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you have a fine story there； my poor friend。 Very pretty； but very
hard to prove； m'sieu。 And these peasants are in it； eh； working
it on shares like the farm； eh？〃
〃Well；〃 said Dawson； slightly changing his position； and passing
his hand over the horse's neck with a half…wearied contempt； 〃one
of these men is from Plaquemine； and the other from Coupee。 They
know all the l'Hommadieus' history。 And they know a streak of the
tar brush when they see it。 They took your measure when they came
here last year； and sized you up fairly。 So had I； for the matter
of that； when I FIRST saw you。 And we compared notes。 But the
major is a square man； for all he is your husband； and we reckoned
he had a big enough contract on his hands to take care of you and
l'Hommadieu's half…breeds； and so〃he tossed the reins
contemptuously aside〃we kept this to ourselves。〃
〃And now you wantwhateh？〃
〃We want an end to this foolery；〃 he broke out roughly； stepping
back from the vehicle； and facing her suddenly； with his first
angry gesture。 〃We want an end to these airs and grimaces； and all
this dandy nigger business； we want an end to this 'cake…walking'
through the wheat； and flouting of the honest labor of your
betters。 We want you and your 'de Fontanges' to climb down。 And
we want an end to this roping…in of white folks to suit your little
game； we want an end to your trying to mix your nigger blood with
any one here； and we intend to stop it。 We draw the line at the
major。〃
Lashed as she had been by those words apparently out of all
semblance of her former social arrogance； a lower and more stubborn
resistance seemed to have sprung up in her； as she sat sideways；
watching him with her set smile and contracting eyes。
〃Ah；〃 she said dryly； 〃so SHE IS HERE。 I thought so。 Which of you
is it； eh？ It's a good specMallory's a rich man。 She's not
particular。〃
The man had stopped as if listening； his head turned towards the
road。 Then he turned carelessly； and facing her again； waved his
hand with a gesture of tired dismissal； and said； 〃Go！ You'll find
your driver over there by the tool…shed。 He has heard nothing yet
but I've given you fair warning。 Go！〃
He walked slowly back towards the shed； as the woman； snatching up
the reins； drove violently off in the direction where the men had
disappeared。 But she turned aside； ignoring her waiting driver in
her wild and reckless abandonment of all her old conventional
attitudes； and lashing her horse forward with the same set smile on
her face； the same odd relaxation of figure； and the same squaring
of her elbows。
Avoiding the main road； she pushed into a narrow track that
intersected another nearer the scene of the accident to Rose's
buggy three weeks before。 She had nearly passed it when she was
hailed by a strange voice； and looking up； perceived a horseman
floundering in the mazes of the wheat to one side of the track。
Whatever mean thought of her past life she was flying from；
whatever mean purpose she was flying to； she pulled up suddenly；
and as suddenly resumed her erect； aggressive stiffness。 The
stranger was a middle…aged man； in dress and appearance a dweller
of cities。 He lifted his hat as he perceived the occupant of the
wagon to be a lady。
〃I beg your pardon； but I fear I've lost my way in trying to make a
short cut to the Excelsior Company's Ranch。〃
〃You are in it now；〃 said Mrs。 Randolph； quickly。
〃Thank you； but where can I find the farmhouse？〃
〃There is none；〃 she returned； with her old superciliousness；
〃unless you choose to give that name to the shanties and sheds
where the laborers and servants live； near the road。〃
The stranger looked puzzled。 〃I'm looking for a Mr。 Dawson；〃 he
said reflectively； 〃but I may have made some mistake。 Do you know
Major Randolph's house hereabouts？〃
〃I do。 I am Mrs。 Randolph；〃 she said stiffly。
The stranger's brow cleared； and he smiled pleasantly。 〃Then this
is a fortunate meeting；〃 he said； raising his hat again as he
reined in his horse beside the wagon； 〃for I am Mr。 Mallory； and I
was looking forward to the pleasure of presenting myself to you an
hour or two later。 The fact is； an old acquaintance； Mr。 Dawson；
telegraphed me yesterday to meet him here on urgent business； and I
felt obliged to go there first。〃
Mrs。 Randolph's eyes sparkled with a sudden gratified intelligence；
but her manner seemed rather to increase than abate its grim
precision。
〃Our meeting this morning； Mr。 Mallory； is both fortunate and
unfortunate； for I regret to say that your daughter； who has not
been quite herself since the earthquake； was missing early this
morning and has not yet been found； though we have searched
everywhere。 Understand me；〃 she said； as the stranger started； 〃I
have no fear for her PERSONAL safety； I am only concerned for any
INDISCRETION that she may commit in the presence of these strangers
whose company she would seem to prefer to ours。〃
〃But I don't understand you； madam；〃 said Mallory； sternly； 〃you
are speaking of my daughter； and〃
〃Excuse me； Mr。 Mallory；〃 said Mrs。 Randolph； lifting her hand with
her driest deprecation and her most desiccating smile； 〃I'm not
passing judgment or criticism。 I am of a foreign race； and
consequently do not understand the freedom of American young
ladies； and their familiarity with the opposite sex。 I make no
charges； I only wish to assure you that she will no doubt be found
in the company and under the protection of her own countrymen。
There is；〃 she added with ironical distinctness； 〃a young mechanic；
or field hand； or 'quack well…doctor；' whom she seems to admire；
and with whom she appears to be on equal terms。〃
Mallory regarded her for a moment fixedly； and then his sternness
relaxed to a mischievously complacent smile。 〃That must be young
Bent； of whom I've heard；〃 he said with unabated cheerfulness。
〃And I don't know but what she may be with him； after all。 For now
I think of it； a chuckle…headed fellow； of whom a moment ago I
inquired the way to your house； told me I'd better ask the young
man and young woman who were 'philandering through the wheat'
yonder。 Suppose we look for them。 From what I've heard of Bent
he's too much wrapped up in his inventions for flirtation； but it
would be a good joke to stumble upon them。〃
Mrs。 Randolph's eyes sparkled with a mingling of gratified malice
and undisguised contempt for the fatuous father beside her。 But
before she could accept or decline the challenge； it had become
useless。 A murmur of youthful voices struck her ear； and she
suddenly stood upright and transfixed in the carriage。 For
lounging down slowly towards them out of the dim green aisles of
the arbored wheat； lost in themselves and the shimmering veil of
their seclusion； came the engineer； Thomas Bent； and on his arm；
gazing ingenuously into his face； the figure of Adele；her own
perfect daughter。
〃I don't think； my dear；〃 said Mr。 Mallory； as the anxious Rose
flew into his arms on his return to San Jose； a few hours later；
〃that it will be necessary for you to go back again to Major
Randolph's before we leave。 I have said 'Good…by' for you and
thanked them； and your trunks are packed and will be sent here。
The fact is； my dear； you see this affair of the earthquake and the
disaster to the artesian well have upset all their arrangements；
and I am afraid that my little girl would be only in their way just
now。〃
〃And you have seen Mr。 Dawsonand you know why he sent for you？〃
asked the young girl； with nervous eagerness。
〃Ah； yes；〃 said Mr。 Mallory thoughtfully； 〃THAT was really
important。 You see； my child；〃 he continued； taking her hand in
one of his own and patting the back of it gently with the other；
〃we think； Dawson and I； of taking over the major's ranch and
incorporating it with the Excelsior in one； to be worked on shares
like the Excelsior； and as Mrs。 Randolph is very anxious to return
to the Atlantic States with her children； it is quite possible。
Mrs。 Randolph； as you have possibly noticed；〃 Mr。 Mallory went on；
still patting his daughter's hand； 〃does not feel entirely at home
here； and will consequently leave the major free to rearrange； by
himself； the ranch on the new basis。 In fact； as the change must
be made before the crops come in； she talks of going next week。
But if you like the place； Rose； I've no doubt the major and Dawson
will always find room for you and me when we run down there for a
little fresh air。〃
〃And did you have all that in your mind； papa； when you came down
here； and was that what you and Mr。 Dawson wanted to talk about？〃
said the astonished Rose。
〃Mainly； my dear； mainly。 You see I'm a capitalist now； and the
real value of capital is to know how and when to apply it to
certain conditions。〃
〃And this Mr。Mr