believe that can readily be accomplished--with your aid."

"I shall be the poorest witness in the world, Mr. Farrel."

"Well, I shall see to it, Mr. Parker, that you are given an opportunity
to tell the judge of the Superior Court in El Toro why Loustalot called
on you this morning, why a great band of sheep is trespassing on the
Rancho Palomar, why Loustalot drew a check in your favor for fifty
thousand dollars, why you declined to take it, what you said to
Loustalot this morning to cause him to steal one of my horses in his
anxiety to get off the ranch, why your attorneys drew up a certain
lease of the grazing-privilege to Loustalot, and why the deal fell
through."

Parker flushed.

"Can you produce that fifty-thousand-dollar check? I happen to know it
has not been cashed."

"No, I cannot, Mr. Parker."

Kay opened her purse and tossed the check across to her father.

"It was drawn in your favor, dad," she informed him; "so I concluded it
was your property, and when Mr. Farrel came by it--ah, illegally--and
showed it to me, I retained it."

"Good girl! Mr. Farrel, have you any objection to my returning this
check?"