And–ha! how came this here?” With a cry of surprise she lifted a small, soft object from the ground before her and regarded it in gathering dismay. 26CHAPTER IIISENOR TOP-LOFTY 26 SENOR TOP-LOFTY Ever since Jessica could remember, Antonio Bernal had been manager of the Sobrante ranch, and after the death of her father, a few months before, he became practically its master. Even Mrs. Trent deferred to his opinions more and more, and seemed to stand in awe of him, as did most others on the great estate. He was the only person there, save his own servant, Ferd, who did not treat the little girl with that adoring sort of reverence which had given her the love-name of “our Lady Jess.” For some reason unknown to her he disliked her and showed this, so that she shrank from and feared him in return. As she emerged from the canyon upon the broad, sandy road which crossed the valley, she saw him loping toward her on the powerful black horse with which he made his daily rounds to inspect the many industries that Mr. Trent had established. Jessica could always tell by the way he rode what Antonio’s mood might be, and it did not lessen her dread to see that his sombrero was well over his eyes and his shoulders hunched forward. “Something’s put him out, but I can’t help that. I must stop him and speak to him.” So she placed herself in the middle of the road and shouted her familiar: “Hola! Coo-ee! Coo-ee!” 27Any other ranchman would have paused and saluted his “lady,” but the “senor” made as if he would ride her down, unseeing. 27 Jessica did not flinch. That ready temper which she was always lamenting flamed at the insult, and she would not move a hair’s breadth from his path. “Hola! Antonio Bernal! I must speak to you, and–see that?”
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