“Our law of libel is in advance of all other states,” said the stranger; “you will find it on page 163.” The professor read:— “Any man or woman or newspaper firm lending themselves to the dissemination of scandal, or defamation of private character, to the moral detriment of innocent parties, shall, on conviction, be adjudged outlaws, and may be lawfully beaten or killed at the pleasure of the party injured.” “Lord,” said the doctor, piously raising his eyes, “now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have beheld thy glory.” “We take a great deal of pride in that libel law,” said the stranger. “It has inspired a degree of courtesy on the part of Arizona editors that would have made Lord Chesterfield ashamed of himself. The Yuma _Sentinel_, which was accustomed to personal journalism, lately alluded to a convicted highwayman as ‘a gentleman whose ideas on the subject of property differ from those of a majority of his fellow-citizens;’ and the Tucson Star, which used to be the chief of slangwhangers, reviewed a sermon and spoke of Judas Iscariot as ‘that disciple whose conduct in receiving compensation in money from the Romans for his services as a guide, has caused his memory to be visited by all religious denominations with great, and probably not altogether undeserved, criticism.’ But we are at Yuma, sir, and I must bid you good-by. Boats run up the river from here to Castle Dome. There is an excellent hotel here. Tourists usually stop over to visit the Gonzales place, and I suppose you will not neglect the opportunity. The house is a marvel of beauty. It was built by direction of Mr. Morning.” “Does he live there when at home?” queried the baroness. “Oh, no, madame! The Gonzales family nursed Morning through an attack of fever, after he was shot by the Apaches near the old Gonzales hacienda several years ago. The Señorita Murella never left his bedside for weeks. Really, the doctors say the girl saved his life. He was, naturally, very grateful, and, when he recovered, he bought the Castle Dome rancheria from the Indians, and had a rock tunnel run into the Colorado River, and took out the water and carried it in irrigating canals over a thousand acres of land, which he had planted in oranges, lemons, vines, olives, and other fruit. It will pay a princely revenue to the Gonzales people in a few years. “Morning ordered built upon the dome overlooking the river the most beautiful marble palace on the coast, and they say it is not surpassed anywhere on earth. The whole business must have cost him several millions, but money is nothing to him. The place is kept up in princely style by the Señora Gonzales and her daughter. They entertain a great deal of company, and are always delighted to welcome strangers who may visit the place.” “And I suppose that Aladdin is a constant visitor at his palace?” sneered the baron.