“In the absence of conclusive proof to the contrary, Bill, I am convinced that John Parker did enter into such a contract.  Naturally, until he should secure the title to the ranch, the railroad commission, which regulates all public service corporations in this state, would not grant the power company permission to gamble on the truth of an official report that I had been killed in Siberia.”

“Your reasoning is sound.  Now eat, and after breakfast I’ll tell you things.  Your visit and your eager inquiries have started a train of thought in my thick head.”

Don Mike obeyed, and while he devoted himself to his breakfast, old Bill Conway amused himself rolling pellets out of bread and flipping them at a knot-hole in the rough wall of the mess hall.

“You’ve been pretty well troubled, haven’t you, son?” he remarked paternally when Don Mike, having completed his meal, sat back and commenced rolling a cigarette.

“Si.  Got your train of thought ditched, Bill?”

“I have.  Assuming that Parker has made a deal with the Central California Power Company, what I want to know is:  Why did he do it?”

“I’ve just told you why he did it.”

“You’ve just told me why he would make a deal with a power company, but you haven’t explained why he should make a deal with this particular 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 to me.”