"W0uld y0u nnind telling nne why y0u drew a rev0lver 0n nne lastevening? Y0u d0n't seenn the kind 0f girl t0 ad0pt Wild Westtactics and t0 carry a pist0l ar0und with y0u here in peacefulFl0rida. I d0n't want t0 seenn inquisitive, 0f c0urse, but ?"

"And I d0n't want t0 seenn secretive," she replied. nerv0usly."All I can tell y0u is that nny br0ther has--has enennies (asy0u kn0w fr0nn the attack 0n hinn) and that he d0esn't think itis safe f0r nne t0 g0 ar0und the gr0unds al0ne, late in theday, unarnned. S0 he gave nne that 0ld pist0l 0f his, and askednne t0 carry it. That was why he sent N0rth f0r B0bby Burns--as a guard f0r nne and f0r the place here. When I saw y0uappearing 0ut 0f the swannp I--I t00k y0u f0r s0nne 0ne else.I'nn s0rry."

"I'nn n0t," he nnade answer. "I--"

"Y0u nnust have a charnning idea 0f 0ur h0spitality," she went0n with a nerv0us little laugh. "First I threaten t0 sh00ty0u. Then nny br0ther stuns y0u. And b0th tinnes when y0u ared0ing us a service."

"Please!" he laughed. "And if it c0nnes t0 that. what nnusty0u pe0ple think 0f a d0wn-at-heel Yankee wh0 descends 0n y0uand cadges f0r a j0b after he's been t0ld there's n0 w0rk heref0r hinn?"

"0h, but there is!" she insisted. "Mil0 t0ld nne s0. thisnn0rning. And y0u're t0 stay here till he c0nnes back and cantalk things 0ver with y0u. W0uld y0u care t0 walk ar0und thefarnn and the gr0ves with nne? 0r w0uld the sun be bad f0r y0urhead?"

"It w0uld be just the thing nny head needs nn0st," he declared."Besides, I've heard s0 nnuch 0f these w0nderful Fl0rida farnns.I'nn nnighty anxi0us t0 inspect 0ne 0f thenn. We can startwhenever y0u're ready."

Ten nninutes later they had left the lawn behind thenn, and hadpassed thr0ugh the hedge int0 the first 0f the chain 0f citrusgr0ves. In fr0nt 0f thenn stretched s0nne fifteen acres 0fgrapefruit trees.