. And now I'll tell Silent Sam that there is a man lurking about
the Bar-T who must be watched."

She said nothing to Captain Rugley about sending for Lonergan until she
had written. The doctor said it would be just as well not to discuss the
matter much until it was accomplished. He also left soothing medicine to
be given to the patient if he again became delirious.

Frances was so much occupied with her father all that day that she could
do nothing about Ratty M'Gill. She had noticed, however, that the
Mexican boy, Jose Reposa, had driven the doctor to the ranch and that he
took him back to the train again.

The reckless cowpuncher had somehow bribed the Mexican boy to let him
take his place on the buckboard that forenoon.

"Ratty is like a rotten apple in the middle of the barrel," thought
Frances. "If I let him remain on the ranch he will contaminate the other
boys. No, he's got to go!

"But if I tell him why he is discharged it will warn him--and that
Pete--that we suspect, or know, an attempt is being made to rob father's
old chest. Now, what shall I do about this?"

The conversation between Ratty and Pete at the ford which she had
overheard gave Frances an idea. She saw that the contents of the
treasure chest ought really to be put into a safety deposit vault in
Amarillo. But the old ranchman considered it his bounden duty to keep
the treasure in his own hands until his partner came to divide it; and
he would be stubborn about any change in this plan.

Lonergan could not get to the Bar-T for three weeks, or more. In the
meantime suppose Pete made another attempt to steal the contents of the
Spanish chest?

Frances Rugley felt that she could depend upon nobody in this emergency
for advice; and upon few for assistance in carrying out any plan she
might make to thwart those bent upon robbing the _hacienda_. To see
the sheriff would advertise the matter to the public at large. And that,
she well knew, would make Captain Dan Rugley very angry.

Whatever she did in this matter, as well as in the affair of Ratty
M'Gill, must be done without advice.

Her mind slanted toward Pratt Sanderson at this time. Had her father not
seemed to suspect the young fellow from Amarillo, Frances would surely
have taken Pratt into her confidence.

Now that Captain Rugley had given a clear explanation of how he had come
possessed of a part of the loot of Senor Milo Morales' _hacienda_,
Frances was not afraid to take a friend i