There are cattle enough on the ranch to guarantee
that."
"Well, while these little adventures are interesting, Mr. Farrel, the
fact is I've always made it a rule not to gamble."
"Listen to the hypocrite!" his wife almost shouted. "Gambled every day
of his life for twenty-five years on the New York Stock Exchange, and
now he has the effrontery to make a statement like that! John Parker,
roll them bones!"
"Not to-day," he protested. "This isn't my lucky day."
"Well, it's mine," the good soul retorted. "Miguel--you'll pardon my
calling you by your first name: Miguel, but since I was bound to do so
sooner or later, we'll start now--Miguel, I'm in charge of the domestic
affairs of the Parker family, and I've never known a time when this
poor tired old business man didn't honor my debts. Roll 'em, Mike, and
test your luck."
"Mother!" Kay murmured reproachfully.
"Nonsense, dear! Miguel is the most natural gentleman, the first
_regular_ young man I've met in years. I'm for him, and I want him to
know it. Are you for me, Miguel?"
"All the way!" Don Mike cried happily,
"There!" the curious woman declared triumphantly. "I knew we were
going to be good friends. What do I see before me? As I live, a pair
of box cars."
"Mother, where _did_ you learn such slang?" her daughter pleaded.
"From the men your non-gambling father used to bring home to play poker
and shoot craps," she almost shouted.
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