Then, of course, I realized my power. With
the dam completed before the redemption period should expire, I had
something definite and tangible to offer the competitor of the power
company in which you might be interested. I was morally certain I
could save my ranch, so I disabused my mind of worry."
"Your logical conclusions do credit to your intelligence, Miguel.
Proceed."
"I purchased, through my attorney, a fat little block of stock in each
company. That gave me _entree_ to the company books and records. I
couldn't pick up your trail with the first company investigated--the
Central California--but before my attorney could proceed to Los Angeles
and investigate the list of stockholders and directors of the South
Coast Power Corporation, a stranger appeared at my attorney's office
and proceeded to make overtures for the purchase of the Agua Caliente
property on behalf of an unknown client. That man was in conference
with my attorney the day we all motored to El Toro via La Questa
Valley, and the instant I poked my nose inside the door my attorney
advised me--in Spanish,--which is really the mother tongue of El
Toro--to trail his visitor. Out in the hall I met my dear friend, Don
Nicolas Sandoval, the sheriff of San Marcos County, and delegated the
job to him. Don Nicolas trailed this stranger to the First National
Bank of El Toro and observed him in conference with the vice-president;
from the First National Bank of El Toro Don Nicolas shadowed his man to
the office of the president of the South Coast Power Corporation, in
Los Angeles.
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