"Well and hearty，Bulwer，"replied Louise."Why haven't you been to see little Jane lately ？""I heard you had company，"said Mr.Runyon；"and the last time I came I stayed three days and forgot all about my ranch.I've made a will，Mrs.Weldon.""A will！You're not going to die，I hope？""I join you in that hope，most fervently，for I'd hate to leave the new machine and its—""Go on，Bulwer.""But life is ？eeting，and no one knows just when it'll get to the end of its ？eet.Therefore，as I love the baby better than any other object on earth—animate or inanimate—except—""Never mind your new car."He sighed.
"Therefore，Mrs.Weldon，I've made Jane my heiress.""Oh，Bul！Aren't you dreadfully in debt？""Yes'm.""Is the place worth the mortgage？"inquired Arthur.
"Just about，although the money sharks don't think so.But all property out here is rapidly increasing in value，"declared Runyon，earnestly，"so，if I can manage to hold on a while longer，Toodlums will inherit a—a—several fine lemon trees，at least."Uncle John was delighted with the big fellow with the small voice.Even the major clapped Bul Run on the shoulder and said the sentiment did him credit，however big the mortgage might be.
By the time Castro brought in his ？rst surprise—a delicioussoup—a jovial and friendly party was gathered around the oilcloth board.Even the paper napkins could not dampen the joy of the occasion，or detract from the exquisite ？avor of the brotha.
The boyish Dolph bewailedb anonc the absence of his "Nell，"who loved Castro's cookery above everything else，while every endeavor of Mr.Runyon to explain the self—starteron his new car was so adroitlya headed off by his fellow ranchers that the poor fellow was in despair.The "lunch"turned out to be a seven course dinner and each course introduced such an enticingb and unusual dish that every member of the party became an audaciousc gormandizerd.None of the girls—except Louise—had ever tasted such concoctionse before，or might even guess what many of them were composed of；but all agreed with Patsy when she energetically asserted that "Castro out—cheffed both Rector and Sherry.""If only he would have tablecloths and napkins，and decent rugs upon the ？oor，"added daintyf Louise.
"Oh，that would ruin the charm of the place，"protested Uncle John."Don't suggest such a horror to Castro，Louise；at least until after we have returned to New York.""I'll take you riding in my car，"piped Runyon to Beth，who sat beside him."I don't have to crank it，you know；I just—""Have you sold your orange crop yet？"asked Arthur."Lemons，sir！"said the other reproachfully.And the laughthat followed again prevented his explaining the self—starter.
The porch was shady and cool when they emerged from the feast room and Arthur Weldon，as host，proposed they siton the benches with their coffee and cigars and have a social chat.But both Runyon and Hahn protested this delay.They suggested，instead，that all ride back to El Cajon and playwith the baby，and so earnest were they in this desire that theproud young father and mother had not the grace to refuse.
Both men had their cars at the village garage and an hour later the procession started.Beth riding beside "Bul Run"and Patsy accompanying the jolly "Dolph".
"We must stop and pick up Nell，"said the latter，"forshe'd be mad as hops if I went to see Toodlums without her.""I don't wonder，"replied Patsy."Isn't my niece a dear baby？""Never was one born like her.She's the only woman I ever knew who refuses to talk.""She crows，though.""To signify she agrees with everyone on every question；and her angelic smile is so genuine and constant that it gets to your heart in spite of all resistance.""And she's so soft and mushya，as it were，"continuedPatsy enthusiastically；"but I suppose she'll outgrow that，in time."Mrs.Helen Hahn，when the three automobiles drew upbefore her young husband's handsome residence，promptly agreed to join Rudolph in a visit to the baby.She proved to be a retiring and rather shy young woman，but she was verybeautiful and her personality was most attractive.Both Patsy and Beth were delighted to ？nd that Louise had so charming a neighbor，of nearly her own age.
Rudolph would not permit the party to proceed further until all had partaken of a refreshing glass of lemonade，and as this entailed more or less delay the sun was getting low as they traverseda the five miles to El Cajon，traveling slowly that they might enjoy the exquisite tintings of the sky.Runyon，who was a bachelor，lived a few miles the other side of Arthur's ranch.All three ranches had at one time been part of the Spanish grant to the Cristovals，and while Arthur now possessed the old mansion，the greatest number of acres had been acquired by Rudolph Hahn，who had preferred to build for himself and his bride a more modern residence.