“She ought to say nice things about me,” he replied casually.  “When she was quite a little girl she was given to understand that her ultimate mission in life was to marry me.  Of course I always realized that it would not be a compliment to Anita to indicate that I was not head over heels in love with her; I merely pretended I was too bashful to mention it.  Finally one day Anita suggested, as a favor to her and 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 Senora 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?”

“Painting and sketching.  I’ll never be a worth-while artist, but I like to paint things for myself.  I’ve been trying to depict on canvas the San Gregorio in her new spring gown, as you phrase it.  The arrival of the Sepulvida family interrupted me, and I’ve been sitting here since they departed.  We had tea.”

“Getting a trifle bored with the country, Kay?  I fancy you find it lonely out here.”

“It was a trifle quiet while you were in hospital.  Now that you’re back I suppose we can ride occasionally and visit some of the places of local interest.”