Spinner was as busy as a cat with two tails. Boyd was giving him a fat commission and carte blanche to go as far as he liked. The only proviso was that the professional from Los Angeles should have a week's start in placing Boyd's other tract—of which his ownership was secret—on the market. Thus did the boom come to Arguello.
II
All Boyd's plans went well, except as respects one minor detail. It would have been very desirable to have been able to control a few acres north of town, simply because the natural growth of the town seemed to go in that direction. Which meant, of course, a strip off Corona del Monte. Knowing Colonel Peyton's situation financially, he thought it would be a simple matter. He wanted not more than a hundred acres or two, while Corona del Monte covered square miles. The Colonel ought to jump at the chance.
Ephraim Spinner came back from the interview his eyes standing out in astonishment.
"He's on, boss," he reported; "I didn't give him credit for so much sense."
"What do you mean?"
"Why, he wouldn't listen to me," said Spinner. "I never had a show. He was most God-awful polite, but I felt like a worm that was being laughed at and not supposed to know it. I worked up to the limit on him that you gave me."
"Probably you offered too much at the start," suggested Boyd.
"Now, boss!" pleaded Spinner, hurt to the quick. "You got to give me credit for knowing something!"
"I beg your pardon. I know you do. And he wouldn't sell even at a hundred an acre?"
"Wouldn't even listen. I thought he was dead asleep out there among his cows and pigs: but he must be wide awake. Nobody else in this town has a suspicion of anything coming—except this old dodo."
"You think he suspects he can get more?"
"Now I leave it to you. That kind of ranch land never sold before for more than ten or fifteen dollars. Never! And every-
