LIFE OAK PLANTATION
Giles," concluded Dr. Leyden, "is all that there was to be learned from my acquaintance, Rosenthal."
"What a wretched fiasco!" exclaimed Giles.
"It is a country, a people, a race of absurdities. I hope that our friend has not got himself into trouble. And now tell me of your plans."
In a few words Giles told him. "You are going to Mexico?" he asked.
"Yes, I have a commission to dig up a little Aztec rubbishery. But first I must go to Florida, as I have another commission to pass an expert opinion on a bonanza orange grove. You had better go down with me; you can make the trip in three days."
"Right!" exclaimed Giles. "It does seem a shame to be so near and not see the place. Believe I'll go with you if Virginia and Manning will let me. Besides I've always rather fancied the idea of having an orange grove myself and it might not be a bad plan to look it over."
"No," said Leyden meditatively, "not as long as you are with me. Don't try it alone, however; it is a very popular English vice, buying orange groves. However, if you insist I fancy you can buy the one I am going to inspect at a very low rate when I've finished. I have strong views on orange plantations."
"Ever been bitten?"
"No; but I have dressed the wounds of others. Well—I am impatient to be off, if you are not."
Giles ordered his buckboard and a few minutes later, behind one of Manning's Kentuckians, they were rapidly leaving the city.
Halfway to the plantation they traversed a district known as "Red Top," a place of bad repute by virtue
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