"See your four dollars," Conway retorted and covered the bet.
"I'm betting that those plans were drawn by the engineer of the South
Coast Power Corporation."
"Death loves a shining mark, Michael, my boy. Hand over that four
dollars."
Farrel produced a five dollar bill. "I'm betting five dollars," he
challenged again.
"Not with me, son. You're too good. I suppose your next bet will be
that the plans were drawn by the engineer of the Central California
Power Company."
"Were they?"
"Yes."
"Got a set of the plans with his name on them?"
"You bet."
"I want them."
"They're yours, provided you tell your Uncle Bill the Big Idea."
Don Mike flipped some pepper and salt on his eggs and while doing so
proceeded to elucidate.
"If I had two projects in mind--one for irrigation and one for power, I
would not, of course, unless I happened to be a public service
corporation engaged in producing and selling electric power, consider
for a moment wasting my time monkeying with the hydro-electric
buzz-saw. Indeed, I would have to sell it, for with the juice
developed here I could not hope to compete in a limited field with the
established power companies. I would proceed to negotiate the sale of
this by-product to the highest bidder. Bill, do you know that I've
seen enough flood water running down the San Gregorio every winter to
have furnished, if it could have been stored in Agua Caliente Basin,
sufficient water to irrigate the San Gregorio Valley for five years?"
"I know it, Miguel.
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