hours, I waited before entering to seek him. I found him kneeling with
his great body spread out over the _prie-dieu_ where the heads of your
house have prayed since the Mission de la Madre Dolorosa was built.
His brain was alive, but one side of him was dead, and he smiled with
his eyes. We carried him home in Father Dominic's automobile, and, two
weeks later, he died in sanctity. The _gente_ of San Marcos County
attended his funeral.

"In February came _Señor_ Parker, with great assurance, and endeavored
to take possession. He showed me a paper, but what do I know of
papers? I showed him your rifle, and he departed, to return with Don
Nicolás Sandoval, the sheriff, who explained matters to me and warned
me to avoid violence. I have dwelt here since in sorrow and
perplexity, and because I have ridden the fences and watched over the
stock, there has been no great effort made to disturb me. They have a
cook--a Japanese, and two Japanese women servants. Also, this evening,
Señor Parker brought with him as a guest another Japanese, whom he
treats with as much consideration as if the fellow were your sainted
father. I do not understand such people. This Japanese visitor was
given this room, but this honor I denied him."

"My father's business affairs are greatly tangled, Pablo. I shall have
quite a task to place them in order," Don Miguel informed him, sadly.

"If it is permitted an old servant to appear curious, Don Miguel, how
long must we submit to the presence of these strangers?"

"For the present, Pablo, I am the master here; therefore, these people
are my guests. It has never been the custom with my people to be
discourteous to guests."