“I tell you, the land is here, and the climate. All that is required now is cohesion and enterprise. Mr. Pederstone, we are going to see that this is supplied here and now.
“These are the facts. There is our partnership proposition to you in black and white. Read it over carefully and give us your decision to-morrow afternoon.”
John Royce Pederstone rose.
“Thank you, gentlemen! I shall do so. I would give you my answer now, but I would like to go over the whole matter with my daughter Eileen. Had I consulted her more often in the past, things would have been better for me to-day.”
And next day, John Royce Pederstone shook hands with his three new partners, and sealed the compact. He had a brighter look in his eye, a more erect head, and a laugh on his lips that Eileen heard from the next room and thanked God for. She was standing at the front window, as she had so often stood––as she and Phil had occasionally done––looking out over the sun-kissed little town, with the ranges, the ranches, the settlers’ cottages; the gardens, the trees, the lakes; the blue sky and the bright sunshine; all co-mingling in a merry-go-round of fairy delight and harmony and peace.
As Jim Langford hastened below, Phil stole to Eileen’s 395 side. He did not have to tell her, for she knew already.
They stood together, hand in hand, dreaming in happy contentment.
“My dear little, brave little lady,” said he, as he drew her close; “The big game is just ahead of us. And we are going to win.”
“You have won,” she answered. “The real victory is always in the decision, Phil.”
He stroked her breeze-blown curls, for the window was open and the summer wind, warm and fresh, was coming in over the hills.