As they entered the waiting automobile and started for home, Farrel, who occupied the front seat with the chauffeur, turned and faced the Parkers. "From this day forward," he promised them, "we are all going to devote ourselves to the serious task of enjoying life to the utmost. For my part, I am not going to talk business or Japanese immigration any more. Are you all grateful?" "We are," they cried in unison. He thanked them with his mirthful eyes, faced around in his seat and, staring straight ahead, was soon lost in day dreams. John Parker and his wife exchanged glances, then both looked at their daughter, seated between them. She, too, was building castles in Spain! When they alighted from the car before the hacienda, Mrs. Parker lingered until the patio gate had closed on her daughter and Farrel; then she drew her husband down beside her on the bench under the catalpa tree. "John, Miguel Farrel says he has you beaten." "I hope so, dear," he replied feelingly. "I know of but one way out for that young man, and if he has discovered it so readily I'd be a poor sport indeed not to enjoy his victory." "You never really meant to take his ranch away from him, did you, John?" "I did, Kate. I do. If I win, my victory will prove to my entire satisfaction that Don Miguel Jose Federico Noriaga Farrel is a throwback to the _Manana_ family, and in that event, my dear, we will not want him in ours. We ought to improve our blood-lines, not deteriorate them." "Yet you would have sold this valley to that creature Okada." "Farrel has convinced me of my error there. I have been anti-Jap since the day Farrel was thrown from his horse and almost killed--by a Jap." "I'm sure Kay is in love with him, John." "Propinquity," he grunted. "Fiddlesticks! The man is perfectly charming." "Perhaps. We'll decide that point later. Do you think Farrel is interested in Kay?" "I do not know, John," his better half declared hopelessly. "If he is, he possesses the ability to conceal it admirably." "I'll bet he's a good poker-player. He has you guessing, old girl, and the man who does that is a _rara avis_. However, Katie dear, if I were you I wouldn't worry about this--er--affair." "John, I can't help it. Naturally, I'm curious to know the thoughts in the back of that boy's head, but when he turns that smiling innocent face toward me, all I can see is old-fashioned deference and amiability and courtesy. I watch him when he's talking to Kay--when he cannot possibly know I am snooping, and still, except for that frank friendliness, his face is as communicative as this old adobe wall. A few days ago he rode in from the range with a great cluster of wild tiger-lilies--and he presented them to me. Any other young man would have presented them to my daughter." "I give it up, Kate, and suggest that we turn this mystery over to Father Time. He'll solve it."