"Purely by chance. Through a man named Mallow, a 'scientist' of some sort with a magic tester." The girl laughed. "Don't know him." "Mallow is as queer as the rest of his kind, and I put no faith in his story until I investigated. But the well is there and doing a hundred and fifty barrels as regular as clockwork." "You'll have no trouble in selling it." "Then you're not interested?" "Interested? Yes, indeed." Nelson nodded. "I'm quite excited, as a matter of fact, but--I can't handle it at this particular time." "Frankly, I'm glad you can't," Barbara told him, "for now I can sell it to Mr. Gray." "Gray?" Henry looked up quickly. "If you wanted it for him, why did you bring it to me?" "Because Mr. Mallow insisted. He felt sure you'd jump at it. Besides, Mr. Gray is away and prompt action is necessary. I'll wire him at once and ask him to accept my judgment." "Will he do so?" The girl colored faintly at the tone of this inquiry. "Perhaps. I think he believes in me, and--that's more than you do. It's mighty flattering to a girl to have a man like Mr. Gray believe in her. Why, I am practically his agent! He buys and sells through me whenever he can." "He's buying and selling, is he? He said something about entering this field in a big way--" "He's in." "Bob's" eyes were sparkling. "Oh, things are looking up for dad and me. Mr. Gray is a real miracle man, isn't he?" When this question evoked no response, the girl inquired, curiously, "Tell me, are you and he such good friends as he says you are?" "Does he say we are good friends?" "Um-m--well, he speaks admiringly of you, and if people admire me I _love_ them. He thinks you are a remarkably capable person. 'A determined fighter,' I think he called you. That should be high praise, coming from a fellow officer. He probably outlined his plans to you." "He did." Nelson spoke dryly. "I assumed that he was relying on your judgment and taking your tips." "Why? How so?" "Because he has bought so much land alongside of yours." "Where?" Barbara was surprised. "I--why, I supposed you knew!" After a moment of hesitation she said: "I think I'd better keep my mouth closed. Just the same, he couldn't have done better than to follow your lead. That is the first compliment I ever paid you, Henry." "I've paid you enough. And I do believe in you, 'Bob,' but I'm not the flattering kind. He's a great ladies' man. I wonder if he is going to make me jealous." "You? Jealous? Coming from Wichita's most emotionless banker, from the cold county Croesus, that speech is almost a--a declaration." Miss Parker laughed frankly. "Why, Henry! My haughty little nose is turning up--I can feel it. But, alas! it proves your insincerity. If you had faith in my judgment you'd pick up this snap."