"I made that resolve when you met me at the gate last night, Miss Parker. Hark! Methinks I hear a young riot. Well, we cannot possibly have any interest in it, and, besides, we're talking business now. Mr. Parker, there isn't the slightest hope of my earning sufficient money to pay the mortgage you hold against this ranch of mine, so I have resolved to gamble for it whenever and wherever I can. You have agreed to pay me six thousand dollars, in return for which I guarantee to feed you and your family and servants well, and house you comfortably and furnish three saddle-horses, with saddles and bridles, for a period of one year. Understand?" "Understood." Don Miguel Farrel took two dice out of his pocket and cuddled them in his palm. "I'll roll you the bones, one flop, twelve thousand dollars or nothing, sir," he challenged. "But if I win--" "You want to know if I am in a position to support you all for one year if I lose? I am. There are cattle enough on the ranch to guarantee that." "Well, while these little adventures are interesting, Mr. Farrel, the fact is I've always made it a rule not to gamble." "Listen to the hypocrite!" his wife almost shouted. "Gambled every day of his life for twenty-five years on the New York Stock Exchange, and now he has the effrontery to make a statement like that! John Parker, roll them bones!" "Not to-day," he protested. "This isn't my lucky day." "Well, it's mine," the good soul retorted. "Miguel--you'll pardon my calling you by your first name: Miguel, but since I was bound to do so sooner or later, we'll start now--Miguel, I'm in charge of the domestic affairs of the Parker family, and I've never known a time when this poor tired old business man didn't honor my debts. Roll 'em, Mike, and test your luck." "Mother!" Kay murmured reproachfully. "Nonsense, dear! Miguel is the most natural gentleman, the first _regular_ young man I've met in years. I'm for him, and I want him to know it. Are you for me, Miguel?" "All the way!" Don Mike cried happily, "There!" the curious woman declared triumphantly. "I knew we were going to be good friends. What do I see before me? As I live, a pair of box cars." "Mother, where _did_ you learn such slang?" her daughter pleaded. "From the men your non-gambling father used to bring home to play poker and shoot craps," she almost shouted. "Well, let us see if I can roll two sixes and tie the score. I can! What's more, I do! Miguel, are these dice college-bred? Ah! Old Lady Parker rolls a wretched little pair of bull's-eyes!" Don Miguel took the dice and rolled--a pair of deuces. "I'm going to make big money operating a boarding-house," he informed the lady. "'Landlord, fill the flowing bowl until it doth flow over,'" she sang gaily. "John, you owe Miguel twelve thousand dollars, payable at the rate of one thousand dollars a month for twelve months. Have your lawyer in El Toro draw the lease this afternoon."