“Yes, I don’t know why I should have been so infernally stupid. But you see those Los Angeles fellows came over here one day in an automobile and stayed all night. We had a sort of a tiff—didn’t agree very well—and I let them start away the next morning without their breakfast—rather uncivil, I’ll admit. After they had gone I got to thinking matters over, and I sent a telephone message along the road to stop them and ask them to come back. They returned all right. There was one of their number, this fellow from some Title and Trust Company, who was pretty warm under the collar, and, if I do say it myself, was as peeved as hell at me. Well, he was the one who drew up the agreement, sitting here at this table. The paper looked all right to me, and so I just went ahead and signed. I know now they caught me for the $18,000 of taxes because I didn’t just insist on having the option expire March 1st, instead of April 1st. But, to be frank with you, I really didn’t much mind, for at that time I was only keen to get their $100,000 for the option, never believing for a moment that they would come across with the million-dollar first payment due April 1st. You see the cattle and horses and all the stock on the ranch was a sort of sheaf of oats that I hung out in order to get them to put up their option money—just so much bait.” Mr. Hawkins shrugged his shoulders and said: “Well, Mr. Thurston, judging from this inventory before me, you certainly hung up a most generous bait.” “I didn’t stop to think—that’s all there is to be said. All these details hadn’t been worked out into cold figures at the time I gave the option. When these men were here I just wanted to wheedle them into a bargain which would leave a cool $100,000 in my hands. I never for one moment believed they could make the million-dollar payment, although, by God, I begin to realize the danger of their doing so now.” The lawyer looked up in silent surprise. Thurston continued: “Of course I should have had this detailed valuation made before I went into the deal. Up to the time I read that inventory I had no real idea of the increased value of the property and what was on it. Oh, you may shake your head; I’m not a good business man—never cared a damn for business—and I know quite well I haven’t given enough attention to the ranch. You see I have been living mostly in the East, for good reasons. I don’t like it here at all—I’ve never felt safe in California,” and he glanced nervously at the window of the room, as if some enemy were lurking there.