He will agree to your proposal, and I shall take
occasion to warn him that if he should ever break his word while I am
living, I shall consider, in view of the fact that I am the mediator in
this matter, that he has broken faith with me, and I shall act
accordingly."
The arrangement with Loustalot was therefore made, and immediately upon
his return to the ranch Farrel, knowing that the sheep would spoil his
range for the few hundred head of cattle that still remained of the
thousands that once had roamed El Palomar, rounded up these cattle and
sold them. And it was in the performance of this duty that he
discovered during the roundup, on the trail leading from the hacienda
to Agua Caliente basin, a rectangular piece of paper. It lay, somewhat
weather-stained, face up beside the trail, and because it resembled a
check, he leaned easily from his horse and picked it up. To his
amazement he discovered it to be a promissory note, in the sum of fifty
thousand dollars, in favor of Kay Parker and signed by William D.
Conway.
Pablo was beating the thickets in the river bottom, searching out some
spring calves he knew were lurking there, when his master reined up
beside him.
"Pablo," he demanded, "has Senor Conway been to the ranch during my
absence?"
"No, Don Miguel, he has not."
"Has Senorita Parker ridden Panchito over to Senor Conway's camp at
Agua Caliente basin?"
"Yes, Don Miguel.
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