepared to spend it. How would you start,
Bill?"

"Well, I'd buy a couple of shares of stock, in the Central California
Power Company as a starter. Then I would descend upon the main office
of the company, exhibit my stock and claim my stockholder's right to
look over the list of stockholders and bondholders of record; also, the
board of directors and the minutes of the previous meetings. You may
not find John Parker's name listed either as stockholder, bondholder or
director, but you might find the First National Bank of El Toro,
represented by the cashier or the first vice-president of that
institution. Also, if I were you, I'd just naturally hop the rattler
for San Francisco, hie myself to some stockbroker's office to buy this
stock, and while buying it look over the daily reports of the stock
market for the past few years and see if the figures suggested anything