I told
Allesandro to be careful not to beat him too far. The time was nothing
remarkable and I do not think I have spoiled your opportunity for
winning with him in the Derby."
"I noticed that. Thank you. And you'll loan him to me to beat that
old scoundrel I told you about?"
"You'll have to arrange that matter with your daughter, sir. I have
raced my first and my last race for anything save the sport of a
horse-race, and I am now about to present Panchito to Miss Kay."
"Present him? Why, you star-spangled idiot, I offered you fifteen
thousand dollars for him and you knew then I would have gone to fifty
thousand."
Don Mike laid a patronizing hand on John Parker's shoulder. "Old
settler, you're buying Panchito and you're paying a heavier price than
you realize, only, like the overcoat in the traveling salesman's
expense account, the item isn't apparent. I'm going to sell you a dam,
the entire Agua Caliente Basin and watershed riparian rights, a site
for a power station and a right of way for power transmission lines
over my ranch. In return, you're going to agree to furnish me with
sufficient water from your dam, in perpetuity, to irrigate every acre
of the San Gregorio Valley."
John Parker could only stare, amazed. "On one condition, Miguel," he
replied presently. "Not an acre of the farm lands of the San Gregorio
shall ever be sold, without a _proviso_ in the deed that it shall never
be sold or leased to any alien ineligible to citizenship.
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