In that three-mile walk to the Mission he will
perfect the details of his plan of attack."
"Then he is planning?--but you said his plans are fully matured. How
do you know, Kay?"
"He told me all about them as we were riding in this evening." Both
Parker and his wife raised interrogatory eyebrows. "Indeed!" Mrs.
Parker murmured. "So he's honoring you with his confidences already?"
The girl ignored her mother's bantering tones. "No, he didn't tell me
in confidence. In fact, his contemplated procedure is so normal and
free from guile that he feels there is no necessity for secrecy. I
suppose he feels that it would be foolish to conceal the trap after the
mouse has been caught in it."
"Well, little daughter, I haven't been caught--yet. And I'm not a
mouse, but considerable of an old fox. What's he up to?"
"He's going to sell you his equity in the ranch."
Her father stared hard at her, a puzzled little smile beginning to
break over his handsome face.
"That sounds interesting," he replied, dryly. "What am I going to pay
for it?"
"Half a million dollars."
"Nonsense."
"Perhaps. But you'll have to admit that his reasoning is not so
preposterous as you think." And she went on to explain to Parker every
angle of the situation as Don Mike viewed it.
Both Parker and his wife listened attentively. "Well, John," the good
soul demanded, when her daughter had finished speaking: "What's wrong
with that prescription?"
"By George, that young man has a head on his shoulders.
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