Do
sit down here awhile, Mr. Farrel, and tell us all about yourself and
family."
"At the risk of appearing discourteous, Mrs. Parker, I shall have to
ask you to excuse me this morning. I have a living to make. It is now
a quarter past nine, and I should have been on the job at seven."
"But you only got home from the army last night," Kay pleaded. "You
owe yourself a little rest, do you not?"
"Not a minute. I must not owe anything I cannot afford. I have
approximately seven months in which to raise approximately a quarter of
a million dollars. Since I am without assets, I have no credit;
consequently, I must work for that money. From to-day I am Little
Mike, the Hustler."
"What's your program, Mr. Farrel?" Parker inquired, with interest.
"I should be grateful for an interview with you, sir, if you can spare
the time. Later, I shall ride out over the ranch and make an inventory
of the stock. Tomorrow, I shall go in to El Toro, see my father's
attorney, ascertain if father left a will, and, if so, whom he named as
executor. If he died intestate, I shall petition for letters of
administration."
"Come, Kay, dear," Mrs. Parker announced; "heavy business-man stuff! I
can't bear it! Will you take a walk with us, Mr. Okada?"
"Very much pleased," the potato baron replied, and flashed his fine
teeth in a fatuous grin.
Farrel smiled his thanks as the good lady moved off with her convoy.
Pages:
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122