ing his cigarette smoke and letting it forth through
his nostrils in little puffs as he talked. "The old Cap's built his
house like a fort, anyway. And he's some man with a gun--believe me!"

"You say he's sick," said the other man, and he, too, drawled. Frances
found herself wondering where she had heard that voice before.

"He ain't so sick that he can't guard that chest you was talkin' about.
He's had his bed made up right in the room with it. That's whatever,"
said Ratty.

"Once let me get in there," said the other, slowly.

"Sam's set some of the boys to ride herd on the house," chuckled Ratty.

"That's the way, then!" exclaimed the other, raising his clenched fist
and shaking it. "You get put on that detail, Ratty."

"I'll see you blessed first," declared the puncher, laughing. "I don't
see nothing in it but trouble for me."

"No trouble for you at all. They didn't get you before."

"No," said the puncher. "More by good luck than good management. I don't
like going things blind, Pete. And you're always so blamed secretive."

"I have to be," growled the other. "You're as leaky as a sieve yourself,
Ratty. I never could trust you."

"Nor nobody else," laughed the reckless puncher. "Sam's about got my
number now. If he ain't the gal has----"

"You mean that daughter of the old man's?"

"Yep. She's an able-minded gal--believe me! And she's just about boss of
the ranch, specially now the old Cap is laid by the heels for a while."

The other was silent for some moments. Ratty gathered up the reins from
the backs of the tired ponies.

"I gotter step along, Pete," he said. "Gal's gone to telephone for the
medical sharp, who'll show up on Number 20 when she goes through
Jackleg. I'm to meet him. Or," and he began to chuckle again, "Jose
Reposa was, and I took his place so's to meet you here as I promised."

"And lots of good your meeting me seems to do me," growled the man
called Pete.

"Well, old fellow! is that my fault?" demanded the puncher.

"I don't know. I gotter git inside that _hacienda_."

"Walk in. The door's open."

"You think you are smart, don't you?" snarled Pete, in anger. "You tell
me where the chest is located; but it couldn't be brought out by day.
But at night---- My soul, man! I had the team all ready and waiting the
other night, and I could have got the thing if I'd had luck."

"You didn't have luck," chuckled Ratty M'Gill. "And I don't believe
you'd 'a' had much more luck if you