“Now, they know all about the offer made you by those sharpers, Stiffbold & Lightly. They advised me to risk a thousand dollar option on your ranch and I telegraphed them to make you the offer.” “And you may believe I was struck all of a heap, sir,” said the young man, still eyeing the major closely. “I’ll tell you something: You’ve got me guessing.” “How’s that?” asked the amused Major Dale. “Why, people don’t come around and hand me a thousand dollars every day—and just on a gamble.” “Sure I am gambling?” responded the major. “I’m not sure of anything,” admitted Garry Knapp. “But it looks like that. I accepted the certified check—I have it with me. I don’t know but I’d better hand it back to you, Major, for I think you have been misinformed about the real value of the ranch. The price per acre your lawyers offer is away above the market.” “Hey!” exclaimed Major Dale. “You call yourself a business man?” “Not much of one, I suppose,” said Garry. “I’ll sell you my ranch quick enough at a fair price. But this looks as if you were doing me a favor. I think you have been influenced.” “Eh?” stammered the astounded old gentleman. “By your daughter,” said Garry, quietly. “I’m conceited enough to think it is because of Miss Dale that you make me the offer you do.” “Any crime in that?” demanded the major. “No crime exactly,” rejoined Garry with one of his rare smiles, “unless I take advantage of it. But I’m not the sort of fellow, Major Dale, who can willingly accept more than I can give value for. Your offer for my ranch is beyond reason.” “Would you have thought so if another man—somebody instead of my daughter’s father——” and his eyes twinkled as he said it, “had made you the offer?” Garry Knapp was silent and showed confusion. The major went on with some grimness of expression: “But if your conscience troubles you and you wish to call the deal off, now is your chance to return the check.” Instantly Garry pulled his wallet from his pocket and produced the folded green slip, good for a thousand dollars at the Desert City Trust Company. “There you are, sir,” he said quietly, and laid the paper upon the arm of the major’s chair. The old gentleman picked it up, identified it, and slowly tore the check into strips, eyeing the young man meanwhile. “Then,” he said, calmly, “_that_ phase of the matter is closed. But you still wish to sell your ranch?” “I do, Major Dale. But I can’t accept what anybody out there would tell you was a price out of all reason.” “Except my lawyers,” suggested the major. “Well——” “Young man, you have done a very foolish thing,” said Major Dale. “A ridiculous thing, perhaps. Unless you are shrewder than you seem. My lawyers have had your land thoroughly cruised. You have the best wheat land, in embryo, anywhere in the Desert City region.” Garry started and stared at him for a minute without speaking. Then he sighed and shrugged his shoulders.